Can I Swithch From J1 to F1 Then J1 Again

Updated on Apr 28, 2022

You lot have been in the U.S. now for a while and your J1 visa has served y'all well. Simply, you are pursuing new avenues and are looking to get some other blazon of visa. What are your options and how tin can you change your visa status? More importantly, how will you lot cover the costs involved?

Below nosotros take you through the steps on how you can utilize for a J1 to H1B change of status or even change your condition from J1 to F1. We also show you how you can finance these changes with a personal loan from Stilt.

What is a J1 Visa?

J1 visas are only for a specific group of non-immigrants who are mainly in the U.South. to accept part in piece of work- and report-based visitor exchange programs. J1 visa holders are in the U.S. for programs that regard the promotion of knowledge and skills or for exchange in the fields of education, sciences, and arts.

Typical fields of work and study include the following:

Students
Au pair and EduCare
Teachers
Physicians from away
Government academic program participants

Can a J1 Visa Holder Change Their Visa Status?

Generally, a J1 visa holder can modify their status, provided all the requirements are met. Your unique state of affairs and your efforts will, however, determine your success. The biggest obstruction you might face is the ii-year foreign residency requirement.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement

Earlier y'all go use for the change of visa status you need to understand the following requirements with changing a J1 visa. In that location are some categories of J1 visa owners who need to fulfill a cumulative two-yr foreign residency period earlier they tin utilize for any other visa. This means you need to stay exterior of the U.Southward. for two years (preferably in your home country) before you tin use for a change of status, for instance, a J1 to H1B change of status.

Who is Field of study to the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement?

Hither is a short listing of the groups of people who demand to fulfill the 2-twelvemonth requirement before being able to modify status:

J1 owners who are authorities funding recipients (U.Due south. or International)
J1 owners who studied or worked in the field of the skills that are necessary in their countries of residency
Persons who took part in a graduate medical training program in the U.S. role of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

Can The Two-Yr Foreign Residency Be Waived?

In that location are special circumstances under which a J1 visa owner does not have to fulfill the two-yr foreign residency period before existence eligible to change the status of their visa.

Yous demand to fulfill 1 of the scenarios below to be eligible for a J1 condition change two-twelvemonth foreign residency waiver:

No Objection from the U.S. Embassy in Your Habitation Country – The U.Southward. embassy or consulate in your dwelling house country gives consent through a "no objection letter" granting you permission to change your visa condition.
Asking by an Interested U.S. Government Agency – A U.South. government agency lays claim that you are an integral part of a program and tin can not exit it for two years.
Fear of Persecution in Your Home State – You can evidence across reasonable doubt that y'all volition be persecuted in your home country and you would like to seek aviary in the U.South.
Infrequent Hardship to Your U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Spouse or Child – Your spouse or children are citizens or permanent residents (with a green bill of fare) in the U.S. and they volition feel exceptional hardship if y'all accept to get out for two years. The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) would like to run across hardship beyond emotional, economic, or language difficulties. An example can exist that your child or spouse will exist persecuted in your home country.
Asking by a Land Department of Health – Foreign medical graduates who accept been granted a job offer from a state-endemic health care facility that will start within 90 days of them receiving a waiver. The areas must be in need of doctors and the applicant needs to show a willingness to work for iii years.

These requirements for a waiver need proof. You demand to work with the USCIS and government authorities in your local area to get the necessary information or proof captured to state your instance.

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Benefits of Changing Your J1 Visa Status

You probably already thought about some of the benefits of changing your J1 to H1B status. Or yous would like a J1 to F1 change of status. Hither are some more benefits of a J1 to H1B or J1 to F1 change of status.

Prolongs Your Stay in the U.S.

A J1 visa completes as before long as your visitor or exchange program has ended. Your J1 visa has a grace period upon the completion of your program. The grace menstruum usually lasts for 30 days which will give you time to return home. But, changing your J1 to F1 visa (for instance) volition permit you lot to stay in the U.S. for much longer. Your new visa is no longer bound to the exchange programme that got you into the U.S. in the first place.

Opens New Job Opportunities (H1B)

A J1 to H1B change of status volition open many job opportunities. H1B visa owners are in the U.S. because of their specialized skills. There is a large need in the U.Southward. for the skill set that makes an individual eligible for an H1B visa. Naturally, you should be able to find great chore opportunities when y'all are eligible for a J1 to H1B visa change.

Allows You to Go an Education (F1)

A J1 to F1 change of status will allow y'all to become a U.S. education. F1 visa holders are in the U.South. with the main purpose of studying. But F1 visa holders may also work on their campuses for 20 hours or less per week. They do not need permission from government to piece of work those 20 hours per week. During holidays and recess, the F1 visa holder can work full-time on campus (forty hours per calendar week). Afterwards the first year of studies, the F1 visa holder can utilize at the USCIS for permission to work at other jobs off-campus. This visa will help you to get an education and information technology will let you to get some work experience in your field of studies as well.

How to Modify from J1 to H1B

Allow's say you want a J1 to H1B change of status for your visa. That'south groovy! Hither are a few important things that you lot need to empathise and comply with to get your visa status changed.

H1B Eligibility and Job Eligibility

There are eligibility criteria in place to govern H1B visa grants. You need to come across ane of the post-obit:

You must have a completed Bachelor'southward degree or higher in the field of your specialized skill gear up. The qualification must be obtained from an accredited U.S. institution or a recognized strange school.
You must be the owner of an unrestricted state license, certification or registration that allows you lot to concord a job in the field of your specialized skill in the state you will exist living in.

Your job also needs to be eligible to grant you an H1B visa. Information technology needs to run into one of the following criteria:

The chore needs a minimum entry requirement of a bachelor's degree or higher.
The nature of the job'due south requirements and tasks need a skill level of someone with the aforementioned degree or experience equivalent to it.
The employer requires a degree or equivalent to fulfill the job.

Annual H1B Cap

Every year there are more than people applying for H1B visas than the total H1B visas granted by the government. The 2019 cap is 65,000 with an boosted twenty,000 for Master'southward degree holders.

How to Apply for a J1 to H1B Change of Status

Let'south look at how to utilize for your J1 to H1B visa change.

1. Find an H1B Sponsor

Your H1B visa is dependent on a job offer from an employer who is willing to be your sponsor. There are many ways to observe an H1B visa sponsor. Go yours and move on to the next footstep in the procedure.

two. Employer Submits Labor Conditions Approval (LCA)

Your employer will file an LCA to start the application process after you have been hired. The LCA is filed at the Department of Labor (DOL). The LCA filing states details about your employment like salary, working atmospheric condition, and location. Basically, the DOL would similar to know that you lot will exist treated fairly and equally equally residents in your field of work and state of residence in the U.S. would be.

The processing time of an LCA approval may differ but you can read more than most LCA approval in our guide.

3. Employer Submits Form I-129

Once the LCA has been approved your employer volition file the petition for a non-immigrant worker (form I-129).

This Application Needs:

The application fee
Documents stating your education and feel evaluation
Preparation certificates
Professional membership documents
Your resume
Employment Agreement
And the alphabetic character of support from your employer

four. Applicant Completes Application at a The states Embassy or Consulate

You need to look for the petition to exist approved. Then you need to go to the U.South. diplomatic mission or consulate in your dwelling state to procedure your new visa. Information technology should have betwixt 2-3 days merely information technology may differ in your domicile land.

Cost of a J1 to H1B Condition Change

The constabulary requires an employer to pay the toll involved with filing an H1B visa application. The DOL really does audits to ostend if but the employer paid the fees (even if the employee offered to pay themselves). This is put in place to protect the American workforce.

How to Alter from J1 to F1

As we explained in a higher place, you tin too change your status from J1 to F1.

You might accept been in the U.S. on your J1 visa for a while and in the meantime, you've been admitted to a U.S. based academic program that is an SEVP -approved school. Below we show you lot how to get a J1 to F1 change of status.

Prove Financial Eligibility

A J1 to F1 change of condition will permit y'all to study in the U.Due south. every bit a total-time student. You are only allowed to piece of work under very special circumstances mentioned in a higher place. Y'all need to prove that yous have the fiscal means to pay for a full year's worth of tuition, living expenses, insurance and all support for your dependents.

The Two-Year Residency Requirement

As we besides mentioned earlier yous need to either fulfill the ii-year residency requirement in your home land or you demand to take a successful application for a waiver. The USCIS will need sufficient proof of this before you are allowed to change your status.

J1 to F1 Alter of Status Application

At present for the practical part. How do you get the J1 to F1 application done?

Pay the SEVIS Fee and Receive an I-20

One time you are accustomed, you demand to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to be enrolled into the Student and Exchange Visitor Data System (SEVIS). Your school will then provide you with an I-20 form that you demand to present at your consular role visa status change interview. All of your dependents likewise need individual I-20 forms but they don't need to exist enrolled into the SEVIS.

Complete Your Online Application

Complete the online application and DS-160 form. Upload a photo in the explained format, pay the awarding fee (which should be around $160), become your payment receipt and store all this documentation to bring along to your J1 to F1 visa change interview.

Schedule and Prepare for Your Interview

You must schedule your interview early because waiting periods may vary per country and embassy.

Yous will need the post-obit at your interview:

Valid passport
Your completed DS-160 form
Awarding fee payment receipt
Passport photo
The I-20 form issued to you by your schoolhouse

Additional data that will be of value during the interview is whatsoever proof and eligibility for your studies like previous degrees and qualifications. Proof of your financial stability will be needed as well. Making utilise of clearing attorneys can aid you in this procedure (but it will, of grade, come up at a cost).

Attend Your J1 to F1 Alter of Status Interview

Attend the interview with the consular officer at which your application, eligibility, and proof of intent will be examined. The officer will determine the success of your visa application.

An F1 visa may be granted more than 120 days earlier your semester of studies get-go, but your visa is only valid thirty days before the start of your course.

Cost of a J1 to F1 Status Change

The fees which you volition need to pay for an application are as follow:

$160 – Application fee
$200 – SEVIS fee

That makes a full of $360, but you still need to prove your financial ability to finance your studies for a full yr as well. The price of this will be determined past your tuition fees and living expenses. Loans for international students have helped many people embrace all these extra upfront costs.

Please note the following, you are not required past the authorities to have medical assistance insurance. Simply, many schools require international students to accept medical insurance. You will exist forced to have the schools sponsored medical insurance (which can exist expensive) if you don't have a recognized plan of your own. Shop around and observe a solution that suits your needs as well equally the requirements of your school.

Finance Your Change of J1 Status with a Stilt Loan

Whether you want an H1B visa or a J1 to F1 change of status, both these processes will require costs that may exist across your means right now. You might besides need the aid of an chaser which can be quite expensive.

We have good news, however! A personal loan for a non-U.S. citizen from Stilt tin aid to cover these costs. Stilt'southward international student loans practise not require borrowers to have a cosigner or a minimum credit score.

Hither's how getting a loan with Stilt works:

Footstep 1

Decide how much money you need and apply online with your electric current visa. Accept a look at the eligibility criteria necessary for an application and make sure y'all gather all the required data. Your application and the information you provide will make up one's mind the loan offer you get.

Step 2

You will receive feedback inside 24 hours of your awarding. A promissory note will be sent to you with a loan offer once all the information is verified. Sign and render that note if you lot desire to take the loan. The funds will reflect in your account within 2-3 business organization days.

Concluding Step

Now all you demand to practice is repay the loan. Set up your payment method online and repay your loan in monthly installments.

Getting a loan with Stilt is that simple!

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Conclusion

In that location are great benefits to changing your status from J1 to F1 or J1 to H1B. Don't let the cost involved hold you back. Apply for a non-resident personal loan from Stilt today to help you lot finance your status change

Need a Loan? Get One in 3 Simple Steps

If you are considering applying for a personal loan, simply follow these 3 simple steps.

Apply

Apply online for the loan amount you need. Submit the required documentation and provide your all-time possible application. Stronger applications get better loan offers.

Accept

If your application meets the eligibility criteria, the lender will contact you with regard to your awarding. Provide any boosted information if required. Before long you lot'll have your loan offer. Some lenders send a promissory note with your loan offering. Sign and render that note if you wish to accept the loan offer.

Repay

The loan and so gets disbursed into your U.Due south. bank business relationship within a reasonable number of days (some lenders will be every bit quick as 2-3 business days). At present y'all need to ready upward your repayment method. Yous can choose an autopay method online to help you pay on fourth dimension every month.

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Most Stilt

Stilt provides loans to international students and working professionals in the U.S. (F-one, OPT, H-1B, O-1, L-one, TN visa holders) at rates lower than any other lender. Stilt is committed to helping immigrants build a amend fiscal future.

We take a holistic underwriting arroyo to determine your interest rates and make certain you get the lowest rate possible.

Larn what others are proverb virtually united states of america on Google, Yelp, and Facebook or visit usa at https://www.stilt.com. If yous have whatsoever questions, send u.s. an electronic mail at [email protected]

Frank Gogol

I'm a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write most the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to assistance immigrants brand the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and make have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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Source: https://www.stilt.com/blog/2019/02/j1-to-h1b/