Can I Change From H-1B to F-1 Student Status?

Two ways to become an F-1 student

• Change of status: you stay in the US and file Form I-539. You must be in valid H-1B status, or inside your grace period, when USCIS receives it.
• Consular F-1 visa: you leave, apply for an F-1 visa abroad and enter as a new student. New students can generally enter up to 30 days before the program start date.
• Studying on H-1B: if you keep your job, you may not need F-1 at all. University guidance says H-1B workers can study part time or full time, as long as it does not interfere with the H-1B job.

Steps for a change of status

1. Get admitted to a full-time program and ask the school for an I-20 for a change of status.
2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, which is $350 for F-1 students.
3. File Form I-539 with your I-20, SEVIS fee receipt, I-94, proof of funds and proof of H-1B status, such as recent pay stubs. The fee is $470 on paper or $420 online.
4. Add premium processing if timing is tight. It costs $2,075, and USCIS acts within 30 business days.
5. Wait for approval before starting classes. F-1 status takes effect on the day USCIS approves it.
6. If approval will not come before your program start date, ask your school to defer your start date in SEVIS before that date arrives.

Timing after a layoff

USCIS must receive your I-539 before your grace period or I-94 ends. The grace period is up to 60 days; see our grace period guide.

Since July 2021, you no longer need to file extra bridge applications to stay in status while the F-1 request is pending. Your status only has to be valid when you file.

A timely, nonfrivolous filing generally stops unlawful presence from building while it is pending, if you did not work without permission. Leaving the US while it is pending generally abandons it.

DHS proposed ending the 60-day grace period on September 11, 2026. Comments close November 10, 2026. If it becomes final, you may need to file before your job ends.

Working on F-1

If you are still employed, your H-1B job generally ends when the F-1 is approved or the H-1B ends, whichever is first. Northwestern's guidance says this.

Once in F-1, you can work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session. Avoid any work more than 30 days before your program start date.

Curricular practical training (CPT) and OPT generally require one full academic year in F-1 status first. Some graduate programs require CPT right away. Read Day 1 CPT risks before choosing one.

OPT allows 12 months of work per degree level, plus a possible 24-month STEM extension. If you already used OPT for a master's, a second master's does not give you new OPT. See OPT and STEM OPT.

Effect on a future H-1B

• If you were counted against the cap in the past six years, a later H-1B petition generally is not subject to the cap again. That means no lottery.
• Time in F-1 does not use up your six-year H-1B limit, but it does not reset it either. A full reset needs one year living outside the US.
• Moving back from F-1 to H-1B inside the US is a change of status. If granted, the $100,000 payment generally does not apply. That payment is blocked by courts as of October 21, 2026.
• Cap-gap protection is for cap-subject petitions. If you are not subject to the cap, plan your start date with the employer. See OPT to H-1B.

Risks to weigh

• Denial: if the F-1 request is denied after your grace period has ended, you can be out of status. Unlawful presence starts the next day.
• Consular route: a visa officer must accept that you will leave after your studies. A prior H-1B or green card steps such as an I-140 can make that harder.
• Rules in flux: a July 17, 2026 rule would replace open-ended student admission with fixed periods. A Massachusetts federal court blocked it on September 14, 2026. The case is ongoing.
• Cost: proposed OPT fees of $70,000 and $30,000 are not final. Read proposed H-1B and OPT fees.
• Tuition and lost income are the biggest costs. Compare F-1 with a new job search; see our 60-day job search plan.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with an immigration attorney.

Questions

Sources

• USCIS Policy Alert: Students changing status to F-1 (July 20, 2021)
• 8 CFR 214.2: F-1 and H-1B rules (eCFR)
• USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
• ICE: I-901 SEVIS Fee
• Ohio State Office of International Affairs: Change of status
• Fragomen: Court postpones rule eliminating duration of status (Sept. 14, 2026)
• Federal Register: Eliminating the Discretionary 60-Day Grace Period (91 FR 57807)

Read next

H-1B Change of Employer Checklist (2026)H-1B Amendment for a Location Change: When You Need OneH-1B Transfer: How Changing Employers Works