Expedited Due to Assistantship

The Process

The USCIS California Service Center can take four to six months to process a nonimmigrant change of status application. Nevertheless, the NSC has, for the time being, agreed to "expedite" cases where an applicant is seeking to change to F-1 student status and has been offered a graduate assistantship. In order to expedite your change of status application, you must meet with an ISSS Advisor.

Steps to Request Expedited Processing

1. Please bring the documents listed on the Change of Status Checklist with you to a meeting with an ISSS Advisor.
   • If you have not yet received an I-20, one will be created for you during the meeting.
2. In addition, bring a credit card to which we may charge the FedEx fees (approximately $15).
3. The ISSS advisor will review your materials and attach a cover note to USCIS explaining the situation. All materials will then be sent via FedEx to USCIS.

*Although you are requesting expedited processing, you are not guaranteed that your application will be processed immediately. A request to expedite may take one week from receipt of the request, however, it may take up to six weeks or more.

*F-2 nonimmigrants cannot begin studying or working until the change of status is approved by Immigration.