H-1B: Change of status or consular processing

Greetings from the International Students and Scholars Center. Our records indicate that your SEVIS record has been completed and you are no longer in F-1 status due to a USCIS-approved change of status.

USCIS H-1B approvals

If you have been approved for an H-1B and your approval notice includes a new I-94 showing an H-1B status (I-797A), congratulations! Your F-1 status has automatically been completed in SEVIS. 

As part of your final F-1 reporting requirements, you must submit the F-1 Demographic Update eForm through the MyISSC eForm Portal. If you were on STEM OPT, you must also submit the  STEM OPT Employment Update eForm through the MyISSC eForm Portal to meet your final STEM OPT reporting requirements. 

If you have not been notified of a change of status approval, please contact the ISSC as quickly as possible. 

Consular processing H-1B approvals

If your H-1B was approved for consular processing (I-797B), you must have your F-1 visa status reactivated in order to remain lawfully in the U.S. until such time as you are able to travel to obtain your H-1B visa stamp, or until 60 days beyond the end of your current F-1 work authorization, whichever comes first. 

Reactivating your F-1 status

The ISSC can request that your F-1 visa status be reactivated as long as you have met all status requirements: 

  • Updated all employment and address changes within 10 days. 
  • Did not exceed the allowable DC Content: STEM completed last month 150 End DC Content;  DC Content: OPT completed last month 90 End DC Content unemployment days.
  • DC Content: STEM completed last month Reported STEM validation every six months in a timely manner, which includes self evaluations at 12 and 24 months. Links to report your participation can be found in the MyISSC eForm Portal under the F-1 Practical Training menu.

SEVIS will not reactivate your F-1 SEVIS record if you have not complied with all STEM reporting requirements.

End DC Content

You can request the reactivation of your F-1 visa status by responding to this email and attaching a copy of your I-797B approval notice and I-797C receipt notice. 

If you are not sure whether your H-1B was approved for consular processing, please consult with your employer or your immigration attorney, or check your approval notice.