IMPORTANT ADVISORY:

COPY ALL DOCUMENTS AND FORMS BEFORE SENDING TO INS

AND RETAIN THE COPIES IN A SAFE PLACE.

Complete all the steps outlined below.

1. Obtain from the Center for International Faculty and Student Services

• a Form I-539

• a Form I-134

2. Bring to the Center for International Faculty and Student Services the following:

• the completed I-539 (filled out for "Change of Status")

• your I-20 and I-94

• a copy of your spouse's I-20 and I-94

• copy of your marriage license or other proof of family relationship to the F-1 principal

• evidence of financial support, as follows:

$ 4,000 for yourself

$25,000 for the F-1 student ($12,000 tuition and $13,000 for minimum living expenses)

$ 3,000 per child, as applicable

[Financial support can be in any combination of assistantships, fellowships, personal funds or personal sponsor funds (Form I-134), as long as the total meets the amount required.]

• evidence that your spouse has purchased or applied to purchase required health insurance for you and any other visa dependents

3. If you wish to have the application checked for accuracy, leave your application at the Center. You may return to pick it up in a few days. Be sure to leave your current phone number with the application in case we should need to contact you.

4. When you have picked up the reviewed application, submit the following to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service:

• a brief letter requesting the change of status to F-2

• the completed form I-539, with a check written to "INS" for $140 attached to the upper right-hand corner

• photocopies of your I-94 form and your F-1 spouse's I-94

• original I-20 form of yourself and a photocopy of your F-1 spouse's I-20

• evidence of financial support (see above, #2)

• proof of marriage (photocopy of marriage certificate)

• photocopies of pages from your passport which indicate passport validity and biographical information

Send these items to:

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Eastern Regional Service Center

75 Lower Welden Street

St. Albans, VT 05479-0001 (Certified mail is advised)

Remember: photocopy all documents for your records before submitting the originals to INS.