Regain F-1 Status

Required conditions:  

• You have not been out of status more than 5 months at the time of filing the request for reinstatement (or demonstrate that the failure to file within the 5-month period was the result of exceptional circumstances and that you filed for reinstatement as soon as possible under these circumstances). 
• You do not have a record of repeated or willful violations of immigration regulations. 
• You are currently pursuing, or intending to pursue, a full course of study in the immediate future at the school which issued I-20. 
• You have not engaged in unauthorized employment. 
• You are not deportable on any ground other than overstaying or failing to maintain status. 

You must also establish that: 

• The violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond your control. Such circumstances might include serious injury or illness, a natural disaster, or inadvertence, oversight, or neglect on the part of your International Advisor, but do not include instances where a pattern of repeated violations or a willful failure on your part.
• The violation relates to a reduction in your course load that would have been within your International Advisor power to authorize, and that failure to approve reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to you. 

USCIS will update your SEVIS record to reflect the decision. If your reinstatement is denied, you may not appeal the decision.  

Reinstatement Application Procedures

1. Schedule an appointment with your International Advisor to review your eligibility and the process. 
2. Submit your most recent bank statement to your International Advisor.  
3. File your application online or by mail and prepare the required documents:
   • Form I-539 Reinstatement to student status
   • Form I-539 Fee
     • $420 if filing online (upload payment receipt)
     • $470 if filing by mail, plus:
       • Form G-1450 (credit card payment)
       • Form G-1650 (ACH payment from a U.S. bank account)
   • Copies of your:
     • Valid passport
     • F-1 visa stamp or change of status approval notice
     • All issued I-20s
     • Most recent I-94
     • Signed reinstatement I-20
     • I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
     • Proof of full-time enrollment (class schedules, all transcripts (including other institutions), etc.)
   • A letter explaining your circumstances and requesting to be reinstated.
   • Any supporting documents.
   • Keep a copy of all documents
4. If you are filing paper application consider using certified mail to track your shipment. Mail the documents to:   
   • USCIS
   • Attn: I-539
   • P.O. Box 660166
   • Dallas, TX 75266-0166
5. Provide a copy of your USCIS receipt to your International Advisor.
6. Continue studying full-time and maintain good academic standing while your application is pending.
7. Contact your International Advisor right away if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE).

If some cases, you may have an option to depart the United States and re-enter with an initial status I-20. Consult with your International Advisor. Due to expanded travel bans and entry restrictions, reentry option involves risks and is not guaranteed. 

A minimum of two weeks before your planned departure date, submit a new bank statement to your International Advisor or to the designee to obtain an initial I-20 form. You are required to pay the I-901 fee for your new I-20, plan your arrival within the 30-days of the I-20 starting date, and report to your International Advisor upon successful reentry.