It is not necessary to file a status extension along with the change of status application, as long as the request is submitted before your tourist status expires. Since July 2021, applying for a status extension is no longer mandatory for those requesting a change of status. What really matters is that the application reaches USCIS before your tourist status expires, and that the receipt (Form I-797) is issued before that date.

While the process is pending, the applicant will be in a provisional status, meaning they are not considered illegal in the country, even though their current status has not yet been changed. This means that while waiting for USCIS's decision, the person remains legally in the United States.

For English schools, the required documents usually include:
*Passport Photo
*Visa Photo
*I-94
*Proof of Financial Support (your own or from a sponsor) – the minimum amount is determined by each school based on the chosen course
*Proof of Address from outside the United States
*Proof of Address within the United States

If you wish to apply to a college, they usually also require:
*Translated Academic Transcript
*Proof of English Proficiency (each institution sets its own accepted test)

The I-94 form is the Department of Homeland Security's arrival and departure record, also known as the Arrival/Departure Record Card. It is issued to individuals who are admitted to the United States, those adjusting status while in the country, those extending their stay, and others.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer typically attaches an I-94 form to a nonimmigrant visitor’s passport upon entry into the country. Your I-94 will include an “Admit Until Date,” which indicates when your visa status expires. Brazilian tourists are usually given a maximum stay of 180 days, and if they wish to stay longer, they must apply for a Status Extension or Change of Status.
You can obtain your I-94 on the DHS website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

There is no predetermined timeframe, as Immigration may take 1 month or even over a year to review the case.

F-1 student status remains valid as long as the student is enrolled and actively attending an academic program in the United States. You may stay in the country until you complete your program of study, and even transfer to another course of interest without needing to apply for a new visa, as long as you meet the requirements of the school where you are enrolled. The Designated School Official (DSO) at your school is responsible for keeping your status updated in SEVIS, ensuring that your I-20 remains active.

However, it is essential to follow the school's policies and not violate any established rules. If the student fails to comply with institutional guidelines or drops out of the program, the DSO may report the I-20 as terminated in SEVIS, which results in the loss of F-1 status and a deadline to leave the country. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain your legal status by following all institutional regulations and never interrupting your studies without proper communication.

As a tourist, you are allowed to study for a maximum of 16 hours per week. To enroll in an intensive course of 18 hours or more, it is mandatory for the foreign national to have student status.

F-1 nonimmigrants, as defined in section 101(a)(15)(F) of the INA, are foreign students who come to the United States to pursue a full course of academic study at schools approved by SEVP. An F-2 nonimmigrant is a foreign national who is the spouse or child under the age of 21 of an F-1 student.

1. Enrollment in the school and issuance of the I-20 by the school.

2. With the I-20 issued by the school/college, along with the other required documents, we submit the Change of Status request to USCIS.

3. You wait for the process to be reviewed by Immigration.

4. Once approved, you will obtain F1 Student Status. You must send the Approval Notice to the school to inform them of the approval, and they will provide instructions regarding your classes.

As a foreigner, you must enroll in a school that is approved to accept international students and certified by SEVP. Click on the “Schools” menu above to see a list of schools in some U.S. cities. If you don’t find your city, please contact our team and we will help you find a school near you.

All F students studying in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), international students will receive a Form I-20 from their Designated School Official (DSO). This document carries a fee (the SEVIS Fee) that must be paid directly to the DHS in the amount of $350. This fee is not included in school tuition and is not paid by the school on behalf of the prospective student. The applicant is responsible for paying the fee directly on the DHS website. (At Prospect Visa, we include this service in our package for you!)

You must also obtain a Form I-20 for any qualified dependents you plan to bring with you to the United States. Both you and your DSO must sign the Form I-20. The prospective student must also sign the forms for any dependents, as dependents do not sign, regardless of age. If you are under 18, your parents must sign the Form I-20 for you. The Form I-20 is an important document that you should keep safe, as you will need it throughout your international student journey.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is a program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It ensures that government agencies have essential data related to nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors to protect national security. SEVP provides approval and oversight for schools authorized to enroll F and M nonimmigrant students and offers guidance to schools and students on the requirements to maintain their status.

SEVIS is a web-based system used to maintain information on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States. It is the core technology used by the DHS for this critical mission. SEVIS implements Section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which requires the DHS to continuously collect current information on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors throughout their stay in the United States. Additionally, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act; Public Law 107-56, amended Section 641) mandated the implementation of SEVIS by January 1, 2003.

Se o pedido de mudança de status de B2 para F1 for feito antes do vencimento do status B2, a pessoa permanece em status legal enquanto o pedido estiver pendente, mesmo que o prazo do visto de turista expire durante esse período. Essa condição é conhecida como "authorized stay", o que significa que a presença nos Estados Unidos é permitida porque o processo ainda está sendo analisado pelo USCIS.

Sim, a data de início das aulas indicada no Formulário I-20 pode ser posterior à data de vencimento do status de turista (B2), desde que o pedido de mudança de status de B2 para F1 seja enviado ao USCIS antes do vencimento do B2.

O que realmente importa para o USCIS é que o processo de mudança de status (Formulário I-539) seja protocolado dentro do período de validade do status atual. Ou seja, mesmo que a data de início das aulas no I-20 esteja marcada para depois do vencimento do visto de turista, a pessoa estará em "authorized stay", o que significa que sua permanência nos Estados Unidos será considerada legal enquanto o pedido estiver em análise.

No entanto, é importante observar dois pontos fundamentais:

- O intervalo entre a data do pedido e a data de início das aulas deve ser razoável. Se houver um período muito longo entre o envio do pedido e o início das aulas (por exemplo, mais de seis meses), o USCIS pode questionar o motivo dessa diferença e exigir uma justificativa convincente.

- Mesmo com o pedido em andamento e com o I-20 válido, a pessoa não pode iniciar os estudos nem frequentar aulas enquanto o status F1 não for oficialmente aprovado. O início das aulas só é permitido a partir do momento em que a mudança de status for concedida. No entanto você pode estudar um prorama liberado para turistas que não exceda 16hs semanais.

Portanto, é possível que a data de início das aulas no I-20 seja posterior ao vencimento do status B2, desde que o pedido de mudança de status tenha sido enviado dentro do prazo e todas as condições exigidas pelo USCIS sejam cumpridas.

Caso você seja parado pela polícia ou por agentes do ICE após o vencimento do seu status de turista (B2), mas já tenha solicitado a mudança de status para F1 antes do vencimento do B2 (ou tenha feito extensão de status) , é importante saber que você não está ilegal. Nessa situação, você se encontra em uma condição chamada "authorized stay", o que significa que sua permanência nos Estados Unidos é considerada legal enquanto o seu pedido está sendo analisado pelo USCIS.

Para comprovar que você está em situação regular, é essencial apresentar documentos que demonstrem que o pedido de mudança de status foi feito dentro do prazo e que ainda está pendente de decisão. Os principais documentos que você deve ter em mãos são:

- Recibo de protocolo da USCIS (Formulário I-797C) – Esse é o comprovante que confirma que o seu pedido foi recebido dentro do prazo e que está em análise. Ele contém o número do processo e a data em que o USCIS recebeu a solicitação.

- Cópia do seu Formulário I-94 – Esse documento mostra até quando o seu status de turista era válido, servindo como prova de que o pedido foi enviado antes do vencimento.

- Cópia do Formulário I-20 emitido pela escola – Mostra que você está vinculado a uma instituição de ensino e que a sua intenção é estudar legalmente nos Estados Unidos.

- Comprovantes de envio do pedido (como recibo do correio ou confirmação eletrônica, caso o processo tenha sido feito online) – Esses documentos servem como evidência adicional da data em que o pedido foi protocolado.

É altamente recomendável manter esses documentos organizados e sempre acessíveis, seja em formato impresso ou digital. Se possível, prepare também uma versão digital no celular ou na nuvem, com todos os arquivos e um pequeno resumo explicativo em inglês. Assim, caso seja abordado por alguma autoridade, você poderá comprovar de forma clara e segura que está em situação legal no país, aguardando a análise da mudança de status.