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🇺🇸 United States

I-539 Extend/Change Status

Extend Your Visa or Change Visa Category

Medium ~30 min Visa ExtensionStatus ChangeImmigration

/ What is this form?

Form I-539 is used to extend your authorized stay (e.g., extend B-1/B-2 tourist visa) or change to a different nonimmigrant status (e.g., B-2 to F-1 student). File before your current status expires — filing on time preserves your legal status while the case is pending.

/ Who needs this form?

  • Tourists wanting to extend their stay
  • People changing visa categories (e.g., tourist to student)
  • Dependents (H-4, L-2) extending alongside a principal applicant

/ What you need before you start

Current I-94 record (from i94.cbp.dhs.gov)
Valid passport
Proof of reason for extension or change
Proof of financial support
Filing fee: $470

/ Step-by-step guide

1 Check Eligibility
Confirm your current status allows extension or change. Some statuses (D, C, WT, WB) cannot be extended. You must file before your current I-94 expiration date.
2 Print Your I-94
Retrieve your current I-94 record at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. You'll need the admit date and authorized stay information for the application.
3 Complete Form I-539
Fill in your personal information, current status, requested action (extend or change), and the new status or period you're requesting.
4 Gather Supporting Documents
Include your I-94 printout, valid passport, financial support evidence, and reason for extension or status change.
5 Submit Before Expiration
File with the $470 fee before your current status expires. Once filed on time, you're in authorized stay while USCIS processes your case.

/ Key fields explained

Field What to enter Common mistake
Requested action Extend stay or change status, and the specific visa category requested Must file BEFORE current status expires — filing after expiration results in denial

/ Common mistakes to avoid

Filing after status expires (application will be denied)
Not including the I-94 printout from i94.cbp.dhs.gov
Traveling outside the US while the application is pending (abandons the case)

/ Frequently asked questions

Can I stay while the extension is pending?

Yes, if you filed before expiration, you're in a 'period of authorized stay' while pending — but you cannot travel outside the US and re-enter.

How long does processing take?

Currently 4–10 months. Check the USCIS website for current processing times at the service center handling your case.