[1] Thus, even people from VWP-eligible countries who believe they might need to extend their stay or change their status should get B visas.
For the following categories, there are restrictions concerning one's ability to request a change in one's nonimmigrant status: For students on F visa (in post-secondary institutions) and their dependents, if the Form I-94 (or any update to it from a previously filed Form I-539) specifies "Duration of Status" (abbreviated "D/S") as the expiration date, then one simply needs to extend the underlying authorization.
[3] Explicitly, an updated Form I-20 needs to be issued to the student by the international office at his or her institution, with a new expiration date.
All reporting requirements imposed on students are to the DSO rather than directly to USCIS or DHS.
[3] Similarly, Form I-129 needs to be filed when transitioning from one temporary nonimmigrant worker status to another.
When changing status to the dependent of a temporary nonimmigrant worker, Form I-539 must be filed.
[5] Until the Form I-539 is approved, the person is not officially in student status and cannot start classes.
[7] The process generally takes 3–6 months, which can be considerably longer than traveling outside the United States and getting a new visa.
[9] The filing address depends on the type of status change or extension that the applicant is requesting.
The possible filing addresses include lockbox facilities, service centers, and (in the case of diplomatic statuses) appropriate international bodies.
A single ELIS account created by a person can be used for repeated filings of Form I-539 for extension of stay or change of status.
Moreover, despite not being in a lawful status, the applicant does not accrue "unlawful presence" for purposes of inadmissibility to the United States.
To the contrary, a change of status accomplished through Form I-539 can invalidate the existing visa.