Help Center

What is the I-94 (and how to get yours)

Your I-94 is the official record of your entry to the U.S. It shows your status and the date you must leave by. You download it free from the CBP website.

What is Form I-539

Form I-539 is the USCIS application to extend your stay or change your status while you are inside the U.S. It is the main form of your case.

How a B-2 visitor extension works

You can ask USCIS for more time as a B-2 visitor by filing Form I-539 before your I-94 Admit Until date. File early — being on time is what matters.

Changing from B-2 visitor to F-1 student

A change of status to F-1 lets you become a student without leaving the U.S. You need an I-20 from a school and you file Form I-539.

Proving you can support your stay (financial documents)

USCIS wants to see you can pay for your stay without working illegally. Recent bank statements or a sponsor letter usually do this.

Your statement letter (why you are asking)

A short letter in your own words explaining your reason, your dates, who pays, and your plan to return home. The assistant writes it with you.

Showing your ties to your home country

USCIS wants to see you plan to return home. A proof of address in your name and other ties (job, family, property) help show this.

How to sign your forms correctly

Every signature must be by hand, in black ink, on the printed pages. Applicants 14+ sign their own form; under 14, a parent signs.

Printing, assembling and mailing your package

Print single-sided on white paper, sign with a pen, add the fee, and mail to the correct USCIS lockbox for your state, with tracking.

Paying the USCIS filing fee

The I-539 has a government fee. You can pay by check or money order, or include Form G-1450 (card) or G-1650 (U.S. bank debit) in your package.

Tracking your case after you mail it

After USCIS receives your package they mail a receipt notice with a case number. You track it online at the official USCIS status site.

I-797 notices: receipt vs. approval

The I-797 is the letter USCIS mails about your case. A Receipt Notice (I-797C) confirms they got it; an Approval Notice means it was granted.

How long can I stay, and what if I file late?

Your allowed stay ends on your I-94 Admit Until date. You must file the extension before that date. Filing late is a serious, legal-judgment situation.