Eligibility

To request a new I-20, you need to:

• Have maintained your F-1 status
• Have "D/S" written on your I-94
• Provide documentation that shows you have sufficient financial support for at least the first year of your new program
• Provide an admission letter or other proof of admission to your new program
• Start the program during the next academic semester

Procedure

1. Log in to ISSS Link and fill out the Change of Program I-20 Request e-form. You'll need to upload copies of:
   
   1. Admission letter or other proof of admission to your new program
   2. Passport ID page
   3. Most recent I-94
   4. Financial documents showing that you have support for your first academic year. The amount of your financial support should be equal to the estimated total cost of attendance for your academic program. Visit the ISSS Financial Requirements & Estimated Expenses page for financual document requirements, the ISSS financial sponsor form template, and the estimated cost of attendance for your new academic program. 
2. Within 5 business days, your ISSS advisor will process your request or let you know if any other documentation is needed.
3. We will email you when your new I-20 is ready.

Financial support

Eligibility

To request a new DS-2019, you need to:

• Have maintained your J-1 status
• Have "D/S" written on your I-94
• Provide documentation that shows you have sufficient financial support for the duration of your new program
• Provide an admission letter or other proof of admission to your new program
• Provide proof of your continuing health insurance coverage
• Start the program during the next academic semester

Procedure

1. Drop off these documents at the ISSS office in the North Decatur Building:
   1. Copy of your admission letter or other proof of admission to your new program
   2. Copy of your DS-2019 (page 1) and I-94
   3. Financial documents showing that you have support for your first academic year.
   4. Documentation showing your continued health insurance coverage
2. Within 5 business days, your ISSS advisor will process your request or let you know if any other documentation is needed.
3. We will email you when your new DS-2019 is ready.

Financial support

The amount of your financial support should be equal to your school's financial certificate. These certificates are updated each year, so if you need the latest version, please contact your school's admissions office directly.

If you're receiving funding from your school, you'll need a letter stating the amount and duration of the funding, and should differentiate between tuition and stipend.

If you're not receiving funding from your school, you'll need a letter from a financial institution showing that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. If another organization or person will be paying for your expenses, they need to sign the financial certificate confirming that they agree to sponsor you.

If your documents aren't already in English, you'll need to provide an official translation to ISSS.

Changes in your program objective

These program changes will be seen as changes in your program objective instead of simply changes in educational level:

• Changing from non-degree to degree-seeking

• Changing from degree-seeking to non-degree

• Reverse matriculation (for example, changing from doctorate to master's degree)

If you want to make one of these changes to your program, you need to apply to change your J-1 category (and pay a non-refundable fee). You'll have to prove to the Deparment of State that the change is "necessary due to unusual or exceptional circumstances." J-1 category changes are rarely approved.