Change of status
Change status without falling out of it.
We plan the filing, the timing and the backup path before your current status runs short.
The eligibility form takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
What a change of status actually involves
A change of status asks USCIS to move you from one nonimmigrant category to another without leaving the country. The filing has to land while your current status is still valid, and the eligibility rules differ by category.
- F-1 to H-1B, including cap-gap timing
- H-1B to O-1 when the job or the employer changes
- B-2 to F-1, plus dependent status for a spouse or child
Change of status or consular processing
Filing inside the U.S. is not always the better route. Consular processing can be faster in some cases, but it means travel and a visa interview. We walk through both, then recommend one in writing.
- How travel affects a pending change of status
- What each route means for your dependents
- Which route fits your start date and your employer
What happens if you fall out of status
Gaps in status carry real consequences, and they compound the longer they run. If your status has already lapsed, tell us on the call. There are sometimes options, and an honest answer is more useful than a hopeful one.
- How a lapse affects later filings
- Reinstatement for F-1 students, where available
- When departing and re-entering is the cleaner fix
Questions, answered.
How early should I file a change of status?
As soon as the facts support it. Filing late leaves no room for a request for evidence or a slow mailroom. We usually want the petition prepared well before your current status expires.
Can I travel while my change of status is pending?
Usually not without risk. Leaving the country while the request is pending can be treated as abandoning it. If travel is unavoidable, we plan the filing around it rather than after the fact.
Can my spouse and children change status at the same time?
Often yes. Dependent filings usually travel with the principal case, but they are separate applications with their own evidence. We identify who needs to file what during the assessment, before anything is submitted.
What does this cost, and what if USCIS says no?
One flat attorney fee, quoted in writing after the free assessment. USCIS decides every case, so nobody can promise an approval. Silverpoint does offer an attorney fee refund promise on the cases we accept.
Know your options before the deadline.
A free strategy session and a written assessment of your case before you pay us anything.