Change of Level

On This Page: When to Apply • Apply for Admission • Request a Change of Level I-20 • Travel • Employment • Immigration Tutorial • Frequently Asked Questions 

If you are a J-1 student admitted to a new degree program at the University of Arizona, meet with an international student advisor to discuss whether any updates to your immigration documents or changes to your immigration status are needed.

Eligibility

You should request a Change of Level I-20 if:  

  • You have a valid U of A I-20, and
  • You are starting a new degree program that begins within 5 months of the end date of your current program or period of post-completion OPT. 

No action is required if:

  • You have a valid U of A I-20, and  
  • You are adding a certificate to your graduate program or a master’s to your doctorate.

You should request a new I-20 if:  

  • You do not have a valid U of A I-20, or  
  • Your new program starts more than 5 months after the end date of your current program or period of post-completion OPT.

Request a Change of Level I-20

After admission, complete these steps before the end of your 60-day grace period:

  1. Accept your admission to the program in GradApp (under “My Applications”).
  2. Submit the Change of Level e-form.  
  3. Upload your funding documents (bank statements from checking or savings accounts, proof of graduate funding or sponsorship).  
  4. Upload your Declaration of Support (for funding from family/friends).  
  5. If you have not yet received your diploma for your current degree program, you must enter your advisor's information so we can confirm your expected degree completion date.

For funding documents, review the Financial Guarantee Requirement. Contact your department if you have any questions about university funding.  

Travel

If you are approved for a change of level, your SEVIS number will remain the same, and you do not have to leave the U.S. before your new degree program, even if the visa in your passport has expired. However, if you choose to travel outside the U.S. before the beginning of the new program and your visa is expired, you must renew your visa in order to reenter the U.S.

Employment

If you are a currently enrolled student going directly from one degree program to another (for example, finishing your bachelor’s in the spring and beginning your master’s in the fall) you will continue to have on-campus employment authorization after your Change of Education Level I-20 has been issued. However, there may be other university policies regarding enrollment requirements for student workers that apply. Please check with your university employer.

If you are on post-completion OPT, your OPT authorization will end when your new degree program begins, even if it is before your EAD card's end date.

Immigration Tutorial

As part of the requirements for maintaining your status, you are required to complete the Immigration Tutorial again. You can access the Immigration Tutorial, which is part of the New Student Tutorials, in MyGlobal 30 days before your program start date.

Important The tutorial is due by your I-20 start date. If not completed by the deadline, a hold will be placed on your account, preventing any registration changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply for a Change of Level I-20 as soon as you are admitted to the new program.  The deadline to apply is at least three weeks prior to the end of your 60-day grace period.

  1. Print your I-20, then sign with a wet ink signature.

  2. If you are working on campus, send your updated I-20 to your hiring department so they can update HR's Workforce Systems. 

  3. Complete the Immigration Tutorial by your I-20 start date. You can access the Immigration Tutorial, which is part of the New Student Tutorials, in MyGlobal 30 days before your program start date. If not completed by the deadline, a hold will be placed on your account, preventing any registration changes. You do not need to complete the Check-In e-form again.

Yes.  If you travel internationally between programs, you must get a travel signature on your Change of Level I-20.  To request a travel signature, submit the Travel Signature e-form.  Additional information about documents required for reentry is available on our Travel page.

Yes, you may work on campus between programs as long as your Change of Level I-20 has been issued.  Be aware that you must meet the enrollment requirements for the university.

No and no.  Both your current and Change of Level I-20s have the same SEVIS ID number, so you do not need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again.  Additionally, you do not need to renew your visa, unless your visa has already expired and you will travel outside of the U.S.

 

Resources for visa renewal are available in the Frequently Asked Questions section of our Travel page.

Your OPT will be automatically terminated when you begin study at the new education level. 

If your current program I-20 has an "Active" SEVIS status, your new I-20 will remain in “Initial” status until your new program begins. To request earlier SEVIS registration, email sbuchman@arizona.edu.

Early registration may be necessary for:

  • Early completion of Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  • Driver’s license application/renewal
  • Beginning on-campus employment between programs

In all cases, you must first register full-time for the semester/term that your program begins.