Overview
The United States admits F-1 students for the specific educational program listed on the Form I-20 and for a fixed period of admission shown on the I-94 record. If you complete one UW program and begin a new program at a higher academic level, your SEVIS record and Form I-20 must be updated before you begin the new program.
A Change of Level is the process ISS uses to update your SEVIS record when you move from one UW degree level to a higher UW degree level, such as a bachelor’s degree to a master’s or doctoral program, or a master’s degree to a doctoral program. The new I-20 must accurately reflect your new program, degree level, start date, program end date, and financial information.
Your I-20 is not the same as your period of admission. Check your most recent I-94 record for your Admit Until Date. If your Admit Until Date does not cover the time needed to begin or complete your new program, you may need to apply to USCIS for an extension of stay or depart the United States and re-enter with a valid F-1 visa and your new I-20. Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before making travel or employment plans.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for a Change of Level I-20 if all of the following are true:
- You are currently maintaining F-1 status.
- You complete your current UW degree program or authorized post-completion OPT.
- You are admitted to a new UW program at a higher academic level.
- Your new program begins within 5 months of completing your current program or OPT.
- You request the Change of Level within your 30-day grace period after completing your program or authorized post-completion practical training.
- Your Admit Until Date, extension of stay plan, or travel plan supports your continued F-1 status for the new program.
F-1 students who have completed a program at one academic level may not begin another F-1 program at the same or a lower academic level through the Change of Level process. If your plans involve a same-level program, a lower-level program, a change of major, a transfer, or a graduate program change before completing your current degree, submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before taking action.
Applying for a Change of Level
Start the Change of Level process as soon as you accept admission to your new UW program. Do not wait until the end of your grace period. ISS must update your SEVIS record and issue a new I-20 before you begin the new program, and you may also need time to address your Admit Until Date.
Before you submit your request
- Confirm your current program completion date or, if you are on OPT, your final day of authorized employment.
- Check your I-94 record and note your Admit Until Date.
- Confirm that the new program is at a higher academic level than the program you completed.
- Gather financial documentation issued within the last 12 months. Your documentation must show enough funds to cover at least three quarters of estimated expenses.
- Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor if your Admit Until Date expires before your new program begins, if you plan to travel, or if you are on OPT or STEM OPT.
How to request the new I-20
- Log in to your MyISSS profile.
- Go to the Requests & Documents section.
- Select the Change of Level/Program request.
- Upload the required documentation and submit the request.
- Review your new I-20 carefully when it is issued. Confirm that the program, degree level, start date, and program end date are correct.
Undergraduate students beginning graduate study
If you are completing a UW bachelor’s degree, or you are on approved OPT after completing a UW bachelor’s degree, and you have accepted admission to a UW master’s or doctoral program, submit the Change of Level/Program request in MyISSS unless your graduate admission instructions direct you to request the I-20 through your graduate application portal.
If you are on OPT, your OPT authorization ends the day before your new program begins, even if the EAD card lists a later end date. Do not work after your OPT ends.
Graduate students beginning a higher degree level
If you are completing a UW master’s degree and beginning a UW doctoral program, submit the Change of Level/Program request in MyISSS after you accept admission. If your department treats the move as an internal advancement rather than a new Graduate School admission, confirm the process with your graduate program coordinator and include that information with your request.
Graduate students may not use the Change of Level process to move to the same or a lower academic level after completing a program. Graduate students also face strict limits on changing academic objectives or institutions during a program. Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before changing your academic plan.
If you work on campus after receiving the updated I-20, contact your payroll coordinator to update your I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You must obtain the new Change of Level I-20 before you return to the United States for the new program. When you re-enter, carry the I-20 for the program you will attend, a valid passport, a valid F-1 visa, and any other required travel documents.
After you re-enter, check your I-94 record to confirm that your Admit Until Date was issued correctly. Request a new travel signature if you plan to travel again after entering for the new program.
Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before your Admit Until Date expires. A new I-20 updates your academic program in SEVIS, but it does not automatically extend your period of admission in the United States. You may need to apply to USCIS for an extension of stay or depart the United States and re-enter with your new I-20.
Possibly. You may be able to work on campus between degree levels if ISS completes the Change of Level process, your SEVIS record remains active, your employment is otherwise allowed under F-1 rules, and your Admit Until Date supports your continued stay. Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before continuing employment if your Admit Until Date will expire, if you have filed or will file an extension of stay, or if you are unsure whether the job is still authorized.
Not if you remain in the United States and continue to maintain F-1 status through the Change of Level process. The F-1 visa stamp in your passport is used to request entry to the United States. Your ability to remain in the United States depends on maintaining F-1 status and having a valid period of admission, not on whether the visa stamp has expired.
If you travel outside the United States after your visa expires, you must apply for a new F-1 visa before returning. For more information, review the Visas webpage.
No. Your OPT authorization ends the day before your new program begins, even if the printed end date on your EAD card is later. Do not work on OPT after the new program begins.
Before requesting the Change of Level I-20, confirm your final day of employment and review your Admit Until Date with ISS. You may need an extension of stay or travel and re-entry to continue in F-1 status for the new program.
No. After completing one academic level, F-1 students may begin another F-1 program only at a higher academic level. A new program at the same or a lower level is not eligible for the Change of Level process.
A Change of Level is for beginning a new program at a higher academic level after completing your current program. It is not the same as changing your major or academic objective during a program. F-1 rules place strict limits on changes of major, academic objective, and school transfer, especially for graduate students. Submit the ISS contact form or meet with an advisor before making changes to your academic plan.