Reinstatement

• Has not been out of status for more than 5 months at the time of filing the request for reinstatement
• Does not have a record of repeated or willful violations of Service regulations;
• Is currently pursuing, or intending to pursue, a full course of study in the immediate future at the school which issued the form I-20;
• Has not engaged in unauthorized employment; and
• Is not deportable on any ground other than section 237(a)(1)(B) or (C)(i) of the Act; and
• Establishes to the satisfaction of the Service by a detailed showing, either that: 

• • The violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond the student’s control. Such circumstances might include serious injury or illness, closure of the institution, a natural disaster; or
  • The violation related to a reduction in the student’s course load that would have been within a DSO’s power to authorize and that failure to approve reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to the student.

Procedures

You will need to submit the following documents to apply for reinstatement to F-1 status here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539

• Copy of your entire Form I-20 issued for applying for reinstatement purpose 
• Copy of paper or print-out of electronic Form I-94 (please click on the link for instructions) 
• Complete USCIS Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status and submit the appropriate fee. If you write a personal check, your address and phone number should appear on the check. You may also pay the fee with a money order or a cashier’s check.
• If you have been out of status for more than 5 months, you must pay the SEVIS fee and submit the fee receipt
• Copies of all of your immigration documents including valid passport, all U.S. visa stamps, and previous I-20’s
• A cover letter explaining the circumstances that led to the violation and listing schools you have attended in the U.S. in chronological order
• Provide an official transcript sealed in the envelope and a letter from your department or academic advisor 
• Submit documentation that demonstrates your ability to pay for your studies and support yourself while you are in the United States, such as a bank statement, or an offer letter from the department appointed as a GSI/GSRA.

What Happens Next

• If your application is denied, you may not appeal that decision and you must depart the U.S. immediately. The F-1 visa stamp in your passport becomes invalid immediately, even if the dates remain valid.
• If your application is approved, USCIS will send you your I-20 and Form I-797A. I-797A is your reinstatement approval notice. You may also receive either your original I-94 card back if you mailed in your original or you may receive a new I-94 card located at the bottom of Form I-797A. Please call the IC Front Desk to arrange a meeting with an international student advisor after you receive the above-mentioned documents. Please make two sets of copies of the documents and bring both the original documents and the copies to your meeting with the advisor.