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Change of Status to F-1 in Fullerton: Should You File Before September 15, 2026?

Update, September 20, 2026: The September 15 deadline discussed below did not take effect. A federal court paused the new F-1 rule on September 14, 2026, and F-1 students remain on duration of status for now. For the latest, read Change of Status to F-1 in Irvine: The September Deadline Is On Hold.

Change of Status to F-1 in Fullerton: File Before or After September 15?

If you are in the United States on a B-2 visitor visa and thinking about studying English, one date should be on your calendar: September 15, 2026. That is when a new DHS rule replaces "duration of status" for F-1 students with a fixed period of admission — and it changes what a change of status approval actually gives you.

Why the timing matters

A change of status approval is itself an admission decision. If USCIS approves your Form I-539 before September 15, you still receive duration of status, and transition provisions generally let you continue to the program end date on your I-20. You also keep the 60-day grace period instead of the new 30 days, and any English study completed before that date does not count toward the new 24-month ESL limit.

If your approval lands on or after September 15, your I-797 approval notice will carry a new I-94 with a fixed end date. That date, not your I-20, governs how long you may stay — and overstaying it can start unlawful presence right away, without waiting for a formal finding.

What has not changed

You still may not begin classes until your change of status is approved. You still should not travel while your I-539 is pending. And you still need an Initial Attendance I-20 from a SEVP-approved school before you can file.

Plan your English study in Fullerton

AELS Fullerton offers small-group ESL classes in Fullerton built for adults — conversation-focused lessons, TOEFL preparation, and college pathway support. As a SEVP-approved English school in Fullerton, we issue Initial Attendance I-20s and help students changing status from B-2 line up their start date, their I-20, and their filing so the pieces fit together. If you are searching for adult English classes in Fullerton CA while you plan a change of status, come talk to us before you file.

📍 Learn more about our ESL programs at www.aels.edu or visit our AELS Fullerton location on Google Maps to experience small-group English classes focused on conversation, confidence, and real-life communication. → AELS Fullerton on Google Maps

👉 Read the full article here: Change of Status to F-1 in Fullerton: File Before or After September 15?

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Location: 223 E Imperial Hwy #115, Fullerton, CA 92835, USA

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