Changing Your Major, Degree Level, or School After Your F-1 Visa Is Issued

Changing your major at the same school

If you switch majors but stay at the same school and degree level, your DSO updates your SEVIS record to reflect the new field of study. Your DSO must make this update within 21 days of the change being finalized, so tell them as soon as your new major is official, not months later. You do not need permission from USCIS or the State Department for a major change, and it does not require a new visa application or interview.

Your school often issues a corrected Form I-20 showing the new major, mainly for your own records and for future employers or immigration filings that ask about your field of study. Keep both the old and new copies in your file.

Moving to a new degree level

Advancing from one degree level to another, such as bachelor's to master's or master's to PhD, is different from a major change. Your school runs a "Change Education Level" process in SEVIS, described by Study in the States .

This generates a new Form I-20 for the new level, and your SEVIS ID ends up carrying two records: your prior level becomes historical, and a new record for the new level becomes active once you register for it. You keep your original SEVIS ID number throughout, so this is not the same as starting over as a brand new student.

Start this conversation with your DSO before your final semester at the current level ends. The new I-20 needs to be ready and signed before your new program's official start date, and delays on either end push that date back.

Changing schools

Moving to a different school entirely, whether for the same degree level or a new one, is a SEVIS transfer rather than a simple update. Your current school releases your SEVIS record on an agreed date, and your new school issues a fresh I-20 once that release happens, per ICE's transfer guidance for F-1 students . A transfer needs more coordination than a major or level change, since two different DSOs at two different schools are involved, and you should confirm your release date with both offices before you commit to a start date at the new school.

Do you need a new visa stamp

None of these three changes automatically requires a new visa. Your visa stamp is checked only when you enter the United States, not while you remain inside the country. You need a new visa stamp only if your current visa has already expired and you plan to travel internationally and return, or if you are switching to a different visa category entirely rather than only a new F-1 program.

If your visa is still valid and covers F-1 status generally, a change of major, degree level, or school inside the US does not force a new application. If you plan to travel while any of these changes are in progress, confirm with your DSO first. An in-process SEVIS update or transfer complicates reentry even when your visa itself is still valid.

What happens to your F-2 dependents

If your spouse or children hold F-2 status tied to your SEVIS record, their I-20s update alongside yours whenever your record changes. A major change usually only needs your DSO to confirm their information is still current. A degree level change or a school transfer regenerates their I-20s along with yours, so give your DSO their passport and status details at the same time you start the process, not after.

Financial documents for a new level or school

A degree level change or a school transfer usually asks for updated proof of funding, since tuition and living costs differ between an undergraduate program and a graduate one, or between two schools. Prepare a current bank statement, sponsor letter, or scholarship award before you approach your DSO so the new I-20 reflects accurate figures and is not delayed by a request for more documentation.

What to tell your DSO and when

• Report a major change as soon as it is official, not at the end of the semester.

• Start a degree level change conversation early, since the new I-20 needs to be ready for your new program's start date.

• For a school change, secure admission at the new school first, then work with both DSOs on the SEVIS transfer timeline.

• Ask about your specific case before booking any international travel during a pending change.