International Students

General Information

Reinstatement is an application procedure used by the Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to return F-1 students to lawful visa status after a status violation has occurred. You must apply in person at the USCIS District Office located in downtown Los Angeles. The USCIS has requested that you do not mail your application because they do not have time to process applications received by mail. Examples of situations when reinstatement is advised include the following:

A student uses one school?s I-20 to enter the U.S. but attends another school.
A student does not follow transfer procedures when changing schools once in the U.S. (before completion of a degree or after graduation from a degree program).
Enrollment is less than full-time (12 units for undergraduate students and 8 units for graduate students) during Fall, Winter or Spring quarters (excluding the final quarter before graduation).
A student drops some or all classes and therefore does not complete the minimum unit enrollment during a quarter.
The completion date on a student?s I-20 expires and the student continues to take classes.

Reinstatement is usually approved by the USCIS when students are able to:

Establish to the satisfaction of the USCIS officer that violation of status resulted from circumstances beyond your control or that failure to receive reinstatement would result in extreme hardship.
Currently pursue or intend to pursue a full course of study.

Reinstatement can not be approved when students:

Work off-campus without authorization.
Are deportable on any other ground.

Application Procedures

Apply for reinstatement in person at the USCIS Office in Los Angeles, 300 North Los Angeles Street (Federal Building). Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. USCIS Officers are not available to see students Monday and Friday and they are closed on Saturday and Sunday. It is recommended that you arrive early in the morning because there is usually a long line outside the building. The building opens up at 6:00 A.M. You must first go to Room 1001 to get a referral slip to the Student/School Section, Room 2024. Office hours for Room 2024 are 7:00 A.M. ? 4:00P.M. It is recommended that you arrive in the morning because there are a limited number of referral slips given each day. If you are referred to room 2024 your application will be processed that day. Bring your valid passport and the following items for your application (if your application is not complete you will be asked to bring the missing items another day and no decision will be made on your case):

USCIS form I-539 (available at the International Center)
$300.00 Personal check or money order payable to USCIS
A new, original I-20 (pages 1-4) from the International Center
Copies of all I-20s and transcripts ( they do have to be official, sealed copies) or other proof of unit enrollment issued from Cal Poly Pomona and any previous schools you attended
Xerox copy of the front and back of your I-94 card (small white card in your passport)
Proof of financial support
Your letter explaining why you are out of status
A letter of introduction from the International Center

You will turn in your application in Room 2024. You will be instructed where to go to pay the $195.00 fee. An USCIS officer will review your application and may ask you questions. If you are granted reinstatement your I-20 will be stamped indicating that your application is approved. It is important for you to notify the International Center of the result of your application.

Make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor in the International Center before you go to the USCIS to make sure that your application is in order and that you understand possible consequences.

IMPORTANT ? Come to the International Center to let an International Student Advisor know the result of your reinstatement application. We need to keep a cop of your I-20 with the USCIS approval stamp for your file.