Category · Change of status
Change of status without leaving the United States.
Evaluate a new immigration category in the U.S., within the selected categories MGM supports, with preliminary screening and administrative coordination.
You can start with current status and the intended category — the administrative sequence is organized next.
Evaluate a new category · without losing your current context to disorganization.
Change of status addresses evaluating a new immigration category in the U.S., within the selected categories MGM supports, with preliminary screening and document organization.
New category evaluation
Preliminary screening to understand whether a category change makes sense in your scenario.
Stay in the current context
When applicable, the change may be evaluated without leaving the U.S. · depending on status and category.
MGM coordination
MGM coordinates information, documents and participants per scope; it does not guarantee approval.
How these elements apply depends on current status, intended category and the other applicable steps.
This page often fits when you are already in the U.S. and considering a category change.
Change of status deserves organization when there is active status, a goal of a new category and a need for screening before moving forward.
Already in the U.S. with active status
Study, temporary work or another nonimmigrant status that allows evaluating a category change.
Goal of a new category
There is an immigration category in mind, but eligibility and the next step still need clarity.
Need to organize documents
Information and documents need to be gathered with method before any operational advance.
Screening before advancing
Before investing time and resources, it makes sense to understand whether the change is viable in your scenario.
No single element defines the picture. The set must be organized and explored case by case.
Changing category also requires method.
Time in the U.S. and accumulated documentation should not be lost to disorganization at this stage. The first step is to understand what already exists and what still needs to be gathered.
Current status needs to be understood before evaluating a new category.
MGM coordinates information, documents, participants and administrative steps so change of status advances with organization and clarity.
We understand the scenario
We start with current status, the goal of a new category and what is already documented.
We organize the context
Information and documents are structured to reveal a coherent, understandable picture.
We coordinate the steps
Pending items, translations, providers, owners and deliverables are tracked according to the contracted scope.
You track the progress
You know what has been completed, what remains pending and what the next operational step is at this stage.
Guidance
Change of status and I-539 · how do they relate?
They are not competing pathways: change of status evaluates a new category; I-539 extends or maintains current status.
Change of status
Evaluate a new immigration category
Change of status addresses evaluating a new immigration category in the U.S., within the selected categories MGM supports, with preliminary screening.
I-539
Extension or maintenance of current status
When the goal is to extend or maintain the current nonimmigrant status · without changing category.
If you need to maintain current status, start with I-539. If you want to evaluate a new category, organize change of status with method.
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers before you begin.
Does MGM handle any change of status?
No. Change of status is limited to selected categories served by MGM, with preliminary screening. Cases outside that scope are guided with honesty
Do I need to leave the United States to change status?
In many scenarios, change of status is requested without leaving the U.S. Fit depends on current status, the intended category and applicable rules · and must be organized case by case
Is change of status the same as I-539?
No. In general, I-539 addresses extension or maintenance of current status; change of status evaluates a new category. Correct organization depends on the goal
Does MGM provide legal advice on change of status?
No. MGM coordinates information, documents and participants. Legal strategy, advice and representation belong to an independent licensed attorney when engaged
Which change-of-status categories does MGM serve?
Only selected categories confirmed by operations. The nominal list remains
Does the preliminary assessment guarantee eligibility or approval?
No. The preliminary assessment organizes the picture and guides the next step. It does not conclude eligibility, approval or outcome
What is Change of Status?
It is a request, filed inside the United States, to move from one nonimmigrant category to another (for example, from student to another authorized stay) without leaving the country. It differs from Adjustment of Status, which seeks permanent residence
What is the difference between a visa and immigration status?
In general terms (informational guidance): a visa (in the passport) is often tied to requesting entry in a category; status is the condition of stay after admission or an approved change inside the country. That is why someone may hold valid status even with an expired visa · and the reverse can also occur. The scenario depends on the case · confirm with an independent attorney
What is the I-94?
It is the admission record that generally shows the category and the date until which the person may remain in the United States for that entry. It is an important reference for anyone already in the country tracking the validity of status
What is USCIS?
It is the U.S. government agency that handles many immigration and citizenship filings inside the country (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). When a case has steps abroad, other agencies (such as the Department of State) may also be involved
Your change of status deserves a careful review.
Tell us about current status, intended category and what is already documented. We can start with current status and the intended category.
Initial contact with no guarantee of eligibility, approval or outcome. Submission does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not create an engagement. MGM provides global mobility coordination and administrative support; legal services, when needed, are provided separately by independent U.S.-licensed counsel.
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