1. What Is Change of Status (COS)? Change of Status is a process that allows you to change your immigration status while remaining in the United States. You file a petition with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to switch from one nonimmigrant category to another (e.g., from F-1 student to H-1B worker). Key features: The process happens completely in the United States. You do not have to go outside the United States to find what the country has to offer the co