Visas and change of status
When your plans change, your status often has to change with them. A student becomes a worker, an exchange visitor marries, a fiancé(e) moves here. The timing and the order of filings decide whether you stay in status.
Who we help
- J-1 exchange visitors changing to F-1 or another status
- E-2 treaty investors and their families
- U.S. citizens bringing a fiancé(e) on a K-1 visa
- Visitors and students who need to extend or change status
How we handle it
-
Status review
We look at your current status, its end date, and any restrictions, such as the J-1 two-year home residency requirement.
-
Strategy
We pick a path: change of status inside the U.S. (Form I-539 or an employer petition) or a visa application at a consulate.
-
Filing
We prepare the application and supporting evidence and file it before your current status expires.
-
Follow-through
We answer RFEs and prepare you for any consular interview.
What clients say
Hiring Volkan and his team was one of the best decisions we made this year. Going into my husband's green card process, I was honestly nervous. Switching from an E-2 visa through marriage felt overwhelming, and we didn't know what to expect. Oğuz and Deniz kept us informed the whole way, and nothing ever felt rushed or confusing. Whenever I reached out with a worry, I got a quick, kind response. Their attention to detail showed in every document they put together. The results speak for themselves: our case was approved the day after our interview. I can't put into words how relieved and happy we are. If you need an immigration team you can trust, look no further. Thank you, Volkan, Oğuz and Deniz! ❤️
First of all, I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Volkan and his entire team. I live in California, and I initially worked with a different Turkish firm for my change of status process. Unfortunately, my case had reached the point where it was very close to being denied. Even though I had never met Mr. Volkan in person, he treated me like his own brother, took ownership of my case, and supported me throughout the entire process. Thanks to his dedication and the efforts of his team, my case, which was on the verge of being denied, was ultimately approved. I am truly grateful to Mr. Volkan and his entire team for their support and hard work. I highly recommend them to anyone who needs help with their immigration process.
We (me and my wife) have been working with Anik law firm (especially with Volkan and Deniz Bey) for more than a year, we were scared at the beginning that we will be interacting with "pure lawyers" but luckily we came across "human lawyers", which means besides extreme professionalism, experience, seriousness but also timely response , available when needed and sincere dialogue that guided our both F-1 and Green Card process successfully. That is the reason enough that we will be working with them during our upcoming relocation process to Europe, highly , highly recommend them !
Google reviews, shown unedited. More client reviews
Common questions
Can I change status from J-1?
Some J-1 visitors are subject to a two-year home residency requirement under INA 212(e), which blocks certain changes until it is met or waived. We check this first.
Is it better to change status here or apply abroad?
It depends on timing, travel needs and the visa category. We explain the trade-offs for your case.
Talk with an attorney about your case
Book a 30-minute consultation online, or call us at 551-274-5555.