| If a student transfers to a new school (whether
in the same or a different educational program), he or she must comply with the
SEVIS rules:
- Indication of New School
During the process of transfer, the
DSO must indicate the school to which the student intends to transfer
in SEVIS. Therefore, the initiation of a student record transfer
in SEVIS can only be carried out after the student has completed
the application and acceptance process and has determined the
school to which he or she is transferring.
- The Number of Schools to which a Transferring
Student may Apply
The SEVIS rule does not place any
limit on the number of schools to which a transferring F or M
student may apply. The transferring student may apply to and be
accepted by any number of schools. However, the SEVIS restricts
the number of SEVIS Forms I-20 that may be issued to a transferring
student. SEVIS will allow a student's record to be available only
to one school at a time.
Once the student decides which school
he or she intends to transfer, the DSO of his or her current school
will update SEVIS to reflect this choice and will enter the release
date for the student. The student's name will then appear in SEVIS
at the transfer school as an ``alert'' containing the student's
name and release date. When the release date is reached, the transfer
school will be able to issue the transferring student a new SEVIS
Form I-20. In most cases, schools will be not be sending the acceptance
letter and the SEVIS Form I-20 at the same time. If the student
changes his or her mind prior to the release date, the DSO at
the current school may cancel the transfer request. If the transfer
request is cancelled the student may continue studies at the current
school or make a new request to be transferred to another school.
However, once the release date has been reached, the DSO at the
current school may no longer
access the student's record in SEVIS. Therefore, a student who
changes his or her mind after the release date must work with
the DSO of the transfer school to accomplish a second transfer
to another approved school. In such cases, the DSO of the transfer
school must complete the transfer process for the student in SEVIS
and then initiate any subsequent transfer that the student may
request.
- Five Months--Transferring Period
The SEVIS rule also limits the length
of time a student may remain in the U.S. while transferring between
schools. The student may not remain in the U.S. between programs
if the student will not resume classes within 5 months of transferring
out of the current school, or within 5 months of the program completion
date as indicated on the Form I-20 issued by the current school,
whichever date is earlier.
In the case of a student authorized to engage in post-completion
optional practical training (OPT), the student must be able to
resume classes within 5 months of transferring out of the current
school that recommended OPT or the date the OPT authorization
ends, whichever is earlier. For example, in instances where a
DSO initiates a transfer within the 60-day period following completion
of studies, in order to remain in the United States between transfer
of programs or schools, the 5 month period begins tolling on the
date the program was completed, not the date the DSO initiated
the transfer. The initiation of a transfer out date occurs when
the DSO enters a date for the release of the student's record
to the transfer school. While the DSO may enter any date reasonable
and appropriate for a student's circumstances, in most instances,
the DSO will want to enter the release date as the date the student
completes the last day of the academic term at the current school.
- Notification Procedure of Transfer
of School
1. Non-SEVIS School to Non-SEVIS
School
To transfer from one non-SEVIS school
to a different non-SEVIS school, the student must first notify
the school he or she is attending of the intent to transfer, then
obtain a Form I-20 issued from the school to which he or she intends
to transfer. Prior to issuance of any Form I-20, the DSO at the
transfer school is responsible for determining that the student
has been maintaining status at his or her current school and is
eligible for transfer to the new school. The transfer will be
effected only if the student completes the Student Certification
portion of the Form I-20 and returns the form to a DSO of the
transfer school within 15 days of the program start date listed
on Form I-20. Upon receipt of the student's Form I-20 the DSO
must note ``transfer completed on (date)'' in the space provided
for the DSO's remarks, thereby acknowledging the student's attendance
at the transfer school; return the Form I-20 to the student; submit
the School copy of the Form I-20 to Service's Data Processing
Center within 30 days of receipt from the student; and forward
a photocopy of the school copy to the school from which the student
transferred.
2. Non-SEVIS School to SEVIS
School
To transfer from a non-SEVIS school
to a SEVIS school, the student must first notify the school he
or she is attending of the intent to transfer, then obtain a SEVIS
Form I-20 issued from the school to which he or she intends to
transfer. Prior to issuance of any Form I-20, the DSO at the transfer
school is responsible for determining that the student has been
maintaining status at his or her current school and is eligible
for transfer to the new school. Once the transfer school has issued
the SEVIS Form I-20 to the student indicating a transfer, the
transfer school becomes responsible for updating and maintaining
the student's record in SEVIS. The student is then required to
notify the DSO at the transfer school within 15 days of the program
start date listed on the SEVIS Form I-20. Upon notification that
the student is enrolled in classes, the DSO of the transfer school
must update SEVIS to reflect the student's registration and current
address, thereby acknowledging that the student has completed
the transfer process. In the remarks section of the student's
SEVIS Form I-20, the DSO must note that the transfer has been
completed, including the date, and return the form to the student.
The transfer is effected when the transfer school updates SEVIS
indicating that the student has registered in classes within the
30 days.
3. SEVIS School to
SEVIS School
To transfer from a SEVIS school to a SEVIS school the student
must first notify his or her current school of the intent to transfer
and must indicate the school to which he or she intends to transfer.
Upon notification by the student, the current school will update
the student's record in SEVIS as a "transfer out'' and indicate
the school to which the student intends to transfer, and a release
date. The release date will be the current semester or session
completion date, or the date of expected transfer if earlier than
the established academic cycle. The current school will retain
control over the student's record in SEVIS until the student completes
the current term or reaches the release date. At the request of
the student, the DSO of the current school may cancel the transfer
request at any time prior to the release date. As of the release
date specified by the current DSO, the transfer school will be
granted full access to the student's SEVIS record and then becomes
responsible for that student. The current school conveys authority
and responsibility over that student to the transfer school, and
will no longer have full SEVIS access to that student's record.
As such, a transfer request may not be cancelled by the current
DSO after the release date has been reached. After the release
date, the transfer DSO must complete the transfer of the student's
record in SEVIS and may issue a SEVIS Form I-20. The student is
then required to contact the DSO at the transfer school within
15 days of the program start date listed on the SEVIS Form I-20.
Upon notification that the student is enrolled in classes, the
DSO of the transfer school must update SEVIS to reflect the student's
registration and current address, thereby acknowledging that the
student has completed the transfer process. In the remarks section
of the student's SEVIS Form I-20, the DSO must note that the transfer
has been completed, including the date, and return the form to
the student. The transfer is effected when the transfer school
notifies SEVIS that the student has enrolled in classes within
30 days.
4. SEVIS School to non-SEVIS
School
To transfer from a SEVIS school to
a non-SEVIS school, the student must first notify his or her current
school of the intent to transfer and must indicate the school
to which he or she intends to transfer. Upon notification by the
student, the current school will update the student's status in
SEVIS as ``a transfer out'', enter a ``release'' or expected transfer
date, and update the transfer school as ``non-SEVIS.'' The student
must then notify the school to which the he or she intends to
transfer of his or her intent to enroll. After the student has
completed his or her current term or session, or has reached the
expected transfer date, the DSO at the current school will no
longer have full access to the student's SEVIS record. At this
point, if the student has notified the transfer school of his
or her intent to transfer, and the transfer school has determined
that the student has been maintaining status at his or her current
school, the transfer school may issue the student a Form I-20.
The transfer will be effected only if the student completes the
Student Certification portion of the Form I-20 and returns the
form to a designated school official of the transfer school within
15 days of the program start date listed on the Form I-20. Upon
receipt of the student's Form I-20 the DSO must do as follows:
note ``transfer completed on (date)'' in the space provided for
the DSO's remarks, thereby acknowledging the student's attendance;
return the Form I-20 to the student; submit the school copy of
the Form I-20 to the Service's data processing center within 30
days of receipt from the student; and forward a photocopy of the
school copy to the school from which the student transferred.
For more information
on F-1, please click on the following links:
Description
SEVIS
Application for an F-1 Visa
Obtaining an F-1 Status at the port of
entry
Change into F-1 Status in the U.S.
Eligibility for change into
F-1 Status in the U.S.
Maintaining F-1 Status
Change Name and Address
Transfer of School
Time limitation of F-1 Status
Extension of F-1 Status
Grace Period
F-1 Status reinstatement
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Change from F-1 Status to H-1B
Change from F-1 Status to immigrant
status
Spouse and Children of F-1
Attorney and filing fees
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
The Impact of I-140 Filing on F-1
Students
Memo: Be Aware of Abandonment of COS and AOS Applications
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