If an F-1 student with an Active SEVIS record wants to transfer to another school, what obligations does that student have?
The student must maintain F-1 status at your school by pursuing a full course of study or be engaged in post-completion optional practical training (OPT) until the transfer release date.
The student must be accepted by another SEVP-certified school. The student should bring you the following information:
- Written confirmation of the acceptance
- Contact information for the new school’s DSO
- The SEVIS school code for the transfer-in school to ensure transfer to the correct school
Work with the student to choose a transfer release date. Base that date on the student’s academic needs, travel and work plans and projected program start date at the transfer-in school.
A transferring student must also contact the new DSO within 15 days of the program start date and register for classes. These students need to ensure that the DSO at the transfer-in school has all the information needed to update the SEVIS record, including any change of address. Advise the transferring student to contact the DSO at the transfer-in school. The DSO at the transfer-in school will be able to create a Form I-20 issued for the reason of transfer. Once a transfer student registers, the student should ask for a Form I-20 that shows the status as a continuing student and that the transfer is approved.
On the transfer release date, the responsibility for the student’s SEVIS record transfers to the DSO at the transfer-in school. You can no longer have access to the record to make changes or print a new Form I-20. Your school will have a Deactivated record for the student.
This Form I-20 will have the student’s new program start date. It is important that the student get a new valid Form I-20 as quickly as possible. The Form I-20 from your school will no longer be valid.
What are the choices for an F-1 student with a Terminated SEVIS record who wants to transfer to another school?
The student has three choices:
- Apply to USCIS for reinstatement before transferring to another school.
The student must continue to maintain a full course of study and otherwise abide by the regulations governing F-1 students while USCIS adjudicates the reinstatement. See the USCIS website for information on how to file for reinstatement.
If USCIS denies the reinstatement application, the student must leave the United States immediately or risk being placed in removal proceedings at any time under §237(a)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended.
- Request that you transfer the Terminated record to the transfer-in school.
You will need confirmation that the student received acceptance to the new school. On the transfer release date, the transfer-in DSO becomes responsible for the student’s SEVIS record, making the recommendation for reinstatement on the student’s SEVIS record, and issuing the student a new Form I-20 for the reason of reinstatement.
The student will be responsible for properly filing for reinstatement with USCIS. The student must intend to pursue a full course of study at the next available term or within five months, whichever is earlier, at the transfer-in school (8 CFR 214.2 (f)(16)(i)(C)). The only exception is that if the student’s SEVIS record was erroneously Terminated, the transfer-in DSO may instead seek a data fix through the SEVP Response Center.
The student must begin to attend the transfer-in school in the next available session even if USCIS has not yet adjudicated the application for reinstatement or if the SEVIS record has not been fixed yet. If USCIS denies the reinstatement application, the student must depart the United States.
- Get an Initial Form I-20 from the new school.
The student must exit the United States and return as an initial entry in a new F-1 nonimmigrant status (initial admission). A student who chooses this option must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. The student will also lose credit for any time accumulated toward qualification for benefits such as optional or curricular practical training (CPT).
If the student’s visa is valid, the student does not need a new visa. If the student has a Terminated record because of a failure to maintain status or has violated any provision of the INA, as amended, the student may be denied re-entry to the United States under §212(a)(6)(G) of the INA, as amended.
If a new Initial F-1 student wants to transfer to another school, what must happen?
As with any Initial student, the student must report to your school by the program start date listed on the Form I-20 (in person or via e-mail, telephone and/or fax).
For any F-1 transfer, the student first must provide written verification of acceptance at another SEVP-certified school. The options depend on the program start date and when the student enters (or plans to enter) the United States.
- If the student has received acceptance by another SEVP-certified school with a program start date fewer than 30 days before or after the student’s initial admission into the United States, you must transfer the student’s SEVIS record. Follow the directions in the next question for transferring an Initial record.
- If the student does not have a program start date at the transfer-in school within 30 days of the initial admission into the United States, the student may do one of the following:
- Enroll for a full course of study at the transfer-out school. Once the student’s record is Active, the student may request a transfer following the procedures above.
- Withdraw acceptance to your school and then leave the United States and get a new Form I-20 from the DSO at the school the student wants to attend. After leaving the United States, the student must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee for the new school. Since the student entered the United States and reported to a DSO at your school, you must make the record Active and then terminate it for authorized early withdrawal. The student must exit the United States within 15 days. Use this option only if you know the student plans to leave the United States.
- The student may ask to have the DSO transfer the Terminated record if all three of the following conditions exist:
- The student does not choose one of the options above
- The student fails to enroll for classes
- You have terminated the student’s SEVIS record for Failure to Enroll
How do I transfer an Initial SEVIS record?
SEVIS functionality requires that you make the student’s record Active in SEVIS in order to release the record to the transfer-in school.
For the current session end date, use today’s date. For the next session start date, use tomorrow’s date. Select the Transfer Out function and use tomorrow’s date as the transfer release date. Write "Transfer of initial student not enrolled at this school" in the remarks.
You can make a student’s SEVIS record Active solely for the purpose of initiating a transfer. ICE does not (and will not) view this as registering the student. In this circumstance, the SEVIS record clearly indicates the student properly reported to your school and that you properly initiated an immediate transfer of the student’s SEVIS record. It does not indicate that the student enrolled in classes.
How long must a student with an Active SEVIS record wait between ending classes at a transfer-out school and starting classes at a transfer-in school?
This depends on the student’s circumstances. According to 8 CFR 214.2(f)(8)(ii)(C), the DSO at the transfer-out school controls the student’s SEVIS record until the transfer release date.
- If classes are in session, the student must attend classes and otherwise maintain status until the transfer release date.
On the transfer release date, the DSO at the transfer-in school controls the student’s SEVIS record. The student must begin classes at the transfer-in school at the next available term or within five months, whichever is sooner, unless taking an authorized break or vacation during that term.
- If the next available term does not start within five months of the last date of school attendance or program completion date at the transfer-out school (whichever is earlier), the student must depart the United States until able to begin the new program. The DSO will not handle this as a transfer. The student will get a new SEVIS record and the DSO will send the student an Initial attendance Form I-20. The student must then pay the I-901 SEVIS fee and apply for a new F-1 visa, if required.
How long must a new Initial student wait before attending classes at a new school?
How long can a student with a Terminated SEVIS record wait between ending classes at a transfer-out school and starting classes at a transfer-in school?
A transfer student with a Terminated record must report to the DSO at the transfer-in school no later than 15 days before the program start date for the next available term. The student must take a full course of study even if USCIS has not adjudicated the reinstatement application.
The student may want to report on the record release date to file a timely reinstatement application.
When does a student need to contact the DSO at the transfer-in school?
Advise the student to contact the DSO at the transfer-in school as soon as possible after the transfer release date. The student should be sure to do the following:
- Ensure that the DSO has all information needed to update the SEVIS record
- Request a copy of the new Form I-20 reflecting the transfer and the new program start date (Block 3 on the Form I-20 will show a pending transfer from the transfer-out school )
When does a student report to a new school?
The student must report to the school no later than 15 days before the program start date.
One purpose of the transfer procedures is to keep the same SEVIS ID number for the student. When a student brings you proof of acceptance from another SEVP-certified school, you will need to coordinate with the student to establish a transfer release date.
The transfer-in school can only create a draft but cannot issue a Form I-20 until the transfer release date.
How do I set a transfer release date?
The transfer release date is the date that access to the student’s SEVIS record will shift from the DSO at the transfer-out school to the DSO at the transfer-in school. According to 8 CFR 214.2 (f)(8)(ii)(C), the transfer release date is "the current semester or session completion date, or the date of expected transfer if earlier than the established academic cycle." Among the considerations in setting the date are allowing the following:
- Time to complete all study at the transfer-out school
- Time for travel outside the United States, if applicable
- Time for working during school vacation, if applicable
SEVIS will not allow you to set a transfer release date more than six months in the future.
See the section on special circumstances for more information that may impact the choice of an appropriate transfer release date.
What if the student’s transfer plans change before the release date?
Before the transfer release date, as the DSO from the transfer-out school, you can update SEVIS to reflect changes in the student’s plans. If the student decides not to transfer, cancel the transfer using the Cancel Transfer option on the student information screen. You can also cancel the transfer and re-enter transfer data to change the following:
- The transfer-in school, if the student decides to go to a different school
- The transfer release date, if the student decides to accelerate or postpone the transfer
Beginning on the transfer release date, the DSO at the transfer-out school has read only access to the student's SEVIS record. The record will be in Deactivated status. After this point, the transfer-out DSO can no longer make changes and will not be able to see changes made to the record by the transfer-in school. Only the DSO at the transfer-in school can make changes to the record.
How do I initiate the transfer process for the student in SEVIS?
Using the Transfer-Out screen in SEVIS, enter the transfer release date that you choose in consultation with the student. The SELECT button opens a second screen where you can type the name of the transfer-in school.
If you use wildcards and type in a partial name, you will see a list of all schools with names that meet the search criteria. For example, typing tex* will result in a list of all schools whose names start with tex and typing *tex* will return a list of all school with tex anywhere in the name. This list will show the school’s name in SEVIS and the school code.
Many schools have similar names, so ensure that the school code matches the one you got from the student. If necessary, call the transfer-in DSO and verify the number.
Convey the transfer information to the student. Be sure the student is aware of the transfer release date and how it affects his or her status.
Must a new Initial student report in person in order to transfer to another school?
No. The DSO can transfer the record based upon phone, fax, mail or e-mail notification. If the notification is by phone, you will need to have the student fax or e-mail the student’s acceptance to the new school and a copy of both sides of the student’s Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record," so you can verify the date of entry.
Follow the directions in the question If a new Initial F-1 student wants to transfer to another school, what must happen?
A new Initial student who does not ask for a transfer within 30 days of arrival in the United States must immediately report in person to the DSO at the school listed on the visa, if applicable.
DSOs are required to transfer the student’s SEVIS record upon request. Individual SEVP-certified schools may have additional transfer policies that students may have to follow.