Admission to a new school does not by itself authorize an international student in F-1 status to begin studying full-time at the new school.
You must request your current school (UW) to transfer/release your F-1 U.S. government SEVIS I-20 record to your new school before you can begin full-time studies there. The U.S. government calls this process a “SEVIS transfer.” (It is different from an “academic transfer.”)
There are several benefits to a SEVIS transfer:
The U.S. government considers all the following examples to be possible “SEVIS transfer” situations:
If the period of time between F-1 activities is longer than 5 months, your SEVIS record is not eligible for transfer. Your new school must issue a new initial I-20 with a new SEVIS number.
Only one school at a time can access your F-1 SEVIS record. On the SEVIS I-20 transfer/release date, SEVIS access “transfers” from UW to your new school.
The SEVIS transfer affects your F-1 benefits, including employment, travel, and I-20 validity.
The following chart provides guidance for choosing your SEVIS I-20 transfer/release date. Also, remember:
ISS does not complete transfer eligibility or verification forms for students. ISS will never transfer terminated or completed SEVIS records without first consulting with a DSO at your new school. And, we confirm that you have maintained F-1 status before we complete every transfer. We encourage you to share any information regarding past enrollment, CPT, OPT, or reduced course loads with your new school upon their request.
You may stay in the U.S. in between programs/F-1 activities if the SEVIS record transfer procedures are correctly followed. If the period between programs is longer than 5 months, your new school must issue a new initial I-20 with a new SEVIS number. You must leave the U.S. within your 60-day grace period and re-enter no earlier than 30 days before your new program start date.
You must enter the U.S. on the I-20 from the new school. It is important to discuss your travel plans with your international student adviser at the new school so that an appropriate “transfer out” date and new I-20 issuance can be coordinated to facilitate your travel.
As long as you have followed the proper transfer procedures, you will be able to use your current, unexpired F-1 visa to reenter the U.S. even though it has your previous school name printed on it.
If your F-1 visa will expire in between degree programs, remember you can stay in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa as long as you are following the correct SEVIS transfer procedures. You must apply for a new F-1 visa if you travel internationally. For more information review Visas information.
Graduating Students:
Your UW on-campus work permission ends the last day of your final quarter.
While the UW allows student hourly workers to continue employment for one quarter following graduation, students in F-1 status cannot work on campus after graduation because of U.S. government rules.
Students Transferring Schools to Complete Current Degree Level:
You may only work on campus at the school that has access to your SEVIS record. Contact the international student adviser at your new school to verify employment eligibility. Your UW on-campus work authorization ends on the SEVIS transfer release date.
You are eligible to request a SEVIS record transfer during the 60-day grace period following your program completion. However, remember to allow for ISS processing; contact ISS at least 3 weeks before the end of your 60-day grace period to request the SEVIS transfer. If you are authorized for OPT you can request a SEVIS record transfer during your OPT period and within the 60-day grace period following your OPT expiration date.
If you are currently authorized for OPT, choose carefully when deciding what date you would like your SEVIS record transferred to your new school. OPT authorization ends on the “transfer out” date, even if the EAD card is not yet expired. If you plan to work between programs while on OPT, coordinate with your international student adviser at both schools to determine an appropriate “transfer out” date.
Yes. You must report to your new school’s International Office within 15 days of the program start date listed on your I-20.
Your new school will issue you a new I-20 to show you have completed the school-to-school SEVIS record transfer process correctly. This update changes the issuance reason from “transfer pending” to “continued attendance” as in this example.