Transferring - One Institution to Another

If you are transferring to another school in the U.S. be sure to follow the proper immigration procedures so that you will stay in active immigration status.

J-1 students will need to provide ISSS with:

  • An acceptance letter from the new school you plan to attend.
  • A "transfer verification form" from the new school you plan to attend (contact the International Student Services office at the new institution for this form).
  • The date you would like your SEVIS immigration record to be "released."

By bringing ISSS the above, you are ensuring your admittance at a new school before ISSS "releases" your record in SEVIS. This transfer release means that your information will be accessible by the new school so that they can issue a new DS-2019 using the same SEVIS ID. Please remember that once we release your data, we will not be able to reverse it and only one school can access your information once released. This means that you will need to think carefully about choosing a new school to transfer to.

You must also fill out a Petition to Withdraw or a Leave of Absence form and submit it to the Registrar's Office before we can release your SEVIS record to the new school. You can find the form on their website. 

As soon as you arrive on your new campus, report to the International Student Services office. They will make sure that your transfer process has been completed according to immigration regulations. If you wish to leave the U.S. during the transfer, consult your International Student Advisor at your new school. You will need your DS-2019 from the new school to apply for a new visa and re-enter the United States.

J-1 students may transfer to another institution as long as they meet the following conditions:

  • The new institution must have an exchange visitor program approved by the U.S. Information Agency
  • You must continue to pursue the original educational objective
  • You must obtain approval to transfer from the Responsible Officer (usually the International Student Advisor or program officer) of your exchange visitor program

* Before leaving USF, all students should consult ISSS to be sure that the transfer will not be a problem. This is particularly important if you are a sponsored student.