Transferring Your F-1 SEVIS Record

If you are a student in valid F-1 status, you may be able to transfer from one SEVP-certified school to another. This is known as transferring your F-1SEVIS record. Please note that transferring your SEVIS record only pertains to your F-1 status and does not include transferring of any academic records or credit hours.

You may wish to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record if you complete a degree at one school and have been accepted into a new degree program at another SEVP-certified school. If you transfer your same F-1 SEVIS record, your F-1 SEVIS ID number will remain the same, and you will not have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again for the new academic program.

In general, to be eligible to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record from one institution to another, you must:

• Be maintaining F-1 status at the current school by pursuing a full course of study, or be engaged in post-completion optional practical training (OPT) until the transfer release date; and
• Be accepted into a degree program by another SEVP-certified school.

You must work with your current school (transfer-out school) and the new school (transfer-in school) in order to coordinate the F-1 SEVIS transfer. You and both of your schools must decide on the appropriate SEVIS transfer release date. The SEVIS transfer release date is the date that your F-1 SEVIS record is transferred from the transfer-out school to the transfer-in school. If you have F-2 dependents, the F-2 SEVIS records will automatically transfer along with your F-1 SEVIS record.

If you are currently employed through a period of authorized post-completion OPT, your OPT employment authorization will end on the SEVIS transfer release date.

Transferring F-1 Status to MUSC

After you have been accepted into an MUSC program, you must go through the F-1 sponsorship application process with the MUSC Center for Global Health, even if you are currently in F-1 status at another school and are planning to transfer your current F-1 SEVIS record to MUSC.

You must contact the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current school (the transfer-out school) to discuss the transfer process. The DSO is the international advisor and is typically located in your school’s international office. Your school may also have an internal transfer request process. If your school approves the F-1 SEVIS transfer, your F-1 SEVIS record will transfer to MUSC on the transfer release date entered into SEVIS by your DSO.

IMPORTANT: If your F-1 SEVIS record is in ‘terminated’ status, you must notify center staff immediately, as this may impact your ability to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record to MUSC.

MUSC cannot issue the new Form I-20 for your new academic program until the SEVIS transfer release date. Once your SEVIS record has been released to MUSC, the Center for Global Health can issue a new Form I-20 showing MUSC as your program sponsor and the details of your new academic program. If you have F-2 dependents already here you with you in the US, their SEVIS records will automatically transfer when your SEVIS record is released. You will also receive new Forms I-20 for your dependents.

Travel outside of the U.S. between your academic programs may have an impact on the F-1 SEVIS transfer process. Please inform center staff of any out-of-country travel plans that coincide with your F-1 SEVIS transfer. If you leave the United States before the transfer release date, but cannot return until after the transfer release date, we may need to send you an updated Form I-20 for re-entry into the U.S.

Transferring F-1 Status from MUSC to Another Institution

If you are a current MUSC F-1 student, and you want to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record from MUSC to another SEVP-certified school in the United States, you must submit the Transfer Out request through your Terra Dotta portal. You will be required to provide a copy of your acceptance letter from the new school. We will notify you by email if your Transfer Out request is approved and once the F-1 SEVIS transfer has been initiated.

The Transfer Out request should be submitted as soon as possible, and at least three weeks prior to your requested SEVIS transfer release date. The SEVIS transfer release date will be the completion of the academic semester, unless a different date is requested. You will be required to provide a copy of your acceptance letter from the transfer-in (new) school. We will notify you by email if your Transfer Out request is approved and once the SEVIS transfer has been initiated.

On the SEVIS transfer release date, the responsibility for your F-1 SEVIS record transfers to the transfer-in school. MUSC will no longer have access to your F-1 SEVIS record to make changes or print a new Form I-20 after the SEVIS transfer release date.

Your Form I-20 from MUSC will no longer be valid after the transfer release date. However, it is very important that you keep all Forms I-20 issued to you during your time in the U.S. in F-1 status. In other words, do not discard any Forms I-20, even if they are expired or invalid. You may need to provide copies of these Forms I-20 at a later time to provide proof that you maintained valid F-1 status.

You must contact the Designated School Official (DSO) in the international office at the transfer-in school as soon as possible to discuss procedures and requirements for completing the SEVIS transfer process as well as enrolling in classes at the transfer-in school. In addition, you must inform the transfer-in school of any out of country travel plans. If you leave the United States before the transfer release date, but you will not return to the U.S. until after the transfer release date, the DSO at the transfer-in school may need to send you an updated Form I-20 for re-entry into the US.

If your plans change and you decide not to transfer your SEVIS record, you can request a cancellation of the transfer prior to the transfer release date. Please notify the Center for Global Health if you wish to cancel an approved F-1 SEVIS Transfer Out request.