Can I Transfer My SEVIS Record

Yes. An F-1 student can transfer a SEVIS record when moving from one SEVP-certified school to another. The goal is usually to keep the same SEVIS ID while you continue your studies.

The timing matters. Think of the process as five connected steps:

1. Get admitted to the new school.
2. Ask your current school to transfer your record.
3. Agree on a SEVIS transfer release date.
4. Let the new school complete the transfer-in step.
5. Start classes at the new school only after the record is transferred as required.

You should work with the international student office, or DSO, at both schools. A DSO is the school official who handles F-1 student records and immigration documents. The details of your case may depend on your program dates, school policies, and the current SEVIS guidance.

When an F-1 student can transfer a SEVIS record

You may request a SEVIS transfer when you plan to begin full-time study at another SEVP-certified school. “SEVP-certified” means the school is approved to enroll F-1 students.

You must be admitted to the new school before the transfer can move forward. Admission alone does not transfer your record. You still need to coordinate the release with your current school and complete the new school’s transfer-in process.

A transfer may be requested:

• Shortly before you finish or graduate from your current program
• During the 60-day grace period after your current program ends

The right timing depends on your situation. For example, your dates may be different if you are finishing your program, changing schools before completion, or taking another approved academic path. Ask your current DSO before choosing a date.

If you will begin full-time studies at the new school, your SEVIS record must be transferred before you start those classes. Starting first and trying to fix the record later can create a status problem.

What you need before requesting a SEVIS transfer

Start with the new school’s admission decision. The new school generally needs to know that you want to transfer your SEVIS record rather than begin with an unrelated new record.

Before contacting your current DSO, gather:

• Your admission information from the new school
• Your current Form I-20
• Your SEVIS ID number
• Your program completion or expected graduation date
• The new school’s requested start date
• Any transfer instructions or form from the new school

There is no single SEVIS transfer Form that this guide can identify for every school. Some schools may ask you to complete their own transfer request. Others may request information through their international student portal or office. Follow the instructions from the school handling your transfer.

You should also ask both schools these questions:

• What date should be used as the transfer release date?
• What documents or forms does each school require?
• When will the new school issue a transfer-pending I-20?
• When must the transfer-in process be finished?
• What is the first date you may start classes?

Keep copies of your admission letter, forms, emails, and I-20s. A clear record of the timeline can help if the schools need to check what was requested and when.

How the SEVIS transfer-out and transfer-in process works

The process is easier to understand when you separate the current school’s job from the new school’s job.

1. Receive admission from the new school

You need admission to the new SEVP-certified school before requesting the transfer. Tell the new school that you are an F-1 student with an existing SEVIS record.

The new school will explain what it needs from you. It may ask for your SEVIS ID, current I-20, admission documents, and a transfer request. Do not guess which documents are required. Each school may set its own process.

2. Speak with your current DSO

Your current DSO handles the transfer-out side. Tell the DSO where you plan to study next and when you expect to complete your current program.

The DSO will discuss the release date with you. This is the date connected with moving control of the SEVIS record from the current school to the new one.

Do this early enough for both schools to coordinate. The supplied guidance does not give one standard processing time for every transfer, so your schools are the best source for the expected schedule.

3. Choose the release date carefully

The release date needs to fit your academic timeline. It may be close to your current program completion or fall within the 60-day grace period after the program ends.

Once the transfer is released, the new school can complete its transfer-in work. Your current school may no longer be the school managing the record in the same way. Because the practical effect depends on the transfer stage and school procedures, confirm the details with your DSO before requesting a date.

4. Receive a transfer-pending I-20

After the transfer request is set up, the new school may issue a transfer-pending I-20. This document shows that you are expected to continue at the new institution while the transfer process is being completed.

Check the I-20 as soon as you receive it. Look for your name, SEVIS ID, school information, program details, and dates. If something looks wrong, contact the new school right away.

A transfer-pending I-20 is part of the process. It does not mean you can ignore the new school’s instructions or start classes whenever you choose.

5. Complete the transfer-in step

The new school must complete the transfer-in process. Ask the new DSO how you will know that this step is finished and what final I-20 you should receive.

Do not assume that the transfer is complete just because you sent a request or received an email. If you need to check your SEVIS transfer status, ask the current or new DSO for a specific update. The schools can tell you which stage your record has reached and whether anything is missing.

When to request the transfer: program completion and the 60-day grace period

Timing is the part most likely to cause confusion.

A transfer request may be made shortly before completing or graduating from your current program. It may also be made during the 60-day grace period after the program ends.

That does not mean every student should wait until the grace period. Waiting can leave less time to solve a missing-document problem, confirm the release date, or prepare for the new school’s start date.

A useful planning sequence is:

• Before completion: Confirm admission and ask both schools about the transfer timeline.
• Near completion: Work with the current DSO to select the release date.
• After completion: If needed, use the 60-day grace period for the transfer request, but confirm that your dates fit your case.
• Before the new term begins: Make sure the new school has completed the transfer-in process.
• At the new school: Start your full-time studies according to the school’s instructions.

The grace period is not a general extra period for ignoring deadlines. Ask your DSO what applies to your program end date and planned start date.

What the transfer release date means

The SEVIS transfer release date is the date used to release your record from the current school to the new school.

It connects the transfer-out step with the transfer-in step. Before choosing it, make sure both schools know:

• Your last expected date at the current school
• Your planned start date at the new school
• Whether you are completing your program or using the grace period
• Any school-specific deadline for submitting transfer documents

The date should not be picked casually. A date that is too early or too late may not match your academic plans. Your current DSO can explain how the date affects the record, while the new DSO can tell you when the school expects to finish the transfer-in process.

If your plans change after the date is set, contact the DSO at both schools immediately. Do not try to change the timeline on your own.

How to avoid problems before starting classes at the new school

The safest approach is to treat the transfer as a shared timeline, not as a single form you submit once.

Use this checklist:

• Confirm that the new school is SEVP-certified.
• Confirm that you have been admitted.
• Give the new school your current SEVIS ID.
• Ask the current DSO how to request the transfer-out.
• Ask both schools which documents or school forms are required.
• Agree on the release date with the current DSO.
• Review the transfer-pending I-20 from the new school.
• Ask how to check that the transfer-in step is complete.
• Confirm the date you may begin classes.
• Keep copies of every document and message.

Most of the key dates should be confirmed in writing. If one school gives you a date that conflicts with the other school’s instructions, pause and ask both offices to clarify it.

Remember the central rule: if you begin full-time studies at the new school, your SEVIS record must be transferred to that school before you start classes. If you are unsure whether your record has reached the right stage, do not rely on a guess.

What happens if a SEVIS record is completed

A completed SEVIS record can raise questions because “completed” may refer to the end of your current program or to the status of the record in the system. The available guidance does not explain every possible consequence or every way a completed record may be handled.

What it does make clear is that a transfer may be requested shortly before you complete or graduate from your current program, or during the 60-day grace period after the program ends.

If your record already shows as completed, contact your current DSO and the new DSO as soon as possible. Ask them:

• What does the current SEVIS status mean in your case?
• Is a transfer still available based on your program and grace-period dates?
• What action must happen next?
• Can the new school complete the transfer-in process?

Do not assume that a completed record automatically transfers, or that it automatically prevents a transfer. Your DSOs need to review the actual record and dates.

SEVIS transfer questions students commonly ask

Can a school refuse to transfer my SEVIS record?

The supplied guidance does not list every situation in which a school might refuse or delay a transfer. It does show that the process depends on admission to another SEVP-certified school and coordination with the current institution.

If your current school says it cannot transfer the record, ask the DSO for the specific reason and the next step. You can also ask the new DSO whether it is missing a document or has a different deadline. Keep the explanation in writing if possible.

How long does a SEVIS transfer take?

There is no standard processing time provided for every student and school. The timeline can depend on the release date, school procedures, program completion date, grace-period dates, and the new school’s transfer-in work.

Ask both schools:

• When should you submit the request?
• When will the release date be set?
• When should you expect the transfer-pending I-20?
• How will you know the transfer-in step is complete?

Do this before your new classes begin. The exact schedule should come from the DSOs handling your record.

What is the 5-month rule for SEVIS record transfer?

The five-month rule is often raised in questions about changing schools, but the supplied information does not explain the rule well enough to state a specific deadline or requirement here.

Do not rely on a general online explanation if your plan involves a long gap between schools. Ask your current and new DSOs how the rule applies to your dates, program level, and transfer plan. They can check the current official guidance and your SEVIS record.

Can I keep the same SEVIS ID?

The transfer procedures are intended to let you continue with the same SEVIS ID number. That is one reason to coordinate the transfer instead of creating a separate record without first discussing it with the schools.

Before requesting a new record, ask both DSOs whether a transfer of your existing record is the correct path.

If you are planning a SEVIS transfer from one university to another, contact the international student office or DSO at both schools before requesting a release date or starting classes. They can confirm the right timeline for your record and tell you what to do next.