How Does an F-1 SEVIS Transfer Work

A SEVIS transfer moves your F-1 student record electronically from one SEVP-certified school to another. SEVP-certified means the school is approved to enroll international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

The main benefit is that you may keep the same SEVIS record and SEVIS ID number. You may also stay in the United States during the process instead of leaving and returning with a new I-20.

The transfer still has to happen at the right time. You must work with the designated school official (DSO) at your current school and your new school before you begin classes at the new school.

Think of the process as a timeline:

1. You tell your current school that you plan to transfer.
2. You choose a SEVIS transfer release date.
3. Your current school releases your record.
4. Your new school receives the record and issues a new I-20.
5. You begin classes by the deadline given by the new school.

Here is what happens at each stage.

What an F-1 SEVIS transfer is

Your SEVIS record contains information about your F-1 status, school, program, and immigration history. A SEVIS transfer changes the school connected to that record.

This is different from simply applying to another university. Admission to the new school does not, by itself, move your immigration record. The transfer must be completed through the DSOs at both schools.

A completed transfer can allow you to:

• Keep your existing SEVIS record
• Keep the same SEVIS ID number
• Remain in the United States during the change
• Receive an I-20 from the new school without starting a brand-new SEVIS record

You must complete the transfer before starting classes at the new school. If you begin classes before the new school has properly received your record and issued the needed I-20, you could create a problem with your F-1 status.

The exact steps and dates can depend on your situation. Your DSO should confirm the requirements for your program, your current I-20, and any work authorization you hold.

Who can transfer between schools

The supplied guidance describes SEVIS transfers between SEVP-certified schools. That can include a move from one university to another, or from another eligible school to a university, as long as the new school is approved to accept F-1 students.

A transfer may be possible when you have been admitted to the new school and want to continue your F-1 studies there. You still need to coordinate the move with your current DSO before asking for the record to be released.

Your situation may need extra review if you are:

• Finishing your current program
• Completing or recently completing OPT
• Changing your education level or program
• Planning a gap between schools
• Close to the end date listed on your current I-20

These details affect timing. Admission alone does not answer every immigration question, so ask both DSOs before setting a transfer date.

Step 1: Tell your current school’s DSO and choose a release date

Start with your current school’s international student office. Tell the DSO that you have been admitted to another SEVP-certified school and want to transfer your SEVIS record.

The current DSO will usually need information about the new school. This may include the school’s name, its SEVIS details, your admission information, and the date you want the record released. The new school should tell you what information it needs before the request can be processed.

What the release date means

The SEVIS transfer release date is the date your current school releases your electronic record to the new school. Before that date, the current school still controls the record. After the release, the new school can access it and take over the next part of the process.

This date matters because it connects three things:

• Your current school’s responsibilities
• Your new school’s ability to issue a transfer I-20
• The time you have to begin classes at the new school

Do not choose a date based only on a flight, housing plan, or personal preference. Ask both DSOs how the date fits with your current I-20 end date, your new program’s start date, and any work authorization.

You should also ask your current DSO what happens if you change your mind before the record is released. The answer may depend on the school’s procedures and the status of your transfer request.

What to do before the release date

Before the record moves, confirm:

• You have been admitted to the new school.
• The new school has told you how to request the transfer.
• Your current DSO has your new school information.
• Both schools know your intended class-start date.
• You understand the selected release date.
• You have asked about any remaining requirements at your current school.

This is the “before release” part of the timeline. You are lining up the move, but the new school may not yet be able to access your SEVIS record.

Step 2: Have the SEVIS record released to the new school

On the selected release date, your current school releases the record electronically. This is the key handoff in a SEVIS transfer from one university to another or between any two eligible schools.

The current DSO handles the release in SEVIS. You should not assume that your admission letter or a message to the new school has completed the transfer. Ask the current DSO to confirm when the record has been released.

Once released, the new school can access the record. It can then review your information and prepare the next I-20.

The timing between the request and the release date is not the same as the time needed for the new school to finish its part. That is why you should contact both schools early. The available guidance does not give one fixed answer to how long it takes to transfer a SEVIS record. Processing can depend on when the current DSO releases the record and how quickly the new school reviews it.

Do not wait until the first day of class to start this process. A delay in releasing or receiving the record can affect your ability to enroll on time.

Step 3: Receive the Transfer-Pending or Transfer-Complete I-20

After the record is released, the new school can access it. The new school may issue a Transfer-Pending I-20 or a Transfer-Complete I-20, depending on where the process stands and how the school handles the transfer.

These labels show that the new school has received your SEVIS information and is working with the transferred record. Your DSO at the new school should explain which document you receive and what you must do next.

Transfer-Pending I-20

A Transfer-Pending I-20 generally reflects that the record has been released to the new school but the transfer has not yet reached its completed stage. Ask the new DSO what remains to be done and when the school expects to complete it.

Do not treat “pending” as a sign that you can ignore the deadline. You still need to follow the new school’s instructions and make sure the transfer is completed in time for your program.

Transfer-Complete I-20

A Transfer-Complete I-20 shows that the new school has completed its part of the transfer process. Review the document as soon as you receive it. Check the school name, program details, dates, and your personal information.

If anything looks wrong, contact the new DSO promptly. Keep the new I-20 with your immigration documents.

This is the “after release” stage. Your record has moved, but your work is not finished until you know what the new school expects before classes begin.

Deadlines: starting classes, the 60-day rule, and the 5-month question

The most immediate deadline is your new program’s start date. The supplied guidance says an F-1 student must transfer the SEVIS record to the new school before starting classes in order to maintain legal status.

Ask the new DSO:

• What is the required arrival or check-in date?
• What is the latest date you may begin classes?
• Must the transfer be complete before registration?
• When will the Transfer-Pending or Transfer-Complete I-20 be available?

The 60-day rule

The supplied results mention a 60-day deadline connected to the end date on your I-20 or the completion of OPT. They state that the record must be transferred within 60 days of the I-20 end date or within 60 days of OPT completion.

Treat this as a deadline to confirm, not a reason to count dates on your own. Your correct date may depend on your specific F-1 history and what you are doing next. Ask your current DSO to identify the relevant date in your record and ask the new DSO how the transfer timeline fits within it.

If you are ending a program, finishing OPT, or planning time between schools, contact the DSOs before the current I-20 or OPT period ends.

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

The 5-month rule for SEVIS record transfer is a common question, but the supplied information does not explain its exact conditions or how it applies to every student. It would be unsafe to give one broad definition without checking current guidance.

Do not assume that “five months” automatically gives you permission to wait that long between programs. Ask your DSO to explain:

• Which five-month rule you are asking about
• Whether it applies to your current status
• Which date starts the count
• Whether your program change, school change, or OPT affects the calculation
• What deadline applies to your specific transfer

This is one of the places where a DSO must confirm the answer for your record. The same phrase can come up in different F-1 situations, and your class start date may require action much sooner.

Do you need to leave the United States or pay the SEVIS fee again?

A properly handled transfer can let you remain in the United States. You do not generally need to leave and re-enter simply because your SEVIS record is moving from one SEVP-certified school to another.

The transfer is designed to keep the same SEVIS record and SEVIS ID when the process is completed correctly. That means you may not need a new I-20 and new SEVIS record just to change schools.

The supplied results also state that you do not pay the $350 SEVIS fee again for this transfer.

Still, do not make travel plans based only on a general explanation. Ask both DSOs whether travel could affect your particular situation. Wait until you understand your transfer status, the new I-20, and any travel-document requirements before booking a trip or leaving the United States.

How to check transfer status and resolve delays

There is no single processing time supplied for every SEVIS transfer. The process includes at least two handoffs: your current school releases the record, and the new school accesses it and issues the appropriate I-20.

Use a simple tracking list:

1. Ask your current DSO when the transfer request was entered.
2. Confirm the exact release date.
3. Ask when the record was released.
4. Contact the new DSO after that date.
5. Ask whether the new school can see the record.
6. Confirm whether your I-20 is Transfer-Pending or Transfer-Complete.
7. Ask what must happen before you begin classes.

If the new school cannot see the record after the release date, contact the current DSO first and ask them to confirm the release. Then ask the new DSO whether the record has appeared on its side.

If your class start date is close, say so clearly. Give both offices your student information, release date, and program start date. Keep copies of emails and documents so you can track what each school told you.

Avoid asking only, “Is my transfer done?” Ask a more specific question: “Has my record been released, can your school access it, and what I-20 stage am I in?”

Questions to ask both schools before the transfer

Before you make travel or enrollment plans, get clear answers from the DSO at each school.

Ask your current school

• What information do you need from my new school?
• What release date should I choose?
• When will my record be released?
• What is the relevant 60-day deadline in my situation?
• Does my I-20 end date or OPT completion date affect the transfer?
• What happens if my plans change before the release date?

Ask the new school

• Have you received my admission and transfer information?
• When can you access my SEVIS record?
• Will you issue a Transfer-Pending or Transfer-Complete I-20 first?
• What is the latest date I can start classes?
• What must I do before registration or check-in?
• How does the five-month question apply to my timeline?
• When should I contact you again if the record is delayed?

A SEVIS transfer is usually planned before the release date, completed through the electronic handoff, and verified before classes start. Contact the DSO at both schools, confirm the release date and class-start deadline, and check your transfer status before making travel or enrollment plans.