SEVIS Immigration Transfer Out of Rochester

To be eligible to transfer to another US institution, you must have maintained valid F-1 or J-1 status throughout your time at the University of Rochester. You must remain registered full-time (or have an authorized Reduced Course Load), be pursuing authorized post-completion employment, or be within your allotted grace period until the date your SEVIS record is released to the new school.

As part of the SEVIS Transfer Out E-Form Request, you will be prompted to upload a copy of your admissions letter to your new school. The term that you will be starting at your new school should be stated on your admissions letter, and match what you have entered in your SEVIS Transfer Out request.

If you are transferring before completing your academic program (e.g., graduating) at the University of Rochester, you are considered a withdrawal and will need to get approval from your academic dean or department coordinator. Some transfer restrictions may apply. (See “Selecting a SEVIS Release Date” below)

Your transfer must be completed before or during your eligible grace period (for F-1 students, this is the 60 days immediately following your program end date) if you are completing your program. After your grace period ends, we will no longer be able to transfer your record, so please keep this date in mind when submitting your transfer documentation.

If you plan on being outside of the United States between schools, your SEVIS Transfer Out request should be made before you depart. In these situations, it is a good idea to reach out to your new school to go over your travel plans with them. By the time of your return, you will be a student under your new school and will need to have an I-20 or DS-2019 issued by your new school for reentry.

Please utilize the ISO travel guidance webpage to prepare.

• You must select a future date. ISO cannot schedule the release of your SEVIS record to another school retroactively.
• All UR study and work permissions end on your chosen release date – take any academic or employment plans into account when selecting your release date.
• If you are completing your UR program before transferring, the transfer release date must be after your current program completion date listed on an I-20 or DS-2019, but within your allotted grace period (60 days after your current program completion date for F-1 students, 30 days for J-1 students).
• Your new institution will not be able to issue an I-20 or DS-2019 for you until after the SEVIS release date you request. If you have any plans to travel this summer, you will need to have the I-20 or DS-2019 from your new institution in order to return to the U.S.
• For F-1 students, if you are NOT completing your UR program before transferring, you are considered as withdrawing. Your Requested SEVIS Release Date must be within 15 days of the effective date of your withdrawal from UR. If you are unsure of the effective date of your academic withdrawal, please contact your academic advisor.