SEVIS Immigration Transfer Out
You are only eligible to transfer to another US institution if you have maintained valid F-1 or J-1 status at the University of Rochester. You must remain registered full-time, be pursuing authorized post-completion employment, or be within your allotted grace period (F-1 students only, J-1 students must transfer before their grace period starts, see below) until the date your SEVIS record is released to the new school. After this date, you must request a new I-20 or DS-2019 from your new school and begin studies there in the next available term. Your new institution will not be able to issue an I-20 or DS-2019 for you until after the SEVIS release date you requested. If you have any plans to travel outside the US during your transfer, make sure to plan accordingly so you have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 from your new institution before reentering.
For immigration transfers made prior to completing your academic program at the University of Rochester (either by withdrawal or academic transfer), you must get approval from your academic department. Some transfer restrictions may apply.
F-1 Students
If you are not pursuing post-completion work authorization and are not withdrawing from your University of Rochester program before graduation, the transfer release date must be after your current program completion date but within your allotted grace period of 60 days following your program completion date. The SEVIS release date you choose must be a future date. ISO cannot schedule the release of your SEVIS record to another school retroactively.
If you are withdrawing from your University of Rochester program before completion, your requested SEVIS release date must be within 15 days of the effective date of your withdrawal from your academic program. If you are unsure of the effective date of your academic withdrawal, please contact your academic advisor.
For F-1 students, you must be registered full-time at the new school within five months of the SEVIS release date or the I-20 completion date from the University of Rochester (whichever is earlier). After the release date has passed, you will not be able to use University of Rochester-based work permissions and the ISO will no longer be able to access your immigration record.
J-1 Students
Your record must be transferred before your current DS-2019 end date. There cannot be a gap between program dates. You will need to work closely with your new school to determine J-1 transfer eligibility and transfer timing. If you’re a J-1 student thinking of transferring to another institution, please connect with ISO to discuss in further detail.
Request a SEVIS Transfer
If you plan to continue your degree or begin a new program at another US institution, you must use the URCompass link below to request a SEVIS transfer of your F-1 or J-1 student record.