SEVIS Transfers
(US Schools)
The SEVIS Transfer Details/Process:
The SEVIS transfer is an electronic transfer of your SEVIS record from F&M to the possession of your new school. The Transfer will be completed by your Designated School Official (PDSO: Jessica Haile), and it means that the student's electronic record becomes visible to the new school.
The DSO can schedule the transfer to happen for a future date. You will need to apply for a new I-20 with your new school (every school has their own process) - and as soon as your new school has your electronic record, they can use it to issue your new I-20 with your new program details, and financial details.
Students are eligible to have their records transferred to another school in the US if:
They will graduate from F&M with active F-1 status or are completing OPT,
They will attend the new school as an F-1 student... and,
They will begin their new academic program within 5 months of their F&M program ending/OPT ending.
For May grads, that means you need to begin your new program by the middle of September.
For December grads, that means you need to add 5 months to the end of fall semester finals.
If you are on OPT and transferring after your OPT completion, add 5 months to your OPT end date.
The Benefits of the Transfer:
You can remain in the US while you are waiting for your new program to begin (as long as it will start within 5 months).
You don't have to repay the $350 SEVIS fee. Because your SEVIS record is linked to your F-1 visa, you also don't have to get a new F-1 visa if you don't want to.
Your SEVIS ID # will remain the same!
How to complete a SEVIS Transfer:
If you graduated after May 2023 and have access to iss.fandm.edu:
Once you receive instructions from your new ISS office, please go into your ISS portal to request a "Graduate School SEVIS Transfer".
In the request form, we will give you some details about the Transfer and ask some qualifying questions.
Typically records are released the day after graduation or next possible date (unless you are doing OPT).
Some schools will have a transfer form we need to complete and some will just let you know some key information to pass along to the F&M ISS office. Either way by completing the request in the iss.fandm.edu portal, we'll have what we need to take care of your record.
You can upload any required forms in the request in the portal for ISS to take care of for your new school.
If you graduated in May 2023 or earlier:
Email iss@fandm.edu with the following information:
School Name + Program of study (Masters in...)
Desired Transfer-out date from F&M (remember, transfers cancel any work authorization)
the School's SEVIS code.
You can also send along any documents they need F&M's ISS office to complete.
Travel Implications:
If you have your record being transferred to another US school you can travel outside of the US, HOWEVER you will need to return to the US with your new I-20 from your new school to come back into the US.
This means you will need to coordinate your new school sending your new I-20. Because your program will have ended, you can no longer use the F&M I-20 to re-enter the country.
If your F-1 visa has expired, you would also need to renew that while away in order to come back (but again, you will need your NEW I-20 to do this).
While you are waiting to begin your new degree program:
You cannot work on campus after you have been withdrawn or graduated.
You will not have work authorization to work in any paid or unpaid work experience position while you are waiting to begin your new program.
For May or December graduates: If you want to work between graduation and beginning at your new institution, you will need to apply for OPT and just use it during that in-between time. In this case, we would not transfer your record until your work experience is over since your OPT is linked to F&M holding your SEVIS record.
