Transfer of Schools:

Transfer of schools for an F-1 student is processed to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through the International Student Adviser at the new school. To be eligible to transfer schools, an F-1 student must have been pursuing a full course of study at the current school during the term immediately preceding transfer or the last term preceding a vacation; intend to pursue a full course of study at the new school; have financial ability to attend the new school, and have maintained lawful nonimmigrant status.

An F-1 student who was not pursuing a full course of study at the school he/she was last authorized to attend is ineligible for school transfer and must apply for reinstatement. There is no specified minimum period of time the student must be enrolled at the school he/she was last authorized to attend, although it is clear that the student must have attended that school for at least some period of time.

School transfer is problematic when a student making a first-time entry wishes to attend an institution other than the one that issued the I-20 the student used to enter the U.S.

PROCESS:

1. A student wishing to transfer to another school should inform the Director of International Education of his/her intention to transfer. You should have your advisor complete and sign the ‘Notification of Intent to Transfer’ form. * A copy of this form is included in the appendix section of this handbook.

2. The student completes the application process at the new school. This may include signing a transfer clearance or International Adviser reference form, which the international adviser at the old school completes and submits to the new international adviser.

3. UW Oshkosh will transfer the student’s SEVIS record to the new school by the transfer release date. The new school will issue a new I-20 to the student to begin the new program art the new school.

4. The student enrolls in the new school in the next academic term or the first term after the student’s summer vacation. No later than 15 days after starting classes, the student must sign page 1 of the new I-20 and submit it to the DSO at the new school.

5. The DSO at the new school completes the transfer process by registering the student into SEVIS.

6. A student may also accomplish the procedure for school transfer through his/her reentry to the U.S. from abroad. The I-20 issued by the new school should be marked “Initial Attendance at this school” and “School transfer – XXX School.”