International Studies & Programs

Home > Visa and Immigration > Students, Scholars, and H-1B Employees > Transfer In and Out

Transfer In and Out

F-1 Students

Admission to a new school does not by itself authorize an F-1 student to begin studying full-time at the new school. The student must request the current school to transfer/release the SEVIS I-20 record to the new school before studying full-time at the new school. The U.S. government calls this process a "SEVIS transfer." It is different from an "academic transfer" which transfers credits from one institution to another.

An F-1 student may transfer between SEVP-certified schools. The transfer process is a way to electronically move Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records and retain the same SEVIS identification (ID) number for the student.

The SEVIS transfer process:

  • Sets a date on which responsibility for the student record transfers
  • Helps ensure that the transfer-in school updates and activates the student's record

Transfer In - Coming to MSU

To learn how to transfer your SEVIS record (I-20) from another institution to MSU, follow the steps below.

Step One

Receive MSU acceptance letter.

Step Two

Complete the MSU Transfer In eForm. 

  • Provide your MSU acceptance letter to an international student advisor at your current institution.
  • Choose a SEVIS release date and detail that date on the MSU Transfer In eForm. This date is important because MSU cannot issue an I-20 until after that date.
  • The SEVIS release date must be within 60 days of your graduation or the end date listed on your I-20.
  • Ask an international student advisor at your current institution to release your SEVIS record (I-20) to Michigan State University on the SEVIS release date.
  • Your current institution may have a transfer out form that you have to complete.

Step Three

Undergraduate Students

  • Provide your proof of funding to the MSU Office of Admissions and pay your Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED).
  • Check Your Account for required documents and admissions information. 
  • Learn more about next steps for admitted international students on the MSU Office of Admissions website.

Graduate Students without an assistantship

  • Provide your proof of funding to your MSU department.

Step Four

MSU's OISS will issue a transfer-pending I-20 to you within 14 days of your SEVIS release date. There will be a delay if you do not submit your proof of funding to MSU. 

Step Five

Check your MSU email address. OISS will email your I-20 to your MSU email address. Print and sign your Transfer-pending I-20. 

Step Six 

Attend orientation.

Transfer Out - Leaving MSU

To transfer your SEVIS record (I-20) from MSU to another institution, follow the steps below.

Eligibility for a SEVIS Record Transfer

  1. You must be maintaining F-1 status.
  2. If you have already graduated, but have not applied for OPT; you must be within your 60-day grace period.
  3. The course of study at the transfer-in school must begin at the next available semester or session, which must be no more than 5 months from the end of the student's studies at the transfer-out school. 
  4. Students on OPT must maintain their status and remain in a valid OPT period
  5. For students authorized for post-completion OPT, the new program start date must be within five months of your SEVIS "transfer out" date or the end of the OPT authorization, whichever is earlier. OPT ends on the transfer release date.

Transfer Out Steps

Step One

Get admitted to another SEVP-certified institution.

Step Two

Complete the MSU SEVIS Transfer Out Request eForm

You will need the following information

  • Name of the new school
  • SEVIS School Code for the new school 
  • Contact information for the official at the new school's international office

Step Three

OISS will transfer your SEVIS record (I-20) to your new institution on the SEVIS release date.

Step Four

Check with your new institution for information regarding required financial documents, next steps for admitted students, and orientation. Your new institution can create a transfer-pending I-20 for you after OISS transfers your SEVIS record (I-20). 

J-1 Students

J-1 students may transfer from their SEVIS record (DS-2019) from one program sponsor to another if the purpose of the transfer is to complete the academic objective for which they were admitted to the U.S.

Admission to a new school does not by itself authorize a J-1 student to begin studying full-time at the new school. The student must request the current school to transfer/release their SEVIS record (DS-2019) to the new school before studying full-time at the new school. The U.S. government calls this process a "SEVIS transfer." It is different from an "academic transfer" which transfers credits from one institution to another.

The transfer process is a way to electronically move Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records and retain the same SEVIS identification (ID) number for the student.

The SEVIS transfer process does both of the following:

  • Sets a date on which responsibility for the student record transfers
  • Helps ensure that the transfer-in school updates and validates the student's record

Transfer In - Coming to MSU

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to transfer your J-1 SEVIS record (DS-2019) if you meet the following requirements:

  • You have been admitted to a full-time academic program at MSU.
  • You are currently in valid J-1 student status in a degree program.
  • The purpose of the transfer is to complete the original educational objective for which you first came to the U.S. as a J-1 Student. If you are making a change to your field of study, you are not eligible for a J-1 transfer.
  • Your current institution must electronically "transfer out" your J-1 SEVIS record to MSU before the expiration of your current DS-2019.

How to Transfer

  1. Connect with the international office at your current institution and discuss your transfer plan and your SEVIS record release date. 

  1. Complete the Transfer In Form for Students (PDF). 

NOTE: You will need to choose a transfer release date. The "release date" is the date on which MSU will have ownership of your SEVIS record. The release date for your J-1 SEVIS record must be before the expiration date of the DS-2019. 

  1. Send the Transfer-In Form and DS-2019 request form to jvisas(at)msu.edu. 

  1. OISS will review your complete application within 10-15 business days. 

  1. Once approved, OISS will notify you by email and will provide you with further instructions.  

NOTE: Your new DS-2019 cannot be issued until your SEVIS release date or shortly after because MSU will not have access to your J-1 SEVIS record until then.  

Check-in 

You will be required to submit an immigration check-in e-form in MyOISS.msu.edu on or shortly after your start date at MSU.  

Transfer Out - Leaving MSU

If you're transferring to another institution as a J-1 Student, you need to ask OISS to release your SEVIS record (DS-2019) to the new institution on a date that you choose, called the SEVIS "release date." Your new institution will have ownership of your record on the release date. Your new institution can create a DS-2019 for you after the release date.

Eligibility Requirements

  • The purpose of a J-1 student transfer must be to complete the original educational objective for which you first came to the U.S. as a J-1 student. If you are making a change to your field of study, you are not eligible for a J-1 student transfer.
  • To transfer your SEVIS record (DS-2019), you must be maintaining J-1 status and your DS-2019 end date must be in the future.

How to Transfer

1. Send the following documents to jvisas(at)msu.edu:  

2. OISS will review your application within 10-15 business days. 

3. Once approved, we will release your SEVIS record (DS-2019) to the new institution on the release date. 

  • On this date, your new institution will have ownership of your SEVIS record, and we will no longer have access to it. 

  • You must stop any on-campus employment at MSU or Academic Training on the release date. 

  • Check with your new institution to find out what you need to do in order to obtain your new DS-2019. 

J-1 Scholars

J-1 scholars may transfer from their SEVIS record (DS-2019) from one program sponsor to another if the purpose of the transfer is to complete the academic objective for which they were admitted to the U.S.

The transfer process is a way to electronically move Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records and retain the same SEVIS identification (ID) number for the scholar.

Transfer In - Coming to MSU

Eligibility Requirements 

It may be possible to transfer your SEVIS record (DS-2019) to MSU, if the following conditions apply: 

  • You are currently in the U.S. in valid J-1 status at another institution. 

  • The transfer is initiated by your current institution while you are still in status with an unexpired DS-2019. 

  • The purpose of the transfer is to complete the academic/professional objective for which you were admitted to the U.S. 

  • The transfer is within the same J-1 visa category.  

Note: You can transfer your record only for the remainder of the 5-year limit for J-1 Research Scholar and Professor visa type; and 6-month limit for J-1 Short-Term Scholar visa type.  

 

How to Transfer 

  1. Connect with the international office at your current institution and discuss your transfer plan and your SEVIS record release date. 

  1. Complete the MSU J-1 Transfer In form  

NOTE: You will need to choose a transfer release date. The "release date" is the date on which MSU will have ownership of your SEVIS record. The release date for your J-1 SEVIS record must be before the expiration date of the DS-2019. 

  1. Your host department at MSU will need to upload your Transfer In form in their J-1 scholar request to OISS. More information about the J-1 scholar request can be found here: Hosting J-1 Scholars. 

  1. OISS will review your department’s J-1 scholar request along with the Transfer In formwithin 10-15 business days. 

  1. Once approved, OISS will notify you and your MSU host department by email and will provide you with further instructions.  

NOTE: Your new DS-2019 cannot be issued until your SEVIS release date or shortly after because MSU will not have access to your J-1 SEVIS record until then. 

 

Check-in 

You will be required to submit an immigration check-in e-form in MyOISS.msu.edu on or shortly after your start date at MSU. Also, you will be given information about the J-1 Scholar Orientation. 

Transfer Out - Leaving MSU

If you are transferring to another institution as a J-1 Scholar, you need to ask OISS to release your SEVIS record (DS-2019) to the new institution on a date that you choose, called the SEVIS "release date." Your new institution will have ownership of your record on the release date. Your new institution can create a DS-2019 for you after the release date. 

Eligibility Requirements 

It may be possible to transfer your J-1 SEVIS record to a new institution for the remainder of the 5-year limit for J-1 Research Scholars and 6-month limit for J-1 Short-Term Scholars, if you meet all of the following: 

  • You are currently in valid J-1 status as a research scholar, professor or short-term scholar at MSU and have been offered a position at another institution in the same visa category. 

  • The transfer must be initiated while you are still in J-1 status at MSU. 

  • Your DS-2019 end date is in the future. 

  • The purpose of the transfer is to complete the original academic/professional objective for which you first came to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar. If you are making a change to your field of research, you are not eligible for a J-1 scholar transfer. 

 

How to Transfer 

1. Send the following documents to jvisas(at)msu.edu:  

  • An invitation letter from the new institution 

  • MSU J-1 Transfer Out form   

  • Transfer-in form from the new institution (if any) 

2. OISS will review your application within 10-15 business days. 

3. Once approved, we will release your SEVIS record (DS-2019) to the new institution on the release date. 

  • On this date, your new institution will have ownership of your SEVIS record, and we will no longer have access to it. 

  • You must stop your program activities at MSU on the release date. 

  • Check with your new institution to find out what you need to do in order to obtain your new DS-2019 from them.