For many students, your school is your home away from home while studying in the United States. Sometimes the first school you choose to attend might not be the best fit, leading you to search for a new SEVP-certified school. If you find a new school that you are interested in transferring to, you must meet certain requirements to maintain your status. Here is what you should know:

F Students

If you are an F student at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school, and you gain acceptance to another SEVP‑certified school, you must do three things:

• Maintain your status at your current school while your transfer request is processed.
• Show your current designated school official (DSO) that your new school has accepted you by presenting the following documents:
  • Written confirmation of acceptance to another SEVP‑certified school,
  • Contact information for the new school’s DSO, and
  • The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) school code for the transfer-in school.
• Work with your DSO to determine a transfer release — the date that your new DSO takes responsibility for your SEVIS record.

M Students

If you are an M student, you may transfer to another SEVP-certified school only under specific conditions:

• If you are within the first six months of entering the United States, or within the first six months of transferring to M‑1 status, or
• You are unable to remain at your current school due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g., the school closes).

If you qualify to transfer, you must follow these steps:

• Apply and gain admission to another SEVP‑certified school.
• Show your current DSO that your new school has accepted you with the documents listed above.
• Submit a request for transfer with the Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status” and your new Form I‑20, signed by your transfer-in DSO, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To be eligible to transfer, you must continue attending all of your classes at your current school while you are waiting to transfer. As an M student, you have to submit your Form I‑539 application for approval to transfer. While your application is pending, you must enroll at the new school at the next available session. It is important to maintain your status while waiting for USCIS adjudications.

Talk to your DSO to find out if you qualify for a transfer. If you gain acceptance at an SEVP‑certified school, your DSO is responsible for transferring your SEVIS record.