Maintenance of status at the transfer-out school
In a
transfer between SEVIS certified schools, SEVIS itself should
reflect whether the student has been maintaining status. If
there is no information to the contrary, the Designated School
Official (DSO) at the transfer-out school can enter the transfer-in
school's name and a release date into SEVIS. If the DSO at the
transfer-out school determines that the student has failed to
maintain status, however, or if the SEVIS record indicates that the
student is not in active status, then a release date cannot be set,
and the transfer cannot proceed.
Transfer deadlines and timelines
Transfers must be done within the deadlines established by
regulations. If a transfer is not done in a timely fashion,
the student will be considered "out of status."
Transfers and the 60-day grace period
If a
student completes a course of study (or OPT), the student is
eligible for transfer through the end of the 60-day grace period.
(See "F-1 grace periods"
page)
That
is to say, before the end of the 60-day grace period, the DSO at the
transfer-out school must update the student's SEVIS record with a
transfer-in school and a release date.
5-month start-date limit
The
start date at the transfer-in school must be within 5 months
following the release date set by the transfer-out school, or within
5 months of the program completion date in SEVIS, whichever date is
earlier.
This
means that a student can remain in the United States for no more
than 5 months between completing at the transfer-out school and
beginning studies at the transfer-in school.
Students are eligible for transfer through the end of the 60-day
grace period after completion of studies. If the student
transfers after completing studies, the 5-month clock begins on the
date that the student finished his or her course of study at the
transfer-out school.
Transfer for students on optional practical training
For
students on optional practical training (OPT) following completion
of a course of study, a transfer can be done only if the student can
begin studying at the new school within 5 months of transferring out
to the school that recommended OPT or the date the OPT authorization
ends, whichever is earlier.
Students on OPT following completion of studies are eligible for
transfer through the end of the 60-day grace period after completion
of OPT. If the student transfers during that period, the
5-month clock begins on the date that the student finished his or
her OPT.
