Study abroad·United States· 9 min read

F-1 SEVIS Transfer Between US Schools, Explained

How the F-1 SEVIS transfer works step by step: the transfer-out release date, transfer-in access, the new I-20, the 15-day reporting rule, the five-month window, and the effect on OPT.

Last updated 7 July 2026

Key facts

What transfers: Your SEVIS record moves between two SEVP-certified schools; SEVIS ID usually unchanged
The pivot date: The transfer release date set by your current DSO — control passes to the new school
New document: A new Form I-20 issued by the transfer-in school
Reporting deadline: Contact the new DSO + register within 15 days of the new I-20 program start date
Effect on OPT: OPT automatically terminates on the release date; OPT is not transferable
Nature of this guide: General information only — not immigration or legal advice

What a SEVIS transfer really is

An F-1 "transfer" is not just changing schools — it is moving your electronic SEVIS record from one SEVP-certified school to another. Your SEVIS record is the government's file on your student status, and only one school controls it at a time.

Because of this, a transfer is a handoff between two Designated School Officials (DSOs): your current (transfer-out) DSO and your new (transfer-in) DSO. Done correctly, your F-1 status continues without a break. Done carelessly, you can fall out of status.

This is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Transfer rules can change — confirm the current process on the official Study in the States (SEVP) and USCIS sources and with both DSOs.

A transfer moves your SEVIS record, not just your enrollment.
Only one school controls your record at a time.
Both your old and new DSO are involved.

Step 1: Get admitted and choose a release date

First you need an admission or acceptance at the new SEVP-certified school. You then tell your current DSO you are transferring and provide the transfer-in school's information.

Your transfer-out DSO sets a transfer release date in SEVIS. This date is the pivot of the whole process: on the release date, your record's control passes to the new school, and your transfer-out school gives up its access to it. Before the release date your current school still manages your record; on and after it, the new school does.

The release date is chosen deliberately — often set for after your current term or program ends — so it is worth agreeing on it with both DSOs rather than leaving it to chance.

Get admitted to the new SEVP-certified school first.
Your current DSO sets a transfer release date in SEVIS.
On the release date, control of your record passes to the new school.

Step 2: Transfer-in and your new I-20

On or after the release date, the transfer-in DSO gains full access to your SEVIS record and issues a new Form I-20 in the transfer-in school's name. Your SEVIS ID number typically stays the same across the transfer, because the transfer continues your existing record rather than creating a new one.

You do not pay a new SEVIS I-901 fee for a straightforward school transfer that keeps the same SEVIS ID, and you generally do not need a brand-new visa stamp solely to continue in F-1 status if your existing F-1 visa is valid — though a new visa may be needed if you travel and your visa has expired.

Keep the new I-20 signed and current, and check that the program details on it are correct before your new program begins.

The transfer-in DSO issues a new Form I-20.
Your SEVIS ID usually stays the same.
A same-ID school transfer generally does not require a new SEVIS I-901 fee.

Step 3: Report to your new DSO within 15 days

After the transfer, there is a hard reporting deadline. You must register for classes and contact your new (transfer-in) DSO within 15 days of the program start date listed on your new Form I-20.

Missing this window is a status problem, not a formality — the transfer-in school needs to "register" you in SEVIS to confirm you actually enrolled, and that confirmation depends on you showing up and reporting on time.

Put the program start date on your new I-20 on your calendar and treat the 15-day report as a priority in your first days at the new school.

Register for classes at the new school.
Contact your new DSO within 15 days of the new I-20 program start date.
This step confirms your enrollment in SEVIS.

The five-month rule and study gaps

A transfer is meant to be a continuation of study, so timing is limited. To remain in the United States through a transfer, you generally must begin classes at the transfer school within five months of transferring out of your current school, or within five months of the program completion date on your current I-20 — whichever is earlier.

If you are authorized for post-completion OPT, the measurement is tied to the earlier of transferring out or the date your OPT authorization ends. If your gap between schools is longer than allowed, you may not be able to remain in the U.S. across the break and may need to re-enter for the new program instead. This is a common trap for students who take a long break between finishing one program and starting another.

Because the exact measurement can be nuanced, confirm your specific dates and gap with both DSOs before assuming you can wait between programs.

Generally begin at the new school within five months.
The window is measured from the earlier of transfer-out or program completion (or OPT end date, if on OPT).
A long gap can mean you cannot stay in the U.S. across it.

How a transfer affects your OPT

This is the point most students miss: transferring your SEVIS record ends your OPT. If you are on post-completion OPT (or begin study at a new education level), your OPT employment authorization automatically terminates on the transfer release date. OPT is not transferable, and all current and future F-1 employment tied to it must stop on that date.

That has a practical consequence for timing. If you want to finish a period of OPT before moving on, the transfer-out DSO must set the release date for after your OPT ends (as long as your EAD has not expired and the new program has not yet begun). If the release date falls during your OPT, your work authorization ends early.

So decide your priorities first — finishing OPT versus starting the new program — and set the release date to match, in consultation with your DSO. We do not guarantee outcomes; verify the rules on the official source.

Transferring automatically terminates OPT on the release date.
OPT is not transferable and cannot move to the new school.
To finish OPT first, set the release date for after OPT ends.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again when I transfer schools?

Generally no, not for a straightforward school transfer that keeps the same SEVIS ID number — the transfer continues your existing record rather than creating a new one. Confirm your specific situation with your new DSO and on the official Study in the States guidance, since a new initial record would be different.

Will transferring cancel my OPT?

Yes. If you are on post-completion OPT (or move to a new education level), transferring your SEVIS record automatically terminates your OPT on the transfer release date, and OPT cannot move to the new school. If you want to finish OPT first, ask your DSO to set the release date for after your OPT ends.

How soon must I report after I transfer?

You must register for classes and contact your new (transfer-in) DSO within 15 days of the program start date on your new Form I-20. This is how the new school confirms your enrollment in SEVIS. Treat it as a top priority in your first days at the new school.

Can I take a long break between finishing one program and starting the transfer school?

Only within limits. You generally must begin classes at the transfer school within five months of transferring out or of your program completion date, whichever is earlier (or, if you are on OPT, the earlier of transfer-out or your OPT end date). A longer gap can mean you cannot remain in the U.S. across it. Confirm your dates with both DSOs.

Who sets the transfer release date — me or the school?

Your current (transfer-out) DSO sets the release date in SEVIS, but you should agree on it together because it controls when your record — and any OPT — passes to the new school. It is often set for after your current term or OPT ends, depending on your goals.

Does my F-1 visa stamp change when I transfer?

Continuing your F-1 status through a transfer does not by itself require a new visa if your existing F-1 visa is still valid. However, if you travel abroad and your visa has expired, you may need a new visa reflecting your new school. Check travel plans with your DSO and the official source.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: ICE — Transfers for F-1 Students; Study in the States (SEVP) — Instructions for Transferring to Another School as an F-1 Student; Study in the States (SEVP) — Complete Transfer of F-1 SEVIS Record; USCIS Policy Manual — School Transfer.

Last verified: 7 July 2026.