A practical, student-facing companion to our SEVIS Transfer guide — the concrete steps and documents involved in getting a new Form I-20 when you move to a new school.
General information, not legal advice. This guide summarizes publicly available information from official U.S. government sources, listed under Official Resources below. Immigration rules, fees, and processing times can change, and how they apply depends on your individual circumstances — confirm your situation with your school's Designated School Official (DSO) or USCIS before making decisions. This guide does not guarantee any visa, status, or admission outcome.
"I-20 transfer" is how many students describe the practical, paperwork side of a SEVIS transfer — the process of getting a new Form I-20 from your new school. See our SEVIS Transfer guide for the official system-level mechanics; this page focuses on the concrete steps and questions to ask.
F-1 students who have been accepted to a new school and need practical guidance on the steps to actually get their new I-20 and stay in status through the process.
You need to be accepted by a new SEVP-certified school and be maintaining your F-1 status. If you weren't pursuing a full course of study at the school you were last authorized to attend, you may not be eligible to transfer — options such as reinstatement, or leaving the US and re-entering in new F-1 status, are something to discuss with your DSO or a qualified immigration adviser. You also need to be able to begin classes at the new school within five months of transferring out of your current school or within five months of the program completion date on your current Form I-20, whichever is earlier. If you're on post-completion OPT, the five months instead run from transferring out of the school that recommended your OPT or from the date your OPT authorization ends, whichever is earlier. Confirm your own eligibility with your current DSO before you commit to a new school.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Talk to your current DSO | Tell your current school's DSO that you plan to transfer and which school you're moving to, and discuss the timing with them. |
| 2. Release date is set | Your current (transfer-out) school sets a transfer release date in SEVIS — usually the end of your current term, or your expected transfer date if that's earlier. |
| 3. New school gets access | On the release date, your new school gains access to your SEVIS record and becomes responsible for it. |
| 4. New Form I-20 | Your new school's DSO issues your transfer Form I-20. |
| 5. Contact your new DSO | Get in touch with your new school's DSO (see the Timeline below) and confirm any reporting or other requirements that apply to you. |
| 6. SEVIS registration | Once you've enrolled, registering you in SEVIS is your new school's responsibility. |
A clear, step-by-step approach reduces the risk of a gap in your SEVIS record or a missed reporting deadline.
This is a practical companion piece, not a substitute for official guidance — always confirm each step with both schools' DSOs directly.
Ask both your current and new DSO these questions directly: What transfer release date works for both schools? Will any CPT/OPT authorization be affected? What is the new school's specific reporting process once I arrive?
Report to your new school's DSO within 15 days of your program start date, as in the SEVIS Transfer guide.
Acceptance letter from the new school, your current I-20, and (after the transfer release date) your new Form I-20 from the new school's DSO.
SEVP
Every student's circumstances are different. Talk to Na Visa for general guidance, and confirm anything status-specific with your DSO or an immigration professional.
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