Transferring to SBU

International students who are admitted to Stony Brook University from another U.S. college, university, high school or language program in F-1 status may need a SEVIS Transfer. This is the process of moving your SEVIS record from your current school to a new school after you are admitted. Admission to a new school alone does not automatically allow an F-1 student to begin studies at another school.

For more information on transferring as a J-1 student, click here.

Eligibility

You must be maintaining F-1 status.
You must have an offer of admission from SBU.
If you already graduated or completed OPT, you must request a SEVIS transfer within your 60-day grace period.
The start of classes at SBU must be within 5 months of one of the following:
- - Academic program completion at your prior institution;
  - Last day of enrollment at your prior institution;
  - OPT authorization end date (end date on EAD)
For students who are transferring before the end of their OPT, the start of classes must be within 5 months of the requested SEVIS I-20 transfer/release date.

If the period of time between F-1 activities is longer than 5 months, your SEVIS record is not eligible for transfer. You must receive a new initial I-20 with a new SEVIS number.

Benefits of a SEVIS Transfer

You do not pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again.
You can remain in the U.S. in between programs if there is less than 5 months between the end of your current program and the start of your new program.
You maintain the same SEVIS ID number.
If your F-1 visa is still valid, you can continue to use it until its expiration date, even though your old school's name is on your visa.
You may travel in between programs and are not subject to the 30-day entry restriction (entering no earlier than 30 days before your program starts).

Transfer-In Process

Admission to a new school alone does not automatically allow an F-1 student to begin studies at another school. To maintain your F-1 status, your SEVIS record must be transferred to SBU from your previous institution.

1. Speak to your current school

Upon gaining admission to Stony Brook University, you must notify your current International Student Advisor of your intention to enroll at SBU and inquire about their transfer-out process. Once you have completed step 3 (see below), we will contact your current institution to request the release your SEVIS record to SBU.

Please be aware that Stony Brook University is unable to provide you with an I-20 until your SEVIS record has been officially transferred and released.

2. Request your I-20 from SBU

Once you have been admitted to SBU, login to accessVIS and submit all required forms within the "SBU Issued Form I-20/DS-2019 Request" eForm linked from the accessVIS Home Page under "Requests."

3. Submit the 'SEVIS Record Transfer Information' eForm

You must submit the "SEVIS Record Transfer Information" form in accessVIS. The international advisor at your current school will receive an email with instructions on releasing your SEVIS record.

4. Receive your I-20 from Stony Brook

Once your record is released and all documents have been verified, Stony Brook will issue you a Transfer-Pending I-20/DS-2019.

5. Report your arrival in accessVIS

After you receive your 'Transfer Pending' I-20, you must complete the "New Student Check-in and Orientation" process in accessVIS so that your record can be registered in SEVIS.

After your record is registered, a 'Continued Attendance' I-20 will be issued with a travel signature.

Important Note: Students who leave the United States between transfers must use Stony Brook University’s I-20 when arriving for inspection at the port of entry. Please keep all previous I-20s for intake procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I travel outside of the U.S. in between programs after my transfer-out date?

Yes, you can. If you plan to travel abroad after your transfer-out date has passed, you must reenter the U.S. with:

Form I-20 issued by Stony Brook University
Valid visa
Valid passport

Students with a 'Transfer Pending' I-20 may return to the U.S. at any time before the program start date on the transfer I-20. You are not restricted from entering the U.S. more than 30 days before your new program start date.

Do I need a new F-1 visa?

If you have a valid, unexpired visa in your passport, you do not need to apply for a new visa. You may use the visa you have even though the previous school's name is on it. However, please note that this is a risk.

If you have an expired visa and are traveling outside of the U.S., you will need to apply for a new visa, but you are not required to pay the SEVIS fee again.

What should my transfer release date be?

Your transfer release date should be your school's current semester or session completion date, or the date of expected transfer if earlier than the established academic cycle.

If you are on your period of post-completion OPT and wish to complete your OPT period, your transfer release date should be the last day of your OPT authorization period.

Am I still eligible for OPT at my previous school after the transfer-out date?

No. Any OPT authorization ends on the transfer release date for a student who requests a transfer to another SEVP-certified school or a change of education level to continue at the same school.

Continuing to work on OPT even one day beyond the transfer release date would a status violation.

How does my SEVIS transfer affect my on-campus employment eligibility?

You may only work on campus at the school that has access to your SEVIS record. Your on-campus work authorization at your previous school ends when your SEVIS record is transferred to SBU.

Does my time in F-1 status at my previous institution count towards the one full academic year provision for employment and practical training?

Yes, a transfer student can count the time spent studying at the transfer-out school toward any regulatory requirement that the student be in F -1 status for a full academic year in order to qualify for employment.

When will I get my I-20 from Stony Brook?

After your SEVIS record is released to us and you have submitted all of the required forms, we will be notified and will issue you a 'Transfer Pending' I-20.

Why does my I-20 say 'Transfer Pending'?

All SEVIS Transfer students are given a 'Transfer Pending' I-20. Upon completion of the International Student Check-in process in accessVIS and registration of your record in SEVIS, you will be issued a "Continued Attendance" I-20 endorsed for travel.

New Students

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is provided by Visa and Immigration Services as a service solely to the international students and scholars of Stony Brook University. We make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in this handout. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be considered legal advice or used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

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Phone: (631) 632-4685 Fax: (631) 632-7064

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