Transfer of Schools

A student who is maintaining  F-1 status may transfer from one DHS-approved school to another by following the F-1 SEVIS . Transferring academic credits from one school to another does not transfer a student's F-1 status unless the student and Designated School Official of the transfer-in school follow these procedures.

To request a transfer of your SEVIS record to a new school, you will need to complete the procedure below. When you complete the SEVIS Transfer Out Form (available in MyISSS portal), you will be asked what date you would like your SEVIS record to be transferred to the new school. Your SEVIS record transfer-out date is the date when the new school will have responsibility for your F-1 SEVIS record and will be able to issue you a new I-20, if you have met all their transfer-in requirements. Ideally, your SEVIS record transfer-out date should immediately follow your last date of enrollment at CU Boulder unless you are applying for post-completion OPT at your recently completed degree level at CU Boulder.  Please make sure you reach out to ISSS to discuss your F-1 SEVIS transfer as soon as you have accepted admission to your new school so that we can ensure a timely SEVIS transfer.

If you will be applying for and participating in post-completion OPT between your academic programs, your transfer release date should be carefully coordinated with ISSS at CU Boulder and with your new school. Post-Completion OPT (including STEM OPT) authorization ends immediately when the SEVIS record is transferred to the new school.

ISSS can only cancel your SEVIS record transfer request prior to the requested transfer-out date. If your transfer release date has already passed, then your SEVIS record has already been transferred to your new school. ISSS will no longer have access to your SEVIS record after the transfer release date. If you decide to attend a school other than the one your SEVIS record was transferred to or if you decide to remain at CU Boulder, you will have to coordinate with your new school (the school your SEVIS record was transferred to) in order to facilitate another SEVIS record transfer to the school you will attend.

The F-1 SEVIS Transfer Timeline:

  • It is necessary to notify the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) of all SEVIS transfers. To do this, international students in F-1 status must follow the procedures detailed below to request a timely transfer of their SEVIS record to their new school.
  • 5-Month Transfer Rule: International students in F-1 status must begin their studies at the transfer-in school at either the next available term or within 5 months of their last date of enrollment at CU Boulder or their post-completion OPT authorization end date, whichever is sooner.
  • 60-Day Transfer Rule: The F-1 SEVIS transfer must take place before the end of the 60-day grace period (if applicable).
    • When a student applies for and participates in post-completion OPT, the 60 day grace period moves to the end of the post-completion OPT authorization period. If a student participates in post-completion OPT and then transfers their SEVIS record to a new school, the 60 day grace period moves to the end of the academic program or to the end of the post-completion OPT authorization period at the next degree level.
  • 15-day Transfer Rule: International students in F-1 status are required to report to their new school within 15 days of the F-1 program start date listed on their new I-20 from their new school

How to request a transfer of your SEVIS record:

To complete the F-1 SEVIS transfer-out process, you must submit the following documentation to ISSS by completing the SEVIS Transfer Out Form (available in MyISSS portal):

  • Official proof of admission to the new school
  • SEVIS Transfer-In Form from the new school
    • Your new school may or may not have a transfer-in form for you and ISSS to complete.

After you have submitted the SEVIS Transfer Out Form and have uploaded the related documentation, please allow ISSS 3-5 business days for processing your request. ISSS will release your SEVIS record to the new school and will notify you when this is complete. The new school cannot issue a new I-20 for you until they have access to your SEVIS record.

Important Reminders:

Eligibility: You are only eligible for an F-1 SEVIS transfer if you have been maintaining valid F-1 status. Students who have been dismissed from CU Boulder are not considered to be maintaining status and will not be eligible for an F-1 SEVIS transfer unless the new school is willing to accept the transfer of a terminated F-1 SEVIS record.

On-Campus Employment: The on-campus employment benefit associated with F-1 status ends on your last day of enrollment at CU Boulder or on your transfer-out date, whichever happens sooner.  On-campus employment is a benefit of continued enrollment.  If you will not be enrolled in a future term, then your ability to work on the CU Boulder campus ends on your last day of enrollment.

Withdrawing From Classes

If you are transferring your SEVIS record to a new school while still enrolled at CU Boulder, please note the following:

  • ISSS cannot withdraw you from your CU Boulder classes. Submitting an F-1 SEVIS transfer request will not result in your withdrawal from classes. If you need to withdraw from classes you must make sure you take the appropriate steps.
  • You may also be required to submit a Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office for the semester in which you wish to withdraw. This is typically required if you have already registered for classes in the semester in which you wish to transfer your F-1 SEVIS to the new school and you are unable to drop the classes because it is past the first drop deadline.
  • Students who register for classes for any given semester are obligated to pay full tuition and fees for that semester unless they officially withdraw or drop all the classes they are enrolled in by the specified deadlines. Please review the information about withdrawing from CU Boulder on the Registrar’s website and be sure to complete all required University procedures.
    • Failure to officially drop all classes or withdraw from CU Boulder may result in being charged full tuition and fees for the semester of the SEVIS record transfer or the semester following the SEVIS record transfer.