Transferring Your J-1 SEVIS Record to Another School
If you're going to another school next term, you need to ask us to release your electronic SEVIS record to the new school on a date that you choose, referred to as the release date. The next school gets ownership of your record on the date your SEVIS record is released. They cannot generate a DS-2019 for you until the SEVIS release date is reached.
Eligibility
The purpose of a J-1 transfer must be to complete the original educational objective for which you first came to the U.S. as a J-1 Exchange Visitor. If you are making a change to your field of study, you are not eligible for a J-1 transfer.
To transfer your SEVIS record, you must currently be in J-1 status with your Form DS-2019 end date in the future and either:
It may be possible to transfer your J-1 SEVIS record to the next institution for the remainder of the five-year limit if you meet all of the following:
J-1 Students: How to Transfer Your J-1 SEVIS Record to Another School
Speak with us
If you and your next school believe you’re qualified for a SEVIS transfer, discuss your travel and/or employment plans with us before choosing a SEVIS transfer release date.
Release Date Considerations
The start date of the new DS-2019 must be the day following the expiration of the current one. There needs to be communication in advance with the next school about accepting your SEVIS record on the release date.
If you are going to work on Academic Training in the summer before enrolling in the fall at the new school, your release date must be on or after the last date of work or you will lose the employment eligibility.
If you are currently on post-completion Academic Training, you need to choose a transfer release date on or after he last date of work. AT authorization will automatically end on the release date.
Gather your documents
Submit your documents as one PDF
Not sure of your campus? Check our campus school list.
We will review your application
We will email you only if there is a concern.
We will release your SEVIS record
Once approved, we will release your SEVIS record to your new school on the mutually agreed upon release date. On this date, your new school will have ownership of your SEVIS record and we will no longer have access to it. Check with your new institution on what you need to obtain your new “transfer” DS-2019.
Scholars (Professors and Researchers): How to Transfer Your J-1 SEVIS Record to Another School
Provide our contact information
There needs to be communication in advance with the next school because the start date of the new DS-2019 must be the day following the expiration of the current one.
Provide the next school with contact information for one of our international scholar advisers:
Not sure of your campus? Check our campus school list.
We will establish the release date
Once your next school contacts us, we will speak with them to establish the release date of the transfer.
Travel with a J-1 SEVIS Transfer
If your J-1 visa in your passport is still unexpired, you may continue to use it with the new school’s DS-2019. With the transfer of your record, you will keep the same SEVIS number.
If you need to apply for a new visa, you won’t need to pay a new SEVIS fee.