Applying for Your Transfer I-20

Eligibility

You are eligible to transfer your SEVIS record if you have been admitted to a full-time program at Columbia, and:

✓: You are currently in valid F-1 student status as an enrolled student at another school, or are within your 60-day grace period following the completion of your program
✓: Your program at Columbia will begin no more than five months after your current completion date

OR

✓: You are currently in F-1 status on OPT, or within your 60-day grace period following the completion of your OPT
✓: Your program at Columbia will begin no more than five months after your employment end date

Note: Statistics Hybrid Program students cannot transfer in for fall term because they are not in residence until the spring term.

Transfer Date

✓: You will receive our SEVIS School Code when submitting the online application. Our transfer form is electronic, and will be emailed to your previous school.
✓: Contact your current international student adviser to establish the date on which they will transfer your electronic SEVIS record to Columbia. We cannot process an I-20 for you until your record is transferred to us.
✓: If you’re returning from a trip abroad after your transfer date, you will need to have Columbia’s I-20 with you
✓: If you're currently on OPT, your transfer date must be after your last day of employment. You cannot continue working on OPT after your transfer date.
✓: For Statistics Hybrid Students Only: The earliest date to transfer for Spring 2022 is September 21, 2021

How to Apply for a Transfer I-20

Prepare your documents

The deadline to submit a complete application is no more than 15 days after your program begins.

1.: A copy of admission letter/email
2.: The identification page of your passport
3.: Financial Certification Form (Refer to the Estimated Expenses for your program.)
4.: Evidence of Financial Support (Refer to the Funding Documents Checklist)
5.: Passport identification page of each dependent, if applicable
6.: If you're currently in the U.S., a copy of your I-94 arrival record
7.: A copy of all previous I-20s / DS-2019s
8.: I-20 Processing Fee: Have a credit card available to pay the $106 fee. The processing fee is required and cannot be waived.
9.: You will receive our SEVIS School Code when submitting the online application. Our transfer form is electronic, and will be emailed to your previous school.

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) uses UEMS (University Express Mail Service) for shipping your I-20. Follow the instructions in your online application to order and pay for your shipment.

Log in to Compass to apply

There are two ways to log in to Compass: with a PID or with a UNI.

Apply for your I-20 with your PID

Your PID is the 9-digit number beginning with “C” you will receive from your admissions office or department (e.g. C123456789). If you don't have a PID, contact your admissions office.

Use your PID to request a Limited Services PIN.
Receive your Limited Services PIN at the e-mail address you used to apply to Columbia.
Log in to Compass using your PID, Date of Birth and Limited Services PIN by clicking the appropriate link below:

ISSO Morningside: Apply Here with Your PID
ISSO CU Medical Center (CUIMC): Apply Here with Your PID

Not sure of your campus? Check our campus school list.
Need help using Compass? Learn more on our Compass User Guide.

PID Login Issues

If you do not receive your Limited Services PIN within a few minutes, please check your SPAM folder. If you still do not receive it, please email the correct ISSO office only and be sure to include your PID and your preferred email address in the body of the email. In the subject line write “Limited Services PIN”:

ISSO Morningside: ISSO Medical Center (CUIMC)
[email protected] only: [email protected] only

Don't know your Campus? Please check our Campus school list.

If you were recently accepted to Columbia, your record may not be in our system. Make sure you have accepted your offer of admission and paid your deposit, if applicable. If you cannot access the system after 10 business days, please contact the ISSO office for your campus only:

ISSO Morningside: [email protected] only
ISSO Medical Center (CUIMC): [email protected] only

Don't know your Campus? Please check our Campus school list.

Apply for your I-20 with your UNI (Morningside students only)

Your UNI is assigned to you by your school and consists of your initials plus a number, e.g. AB1234, and is part of your Columbia email address. Learn more about your UNI on the Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT) website.

Morningside Students only: Apply Here with your UNI

Not sure of your campus? Check our campus school list.
Need help using Compass? Learn more on our Compass User Guide.

UNI Login Issues

Don't worry! You can follow the steps above (With a PID) to login to Compass without a UNI.

We will review your application

We will email you if we need additional information.
When your SEVIS record has been transferred and your application is complete, we will process your transfer I-20 within 2 weeks.

Receive your I-20

We're not permitted to email I-20s. Please review the information on your I-20 for accuracy when it arrives.

Visa Information for Transfer Students

If you have an 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.

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.

If you plan to travel abroad after your transfer date, you must return to the U.S. with:

I-20 issued by Columbia University
Unexpired visa
Unexpired passport

You can return to the U.S. with your Columbia I-20 at any time before your program begins.

Transfer students are not required to depart the U.S. in between programs. You may remain in the U.S. even if your F-1 visa is expired as long as you have applied for your Columbia I-20.

For more information about traveling, visit Documents Needed to Travel page.

Questions?

If you have questions not addressed on this page, email the ISSO office for your campus.

ISSO Morningside: ISSO Medical Center (CUIMC)
[email protected]: [email protected]

Not sure of your campus? Check our campus school list.

Related Information

Maintaining Your Status for Students
Documents Needed to Travel (Students)
J-1 Student Transfer
If you are currently a Columbia student and planning to continue your studies at another US school, please see Transferring Out of Columbia (F-1).

Applying for Your Transfer I-20

Supporting Documents Checklist

UEMS Shipment Order

I did not receive my Limited Services PIN

I received an error message when requesting my Limited Services PIN

Don't know your UNI? Haven't activated your UNI? Received an error message when you logged in?

Do I need a new F-1 visa?

Can I travel outside the U.S.?

Can I remain in the U.S.?

Applying for Your Transfer I-20

On this page

COVID-19 FAQs

Summer Session Only

Eligibility

Transfer Date

How to Apply for a Transfer I-20

Prepare your documents

Supporting Documents Checklist

UEMS Shipment Order

Log in to Compass to apply

Apply for your I-20 with your PID

PID Login Issues

I did not receive my Limited Services PIN

I received an error message when requesting my Limited Services PIN

Apply for your I-20 with your UNI (Morningside students only)

UNI Login Issues

Don't know your UNI? Haven't activated your UNI? Received an error message when you logged in?

We will review your application

Receive your I-20

Visa Information for Transfer Students

Do I need a new F-1 visa?

Can I travel outside the U.S.?

Can I remain in the U.S.?

Questions?

Related Information