F-1 Status

BU students in F-1 status who have completed a program and will start a new program of study at a new school, or those who are wishing to transfer from BU to another school should request that ISSO transfer their SEVIS record. Your SEVIS record should be transferred to the new school after completing your program at BU and prior to starting a program a the new school.  If you are withdrawing from BU mid-program, the SEVIS transfer should take place after you complete your current semester at BU and prior to when you will matriculate at the new school.  To transfer your SEVIS record, please follow these steps:

• You must be fully admitted to the new school in order for ISSO to transfer your SEVIS record.
• Complete the Transfer Out Request form. This form notifies the ISSO of your request to transfer your SEVIS record on the transfer release date listed on the form. By transferring your SEVIS record, you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee again, and your SEVIS ID number remains the same.
• E-mail the completed Transfer Out Request form, your most recent I-94 information, and any transfer-in form from the International Students Office at the new school to your ISSO advisor.
• Your ISSO advisor will review your Transfer Out Request within 10 business days and contact you if they have any questions prior to completing your transfer.
• Your ISSO advisor will confirm via e-mail once your SEVIS transfer is scheduled.  They will also return to you via e-mail any transfer-in form that you submitted from the new school.
• Finally, you should contact the new school to obtain a new I-20 for your new program, and follow any instructions that they provide to complete the SEVIS transfer process.

F-1 Student Transfer Tips:

• You must begin your program at the new school on the new available start date within 5 months of your date of last attendance at BU or your OPT end date.
• Your SEVIS record must be transferred to the new school by the end of your 60-day grace period.
• To ensure that ISSO transfers your record to the correct new school, be sure to fill in the SEVIS School Code for the new school on ISSO’s Transfer Out Request form.  This code may be found on a Transfer-In form provided by the new school, or the International Student Office will be able to provide it to you.  The school code will consist of a series of letters and numbers beginning with 214XXX.
• On the date your SEVIS record is transferred, all employment authorization associated with your degree program at BU will end.  This includes on-campus employment/CPT if you are an enrolled student or OPT if you have already finished your program.
• Once your SEVIS record is transferred to the new school, you will work with them for all of your immigration sponsorship questions.  If you are traveling internationally between after your SEVIS record is transferred from BU but before you start your program at the new school, you should contact them to request a “Transfer Pending” I-20.  You should not use your BU I-20 when you try to enter the US next.
• If you are withdrawing from BU prior to completing your degree program, you should contact the University Service Center (undergraduate students) or your academic department (Graduate students) to finalize your withdrawal.

J-1 Status

• Visit the ISSO and speak with an Advisor on Call (AOC).
• You may transfer your status to a different J-1 Exchange Visitor Program sponsor’s DS-2019 as long as you remain in the “student” category. Note that you cannot transfer as a non-degree to a degree student.
• Inform the ISSO of your intent to transfer to another J-1 Exchange Visitor Program while you continue your studies at Boston University. A Responsible Officer of the new J program must contact the ISSO to request that your SEVIS record be released for transfer.
• You must transfer your SEVIS record by the end date of your DS-2019.

Once your transfer is approved by the ISSO, it’s your responsibility to make sure you receive a new DS-2019 from the new J-1 Exchange Visitor Program sponsor to complete the transfer—before your Boston University DS-2019 expires and by the start of your new program.

J-1 Status

If you wish to continue your academic objective under the J-1 sponsorship of another program sponsor in the US, you may be eligible to transfer your SEVIS record to the new program sponsor, provided:

• The new program sponsor is approved by the Department of State to sponsor scholars in the same J-1 category (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, and Specialist).
• The transfer is consistent with the goals of the original program objective at Boston University.
• You are currently in valid program status.
• The transfer will not extend the stay beyond the permissible time for your category.
• The transfer occurs before the end date on your DS-2019.

Please contact your ISSO advisor if you are considering transferring to another program.

H-1B Status

If you plan to leave Boston University and begin working for another employer at any point, it’s important that you consult with your new employer, the ISSO, and/or an immigration attorney to be sure you handle the transition in a way that doesn’t violate your immigration status. For example, if the new employer will petition for H-1B approval for the new job, you must continue working at Boston University until the new petition is submitted. Timing and proper procedures are vital to maintaining your status.