F-1 SEVIS Transfer from IU Indianapolis
If you are planning to leave Indiana University Indianapolis to study at a different institution in the United States, you will need to transfer your SEVIS record to your new college or university. This allows you to keep your unique SEVIS ID number, which is critical for maintaining your legal status in the United States.
How to Transfer your SEVIS Record from IU Indianapolis to a New Institution
- Log in to Atlas using your university technology account username and passphrase.
- In the F-1 Student Services menu, select “Transfer Out Request”.
- Complete this e-form. Pay special attention to the date you are requesting that the Office of International Affairs release your SEVIS record to your new school. As of that date, your SEVIS record will belong to your new school and you will no longer have work authorization granted by IU Indianapolis.
- Before you can submit the e-form, you will be prompted to upload a copy of your admission letter to your new school.
Transfer Guidelines for Specific Situation
You have completed (or will complete) your program at IU Indianapolis and will begin a new program at a new institution.
You must request your SEVIS transfer and the release must be granted within your 60 day grace period following the completion of your program at IU Indianapolis. You must also begin your new program within five months of completing your IU Indianapolis program.
For example: If you complete your bachelor’s degree on May 10, you must receive a SEVIS transfer no later than July 9 AND you must begin your new program before October 10.
You have completed (or will complete) your program at IU Indianapolis and are pursuing your OPT period, you will begin a new program of study at the conclusion of your OPT.
Your OPT will end on the date that your SEVIS record is transferred to your new institution. OPT is not transferable.
If you intend to have your SEVIS record transferred after your OPT ends, you will need to request and receive the SEVIS transfer during your 60 day grace period following the completion of your OPT. Additionally, you must begin the new program within 5 months of your last day of OPT. If you will begin your new program after 5 months, you are not eligible for a SEVIS transfer.
You are currently attending IU Indianapolis, have not (and will not) complete a degree program, and wish to transfer your SEVIS record to another school.
You should request your record to be transferred after your last day of study at IU Indianapolis but before the next term begins.
For example: You are studying for a bachelor degree at IU Indianapolis and wish to transfer to another school after your second year. You should request your SEVIS release from IU Indianapolis after your last final exam in May but before your semester begins at your new school in August.
Please be aware, if you are working on-campus at IU Indianapolis, you will no longer have authorization to do so on the day your SEVIS record is released to the new school.
You have attended or completed a program at IU Indianapolis, and are currently outside the United States, but plan on re-entering to attend another institution.
To be eligible for a transfer, you can be outside the country for no more than five months without being registered in coursework in the United States.
If you plan to be outside the country for more than five months and do not intend to register in U.S.-based coursework during that time, or have already been outside of the United States for more than five months, you are not eligible for a SEVIS transfer. Your new institution will need to make a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID for your re-entry. You will need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again and you should apply for a new F-1 visa stamp.
You will begin at a new school more than 5 months after the end of your OPT or last day of study at IU Indianapolis.
If the gap between your studies exceeds 5 months, you are not eligible for a SEVIS transfer. Your new program will need to issue you a new I-20 for you, and you will need to leave the United States. You will need to pay the SEVIS fee again and apply for a new F-1 visa stamp.
Some students do not wish to leave the U.S. and want to find a way to stay during the gap between studies. If this is your situation, contact your the Office of International Affairs advisor and your new school advisor to see if you have further options. If a solution is not found, you will need to leave the United States or else you will be in violation of your F-1 status.
Getting Your New I-20
Once your SEVIS record has been transferred to your new school, they will be able to make a new I-20 for you. Be sure to contact your new school to find out what their policy on issuing new I-20s is. At IU Indianapolis, this is done within the first two weeks of classes if students are not traveling.
Remember, if you are traveling outside the United States after your record has been transferred to your new school, you must use your new I-20 to re-enter the U.S. No matter what your travel plans are, you must report to your new school within 15 days of your new I-20 start date.
Things to Know about Transferring your SEVIS Record
A SEVIS transfer applies only to your immigration documentation and I-20. Academic records are not included in this process.
Please review the timing information above carefully. Your SEVIS transfer release date will be the day you complete your program, the final day of your last semester at IU Indianapolis or a date you specify in your Transfer Out Request—whichever is later.
If you decide to cancel your transfer, you must notify us in writing before your transfer release date. After that date, we will no longer have access to your SEVIS record. In addition, all travel and employment benefits authorized through IU Indianapolis will end on your transfer release date.
For assistance or more detailed information, contact iadvisor@iu.edu.
