If you are in lawful F-1 status and are completing or leaving your current program with confirmed arrangements to continue your studies in the U.S. at a different institution in the next academic semester, you must complete the F-1 transfer process. The transfer procedure is initiated by the school you are currently attending and is completed through SEVIS by the new school.
F-1 Transfer Eligibility
Student must be maintaining legal F-1 status
Must notify current school of intention to transfer within 60 days of completion
New program start date must be within 5 months of the current program end date
Transfer Instructions
Incoming Yale Student F-1 Transfer
If you are currently an F-1 student at another academic institution and will be enrolling in a Yale program this Fall your I-20 will be issued to you through the F-1 transfer process.
Obtain the signature of your international student adviser at your current school.
Submit the form to OISS. This form can be sent electronically to newstudents.oiss@yale.edu (put TRANSFER in subject line) or via fax to 203-432-7166.
Your current international student advisor will set your current SEVIS record to be electronically released to Yale on a mutually agreed upon date of release. Discuss the appropriate date of release with your current international student adviser.Once the SEVIS record is released to Yale and all other admissions materials have been submitted, the new Form I-20 from Yale will be issued and sent to you by your admissions office.
F-1 Transfer Pending Travel or Summer in the US
F-1 transfer students are eligible to remain in the U.S. in the summer between two programs
F-1 transfer students may travel outside the US during the transfer pending period. If your current visa in the passport is valid, it can be used for new entry to the US prior to the start of your new program. If your current F-1 visa is expired, you must apply for a new F-1 visa prior to returning to the US, using the I-20 from your new school.
F-1 Transfer Completion
Student must check in at new institution within 15 days of the start date on the new I-20
Your new school will complete the F-1 transfer in SEVIS and issue you a new I-20 noting the transfer completion
Outgoing Yale F-1 Transfer Student
F-1 students who have made a commitment to attend another institution must notify OISS of their intention to transfer within 60 days of the completion of their Yale program.
Stop by OISS during open hours to meet with an adviser to notify us about your intention to transfer to a new academic institution and to work out the SEVIS transfer release date.
Bring your letter of admission to the new program.
Bring the transfer-in form from the new institution you will be attending. Contact the Designated School Official (DSO) at your new school to see if there is form you need to complete for them. If there is no form from the school you will be attending, the letter of admission will suffice when you notify OISS.
Your SEVIS record will be electronically released to your new school on the mutually agreed upon date of release.
F-1 Transfer Pending Travel or Summer in the US
F-1 transfer students are eligible to remain in the U.S. in the summer between two programs
F-1 transfer students may travel outside the US during the transfer pending period. If your current visa in the passport is valid, it can be used for new entry to the US prior to the start of your new program. If your current F-1 visa is expired, you must apply for a new F-1 visa prior to returning to the US, using the I-20 from your new school.
F-1 Transfer Completion
Student must check in at new institution within 15 days of the start date on the new I-20
Your new school will complete the F-1 transfer in SEVIS and issue you a new I-20 noting the transfer completion
