SEVIS Transfer Out

Steps to Initiate a SEVIS Transfer

Students planning to transfer from GWU to another SEVP Certified school in the U.S. must follow an immigration transfer process through SEVIS in order to maintain valid immigration status. Before completing the following steps, both F-1 and J-1 students should discuss their plans with an ISO advisor.

Step 1: Obtain Admission to New School

Obtain Admission to the new school. We cannot accept conditional acceptance of admission letters.

Step 2: Submit a SEVIS Transfer Out Request on ISOGateway

• See below for the step-by-step instructions based on your visa type and employment status. .
• Please note that the ISO has a ten business day processing period. You should submit your transfer out request at least 2 weeks before your transfer out date.

Step 3: ISO Releases your SEVIS Record to your New School

• Once the GW ISO has confirmed your SEVIS transfer, we will release your SEVIS record electronically to your new school on the Transfer Release Date you indicate on your SEVIS Transfer Out E-Form. You will receive email confirmation of the transfer from the GW ISO.
• *J-1 Degree Seeking Students reach out to ISO at isogwu [dot] edu (iso[at]gwu[dot]edu) to initiate the transfer out process.
• *Note: We do not transfer terminated or completed SEVIS records unless the transferring institution is willing to accept a terminated or completed SEVIS record.
• You must begin your new classes within 5 months after your program completion or employment end dates, whichever is later.

Step 4: New School Issues I-20 or DS-2019

On the release date, the new school will be able to issue an I-20/DS-2019 for transfer. The GWU I-20/DS-2019 will no longer be valid, and ISO can no longer make changes to the record. Contact your new school about the delivery of your new I-20/DS-2019.

Step 5: Complete the Transfer at your New School

Visit your new school's International Student office to complete the transfer. The transfer must be completed no later than 15 days from the start date on the new school I-20/DS-2019.

Step 6: End Your Enrollment at GW

Completing the SEVIS Transfer Out Request form, and having your SEVIS record transferred will not end your enrollment at GWU. Once you receive SEVIS Transfer confirmation email from the ISO, notify your academic department, academic advisors, the Office of the Registrar, as well as your supervisor (if you’re working on campus) about your transfer approval and work with your department on dropping classes. Be sure to take care of any outstanding balances prior to your transfer out date. 

Selecting the Transfer Release Date

Your SEVIS record can only be transferred to one school. Employment authorization does not transfer. If you are employed via F-1/J-1 on-campus employment, F-1 CPT or OPT/STEM OPT, or J-1 Academic Training, you should select a transfer release date that is after your final day of employment.

Latest Release Date Limits

• For F-1 students: The release date can be no later than the end of the 60-day grace period. The grace period ends 60 days after the last date of your final exams OR the end of the OPT/STEM OPT period, whichever is later.
• For J-1 students: The release date must be before the program end date listed on the DS-2019.

If the time period between the end of program completion/end of OPT/STEM OPT/AT at GWU and the start date of the program at the new school will be more than five months, please meet with an advisor at the GWU ISO.

The course of study at the transfer-in school must begin in the next available term or session, which must be no more than 5 months from the end of the student’s studies at the transfer-out school.

Transfer Out Request Form Instructions

The  transfer out form instructions will depend on your current status. Click on the cagetory below that describes your current status to learn about the process.

Current F-1 Students

• Please note that the ISO has a ten business day processing period. You should submit your transfer out request at least 2 weeks before your transfer out date.
• Log into ISOGateway > F-1 Student Services > SEVIS Transfer Out Request.
• Once you receive SEVIS Transfer confirmation email from the ISO, inform your academic department, academic advisors, the Office of the Registrar, and your supervisor (if you’re working on campus) about your transfer approval and work with your department on dropping classes, taking care of any outstanding balances prior to your transfer out date.  

F-1 Students on Post-Completion OPT

• Please note that the ISO has a ten business day processing period. You should submit your transfer out request at least 2 weeks before your transfer out date.
• Approved Post-Completion OPT:
  • Log into ISOGateway > F-1 Practical Training > OPT > Report your end of OPT employment report (this date should be before your transfer out date).
  • Log into ISOGateway > F-1 Student Services > SEVIS Transfer Out Request.
    • The student must be able resume classes at the transfer-in school within 5 months of the transfer release date set by the school that recommended OPT, or the date the OPT authorization ends, whichever is earlier; and
    • The student’s authorization for OPT ends on the transfer release date. Authorization for OPT is not transferable.

F-1 Students on STEM OPT

• Please note that the ISO has a 10 business day processing period. You should submit your transfer out request at least 2 weeks before your transfer out date.
• Approved STEM OPT:
• Log into ISOGateway > STEM OPT > STEM Change of Employer > Upload the final student evaluation report / I-983 form > Answer “No” to the question: Do you have new employment to report?
• Log into ISOGateway > F-1 Student Services > SEVIS Transfer Out Request.
  • The student must be able resume classes at the transfer-in school within 5 months of the transfer release date set by the school that recommended STEM OPT, or the date the STEM OPT authorization ends, whichever is earlier; and
  • The student’s authorization for STEM OPT ends on the transfer release date. Authorization for STEM OPT is not transferable.

J-1 Degree Seeking Students

Please email ISO as soon as possible to initiate the SEVIS Transfer Out Process. 

Midterm Transfers

An F-1 student cannot decide to transfer in the middle of a term and immediately stop attending classes. Such an action would be a violation of status, and your SEVIS record would be terminated.  If classes are in session, you must attend classes and otherwise maintain status until the transfer release date.

Please send an email to ISO if you have any intention of transferring your SEVIS record during the middle of the semester.

Cancelling a Transfer in SEVIS

If you change your mind about transferring after GW has already recommended the transfer in SEVIS, please see the options below:

• Before the transfer release date, your GW ISO Advisor can cancel the transfer in SEVIS, which would allow you to either continue with your program or make a new transfer request.
• On and after the transfer release date, your GW ISO Advisor can no longer modify your record.