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Transferring to GW

Are you an international student looking to transfer to GW? See below for important information on processes related specifically to international transfer students.

SEVIS Transfer

If you will be joining GW after attending another SEVP-certified school in the US, you may be eligible for a SEVIS transfer. The following steps will assist you in requesting a SEVIS transfer:

  1. Upon admission, your GW School or College should provide you with a GW Transfer-In Form and an admission letter. You should fill out the student-portion of the GW Transfer-In Form and sign it. 
  2. In order to request a SEVIS transfer, and therefore granting GW access to your I-20, please give the GW Transfer-In Form and the admission letter to your current school. The GW Transfer-In Form must be returned to your admitting GW School or College's admissions department. This form helps GW determine if you are eligible for a SEVIS transfer.
  3. After your SEVIS transfer release date, GW will be able to access your SEVIS record and create an I-20 for you.
  4. You are required to report to GW's ISO within 15 days of the reporting date on your I-20, or you may risk losing your immigration status.

Please contact the ISO, if:

  • You'd like to request a SEVIS transfer, but you are outside the US.
  • You'd like to request a SEVIS transfer but you have been outside the US or have not attending classes in the last five months.
  • You have questions about how a SEVIS transfer will impact your visa foil or SEVIS I-901 fee.
Travel & Transfers

For Current students interested in travel information, please visit the Travel and Re-Entry for F-1 and J-1 Students webpage.

If a transfer student plans to travel outside the United States, students must time the transfer by reentering the United States with a Form I-20 for the school that holds his or her SEVIS record.

If travel is:

  • Started and completed before the transfer release date with a current Form I-20 from the transfer-out school: student should travel on the transfer-out school's Form I-20.
  • Started before the transfer release date, but completed after the release date: the transfer-in school (GW) must send the student an updated transfer pending Form I-20 for reentry into the United States.
  • Started and completed after the transfer release date with Form I-20 from the transfer-in school: student should travel on the transfer-in (GW) Form I-20.

For students who are traveling outside the US and have an expired visa:

  • Before the transfer release date with a current Form I-20 from the transfer-out school: student should request a visa using the transfer-out school's Form I-20.
  • Before the transfer release date, but completed after the release date: student should request a visa using the transfer-in school transfer pending Form I-20.
  • After the transfer release date with Form I-20 from the transfer-in school: student should request a visa using the transfer-in school transfer pending Form I-20.

Contact the ISO with any questions.

 

Reporting Dates

A “reporting date” is the date by which you must arrive in the US and check-in with the ISO. The date is located on your form I-20, part 5 and DS-2019 part 3. Failure to arrive in the US by this date may increase the risk of you being denied entry into the US. If you are concerned that you will not be able to arrive in time for the reporting date, please see the Late Arrival Instructions.

 

Orientation

Transfer students are required to attend New International Student Orientation. Even though you may be familiar with US culture and academic culture, immigration regulations which impact you as an F-1 or J-1 student are always changing. In addition to constant changes in immigration regulations, each US academic institution has its own way of reporting information on your behalf to the US government.