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.