SEVIS Record transfer Information

Students may choose to transfer their F-1 SEVIS records to another college/university in the U.S. to begin a new program of study at the following times:

• After completing a degree at SUNY Poly, or a period of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM Extension OPT
  • Request your transfer before the end of your grace period (60 days after completion of program or OPT authorization).
  • Coursework at your new school must begin in the next available semester or within 5 months of the last date of enrollment and attendance at SUNY Poly, whichever comes first.
• During an authorized OPT/STEM Extension OPT employment period
  • You can request a transfer at any point during your OPT or before the end of your 60-day post OPT grace period.
    • Your employment authorization will end the day your SEVIS record is transferred.
    • Classes must begin within 5 months of the day your SEVIS record was transferred or the last day on your EAD, whichever is sooner.  
    • If you choose to transfer your SEVIS record prior to the end of your OPT period, you will lose any remaining days of OPT work authorization.
• Between semesters (during winter or summer break)
  • Request your transfer before the start of the next upcoming semester at SUNY Poly.
  • Coursework at your new school must begin in the next available semester or within 5 months of the last date of enrollment and attendance at SUNY Poly, whichever comes first.
• Mid-semester while enrolled at SUNY Poly
  • Any student requesting a transfer of their SEVIS record after the Add/Drop deadline and before the last day of the semester must be attending classes at SUNY Poly and otherwise maintain status until their SEVIS record is transferred to their new school.
  • Students may not transfer an Active SEVIS record after the semester has begun if full-time enrollment has not been maintained until the date of transfer.
  • Failure to enroll and ATTEND courses full-time after the semester start date is a violation of F-1 status and will result in termination of your SEVIS record.
  • Students are required to pay tuition and fees. Please refer to the SUNY Poly academic calendar (published by the Registrar’s Office) for withdrawal and refund deadlines.  
  • SEVIS records will be released NO SOONER than 7 days (1 week) before the student's program start date at the new school.
  • Students must submit a request to the ISS to withdraw from all courses AFTER the SEVIS record has been released.
    • You MAY NOT withdraw from any SUNY Poly coursework until your SEVIS record has been officially transferred to another school.
      • Early withdrawal from SUNY Poly courses will result in termination of your SEVIS record prior to transfer. 

To transfer your SEVIS record to another U.S. College/University:

1. Review the SEVIS Transfer Instructions and Information CAREFULLY.
   1. It is YOUR responsibility to maintain lawful F-1 Status and ensure you are following all instructions provided.
2. Submit the SEVIS Transfer Out Request Form and all required information
   1. For instructions on selecting your Transfer Release Date, see information provided below.
3. The ISS will review your request within 5-7 business days
   1. SUNY Poly Offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30. Offices are not open on Saturday and Sunday.
   2. Do not email the ISS to notify the office of your submission. We will process your request as quickly as possible in the order it is received.
   3. It is your responsibility to submit requests in a timely manner to allow sufficient processing time
4. If approved, your record will be scheduled for release to your new school on the date you indicated in your request, or on the day your request is processed by the ISS (if your requested transfer date has already passed). 

The “Transfer Release Date” is the date you would like for your SEVIS record to be transferred, or “released”, to your new institution.

Students should consider the following when selecting a Transfer Release Date:

• ISS processing time
  • Processing time for all transfer out requests is 5-7 business days.
  • Requesting a transfer date earlier than 5-7 business days will likely not be processed by the date you select.  
    • If you select a transfer release date sooner than 5-7 business days from submission of your SEVIS Transfer Request Form, your record will be transferred to your new school on the day the ISS processes your request.
• Your current semester start/end date
  • Students should ideally transfer between semesters, and only in rare circumstances may they be able to transfer out after a semester has started.
    • Review the information provided above about transferring mid-semester, if applicable.
• Your current OPT/STEM OPT end date
  • If you are engaged in any OPT or STEM OPT Extension employment, you may continue to work ONLY until the day your record is transferred.  
    • After your SEVIS record is transferred, you MAY NOT continue any OPT or STEM OPT employment approved for a program completed at SUNY Poly.  
    • Students should contact their new school prior to engaging in ANY employment after their SEVIS transfer.
• Current CPT/on campus employment
  • If you are engaged in any on or off campus employment, you may continue to work ONLY until the day your record is transferred.  
    • After your SEVIS record is transferred, you MAY NOT continue any on campus employment at SUNY Poly, or CPT employment approved by SUNY Poly.  
    • Students should contact their new school prior to engaging in ANY employment after their SEVIS transfer.
• Upcoming travel outside of the U.S.  
  • If you are planning to travel outside of the U.S. and return prior to the start date at your new school, you should ideally transfer your SEVIS record to your new school and re-enter the U.S. with your new Form I-20 issued by your new school.
    • If you are traveling outside the U.S. and plan to reenter after your SEVIS record is transferred:
      • You must re-enter with the new I-20 from your new school.  
      • You may not re-enter the U.S. after your SEVIS record is transferred with a Form I-20 from SUNY Poly. 

If your request is not processed by the requested transfer release day (because you requested a date sooner than the processing time required by the ISS), your record will be transferred on the day it is processed (within 7 business days of when it was submitted).

After the requested release date/7 business days from submission of the SEVIS Transfer Out Request Form:

• Students should contact their new institution for information about their SEVIS records.
• SUNY Poly will no longer have access to your SEVIS record and cannot provide information about it.  

For more information about SEVIS transfers, check out Study in the States’ Instructions for Transferring to Another School as an F-1 student and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s information on Transfers for F-1 students.