Transferring Your F-1 SEVIS Record to BU
Students studying in the U.S. in F-1 status may qualify for a SEVIS record transfer to Boston University. F-1 regulations and SEVP guidance stipulates that students maintain only one SEVIS record when you move from one school to another. SEVIS transfer students will receive a new BU I-20 with the same SEVIS number they used at their previous institution.
You may qualify for SEVIS transfer provided you meet all of the following requirements:
- You have been admitted to a full-time program of study.
- You have maintained valid F-1 status at your previous institution.
- Your SEVIS record was transferred to BU before the end of your 60-day grace period.
- Your BU program will begin no more than five months after your most recent date of enrollment or the end of any post-completion OPT.
For graduate and non-degree students: If you qualify for SEVIS transfer, you will be sent instructions and a link to the Eligibility Confirmation for F-1 SEVIS Transfer to BU Form. Once you have received the form, take the following steps:
- Complete Section 1 of the Eligibility Confirmation for F-1 SEVIS Transfer Form. This form will collect information to confirm your eligibility for SEVIS transfer and document when your SEVIS record will be released to Boston University.
- Contact the Designated School Official (DSO) at the school that currently sponsors your F-1 status and ask them to complete Section 2 of the Eligibility Confirmation for F-1 SEVIS Transfer form. If they will not complete the form, obtain proof of your most recent enrollment. Acceptable documents include an official or unofficial transcript, verification of enrollment from the registrar, or signed letter from your academic department.
- Log into the ISSOPortal to complete to complete the Transfer-In request and submit to ISSO for processing.
- The ISSO will issue a “Transfer Pending” I-20 to you within 10 days after your SEVIS “Transfer Release Date”.
- Complete Initial ISSO Check-in on the ISSOPortal no later than 15 days after the start date indicated on your Boston University Form I-20. Failure to report to the ISSO by this deadline will jeopardize your F-1 student status.
If you have questions regarding the F-1 transfer process or how travel and employment could impact your eligibility to transfer, we invite you read through the information below. In addition, you could consult with your current DSO or contact ISSO staff via email at issogac@bu.edu
For undergraduate students: If you qualify for SEVIS transfer, you will be sent instructions and the Eligibility Confirmation for F-1 SEVIS Transfer to BU Form from the Undergraduate Admission office. Please complete and return the form to them for processing and contact them with any questions.
How do I transfer my SEVIS record to Boston University?
Please consult with a DSO at the school that currently maintains your F-1 SEVIS record to determine if you are eligible to transfer your SEVIS record to Boston University.
In order to be eligible for a SEVIS transfer, you must have maintained valid status throughout your F-1 program, you must begin your new program within 5 months from your previous program completion, and you must have an “active” F-1 SEVIS record. Students on a period of F-1 post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) including STEM OPT, must have met all OPT reporting requirements and must not have exceeded the maximum days of unemployment allowed.
Please be aware that some students may not be eligible to transfer a SEVIS record between schools. If you do not qualify for a SEVIS transfer, respond to transfer instruction email to inform the ISSO Admissions team that you do not qualify. The ISSO will issue you an Initial Attendance I-20 on a new SEVIS record. You will be required to travel outside of the U.S. and make a new entry to the US to restart your F-1 student status with the new I-20 before the start of your program.
What should I request as my SEVIS Transfer Release date?
You must consult your current DSO at your previous school to determine an appropriate SEVIS Transfer release date.
- If you are currently enrolled as a student, the SEVIS transfer release date should be on, or after your last day of class.
- If you have completed your program, your SEVIS transfer release date must be prior to the expiration of your grace period.
- If you are currently on OPT or STEM OPT, your SEVIS transfer release date can be during your OPT or STEM OPT but, no later than the expiration of your grace period. Keep in mind that your employment authorization will automatically end once your SEVIS record is transferred to Boston University.
In all cases, you should carefully strategize the best SEVIS record transfer date with your DSO to ensure that the record is transferred within regulatory requirements.
When will I receive my Boston University Form I-20?
You can only have one active SEVIS record at a time. Therefore, Boston University cannot issue your new Form I-20 until after your SEVIS record has been released from your previous school. You should expect the new Form I-20 to be issued within 10 business days of the “SEVIS Transfer Release date” entered in the Transfer-In request on the ISSOPortal if, all required documentation is complete. We will send an email to your BU email address when the Form I-20 has been issued.
Will I have the same SEVIS record number?
If you transfer your F-1 SEVIS record to Boston University, your SEVIS record number will remain the same. The SEVIS number is an 11-digit number that begins with “N00”. The SEVIS number is located on the top left-hand corner of your Form I-20, and on the lower left-hand side of your F-1 visa, above the school name.
Do I need to get a new F-1 visa if I transfer my SEVIS record to Boston University?
You may have a valid F-1 visa in your passport from your previous program. If that F-1 visa has not yet expired, it will remain valid for your new program at Boston University. If the F-1 visa in your passport has expired (or if you do not yet have an F-1 visa in your passport), you will need to obtain a new F-1 visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status. (Individuals traveling with Canadian passports do not need to obtain F-1 visas in their passport; however, they must travel with their valid Canadian passport and Boston University I-20.)
If your F-1 visa has expired, but you do not plan to depart the U.S., you do not need to obtain a new F-1 visa. Please understand that the F-1 visa in your passport is a travel document. Individuals who are transferring SEVIS records between universities are eligible to remain in the U.S. between programs even if their F-1 visa has expired. If your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to obtain a new F-1 visa only if you depart the U.S. and wish to re-enter in F-1 student status.
Do I need to pay the SEVIS fee?
Students (including citizens of Canada), must pay a SEVIS fee once per SEVIS record number. Provided you are eligible to transfer your SEVIS record to BU, you should have already paid the SEVIS fee at the time you obtained your first FormI-20, so students transferring their SEVIS record number to Boston University should not have to pay the SEVIS fee again. To confirm that you have already paid the SEVIS fee, please visit https://fmjfee.com.
Can I remain in the US between programs?
Yes. Individuals eligible to transfer their SEVIS immigration record between schools are eligible to remain in the U.S. during the SEVIS transfer process.
Can I travel outside of the US between programs?
Yes. If you choose to depart the U.S. between programs, please be sure to check the expiration date on the F-1 visa in your passport. In order to return to the U.S. in F-1 status you will need to present at the U.S. border:
- Your new Boston University Form I-20
- A valid F-1 visa
- A passport that is valid at least 6 months into the future.
Students who are not eligible to transfer their SEVIS record will be required to travel outside of the U.S. in between programs.
How does a SEVIS transfer impact employment authorization between programs?
Any employment authorization associated with your previous school will automatically cease once your SEVIS record has been transferred to Boston University. If you are working on-campus, or if you are in a period of CPT or OPT authorized by your previous institution, it is vital to strategize your “SEVIS Transfer Release date” carefully with your DSO when completing the SEVIS Transfer Form. You and your DSO should pick a “SEVIS Transfer Release date” that will enable you to complete employment before your SEVIS record is released to Boston University to begin studies in accordance with F-1 transfer deadlines.
When can I begin working on-campus at Boston University?
Students eligible to transfer their SEVIS record to Boston University may begin on-campus employment after they are academically registered for full-time coursework and they have completed Initial ISSO Check-In. Students generally complete check-in within 30 days of their program start date. Transfer students in the US who wish to complete check-in to begin on campus employment prior the 30-day check-in period should email issogac@bu.edu. Detailed information about international student check-in procedures will be sent out at the start of the check-in period.
Will BU accept a transfer-out form from my previous school instead of the BU transfer-in form?
Yes, BU will accept a transfer-out form from your previous school only if it contains all of the same information on our form and, is completed, signed and dated by a DSO.
What if I am not eligible to transfer my record to Boston University?
Please consult with a DSO at the school that currently maintains your F-1 SEVIS record to determine if you are eligible to transfer your SEVIS record to Boston University.
Some students may not be eligible to transfer a SEVIS record between schools. If you have not maintained valid F-1 status, if you have been outside the U.S. for more than 5 months, or if the grace period on your F-1 status has expired, you will not be eligible for a SEVIS transfer.
Your DSO must complete the SEVIS Transfer Form to notify us of your eligibility and you must submit the completed form even if you are not eligible to transfer.
If you are not eligible to transfer your SEVIS record, BU may be able to create a new SEVIS record with a new SEVIS record number and issue you an “initial attendance” Form I-20. You will be required to travel to your home country, pay a new SEVIS fee and apply for a new F-1 visa to return to the U.S. in a new period of F-1 status no more than 30 days before your program begins.
