Transfer from the University of Minnesota

Your SEVIS record must be “transferred out” to your new sponsor before they can prepare a DS-2019 for you.

• Meet with an ISSS advisor during scheduled Walk-In Hours or a scheduled appointment to discuss your intent to transfer and to determine your transfer “effective date”. Please note: The transfer effective date will be the date you no longer have ties to the University of Minnesota (such as class or employment) and can not be later than the end date of the DS-2019 issued by ISSS.
• Ask the ISSS advisor to process a “transfer out” in SEVIS for you. Please note: You must be certain that you want to attend that school. If you have admission applications pending at other schools that you may wish to attend, do not request the transfer out until you have made a final decision on the school you want to transfer to.
• If you have applied to the U.S. Department of State for a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement, and your waiver has been approved, you are not eligible to transfer.
• If you have violated your legal status, you will not be eligible to transfer your visa status. The new sponsor will discuss with you re-entry to regain legal status or a reinstatement application to the Department of Homeland Security to regain legal status. The ISSS advisor can also discuss options with you.
• When the transfer effective date arrives, your new sponsor will gain access to your SEVIS record and will be able to process a “Transfer Out” DS-2019 for you.
• You may use the new DS-2019 for re-entry into the U.S. if you elect to travel before reporting to your new school. You must have a valid J-1 entry visa stamp and you must be prepared to document the funding resources noted on the DS-2019. You should also carry a transcript from each school in the U.S. where you have studied. Be sure to inform your new school of your plans.
• If you have been offered an assistantship or fellowship, discuss the transfer deadline with the foreign student advisor to avoid losing salary or fellowship funds.
• If your plans change (for example, you decide to transfer to a different school or you decide to continue employment at UMN for a longer period of time) it is essential that you notify an ISSS advisor immediately! Once your SEVIS record has been transferred, the action cannot be reversed.