Please note: the information on this page only applies to international students! If you are not an international student please see the Registrar's website for more information on withdrawing. If you are an international student, please keep reading!

Transfer Process Overview

For SEVIS purposes, "transferring" schools occurs when a student goes from one school to the another, regardless of whether the program or degree changes. You can be a "transfer student" moving from high school to college, changing from a bachelor's to a master's program, or transferring between schools in the middle of a degree program.

Transferring Into JMU

Students in F-1 status wanting to transfer to JMU must first be accepted through the application process. You will need to complete the process through Admissions and complete the International Student Advisor's Report (ISAR) or Transfer In form. The following steps will assist you in the transfer of your immigration record to JMU:

  • After acceptance to JMU, make an appointment with your current International Student Advisor, Designated School Official (DSO), or Responsible Officer (RO) to inform him/her that you plan to transfer. If you have been accepted to more than one university/college, you need to decide on only one school.
  • Complete the top half of the ISAR Form, then have your International Student Advisor, DSO, or RO complete the second half and return the form to ISSS. After the enrollment deposit has been received and the “release date” has arrived, JMU can issue you a new I-20 of DS-2019 Form showing the transfer of the F-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship. Your new JMU I-20 or DS-2019 Form will be mailed to you. (Note: you can cancel a transfer request only before the "release date.")
    • Your advisor/DSO/RO must enter a "release date" from your current school and select JMU as the transfer school. The "release date" is usually the last day of the current session at your school.
Transferring Out of JMU

If you plan to transfer out of JMU to another school, you must first notify ISSS of your intent to transfer. The following steps will assist you in the process:

  • After your acceptance to the other school, contact that school's International Student Advisor, Designated School Official (DSO), Responsible Officer (RO), or the Admissions Office for information about their transfer procedures.
  • When you have decided which school to attend, you will need to complete the SEVIS Transfer Out application in Terra Dotta, including uploading the acceptance letter from the new school. Notify your new school of the release date from JMU and once that date is reached, your new school can issue you your new I-20 or DS-2019 Form. (Note: you can cancel a transfer request only before the "release date.")
  • ISSS will enter a "release date" from JMU into SEVIS, selecting the new school as the transfer school. The "release date" is usually the day after the last day of the current academic session.

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