Transferring F and J Sponsorship

Source: https://bechtel.stanford.edu/navigate-international-life/visas/f-1-and-j-1-student-visas/transferring-f-and-j-sponsorship Parent: https://bechtel.stanford.edu/navigate-international-life

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Transferring to Stanford

F-1 Students

If you are currently at another U.S. institution in F-1 status and have been accepted to Stanford, you may be eligible to transfer your F-1 sponsorship to Stanford.
F-1 International students are only considered "SEVIS transfer students" for immigration purposes if they are currently in valid F-1 status and no more than five months have passed from your last date of attendance OR your last day of OPT (whichever is later) to the start of classes.
The deadline for F-1 students to request a transfer is 60 days after the program completion or OPT end date, whichever is later.
You should contact your current institution to release your SEVIS record to Stanford
When you complete the Initial I-20 request form, you will need to provide the release date information. Once your record is released to Stanford, any employment eligibility (OPT/STEM OPT) will no longer be valid.
Submit "Initial I-20 Request Form for Incoming Students" in Bechtel Connect. You can find detailed instructions How to Submit an Initial I-20. Review, complete, and submit the Transfer In form on the Immigration Status tab of the initial I-20 request form in Bechtel Connect.
Stanford SEVIS School code for F-1 students is SFR214F00617000
Please note, students can only receive their “transfer pending I-20” from Bechtel International Center at Stanford AFTER their SEVIS Release date (i.e. the date at which your current institution determines to end your visa sponsorship in the SEVIS database) You will receive this "transfer-pending" I-20 –meaning that your transfer process is not complete – which is valid until you are issued a "transfer-complete" I-20. Students will be issued a "transfer-complete" I-20 30 days after their I-20 start date.

J-1 Students

If you are currently an exchange visitor at another U.S. institution in J-1 student status and have been accepted to Stanford, you may be eligible to transfer your J-1 sponsorship to Stanford.
Exchange visitors are only considered eligible to be transferred, for immigration purposes, if they are currently in valid J-1 status and before the program end date.
Your new program start date must be on the next available session date (the next quarter start date after the Effective Date of Transfer). If transferring before summer, the next quarter start date will be our Autumn quarter unless full-time enrolment is required during Summer.
The deadline for J-1 students to request a transfer is the program end date noted on your most recent DS-2019 (this date may include any Academic training approved for your current program).
You should contact your current institution to release your SEVIS record to Stanford BEFORE the end date on your current DS-2019.
When you complete the Initial DS-2019 request form, you will need to provide the release date information. Once your record is released to Stanford, any current employment authorization you have (Academic Training/On-campus employment) will no longer be valid.
Submit "Initial I-20/DS-2019 Request Form for Incoming Students" in Bechtel Connect. You can find detailed instructions here: How to Submit Initial DS-2019
Stanford SEVIS Program Number for J-1 students is P-1-00162.
Please note, students can only receive their new DS-2019 from Bechtel International Center at Stanford AFTER the Effective Date of Transfer.

J-1 Scholars

There can be no gaps between the end of your current program and the beginning of the new program.
Start the transfer process at least two months before the transfer date.
Ask your prospective Stanford department to request the transfer of your sponsorship. You will need to provide the department with a clear copy of your current and previous DS-2019 forms.
We can only create your Stanford DS-2019 after the transfer date, as we do not have access to your SEVIS record before then.
You and your department will receive the DS-2019 via email (from Adobe Sign). The travel signature will be included on the form.
Please note that you must be in the U.S. during the transfer period.

Transferring Out of Stanford

F-1 Students

Students wishing to transfer their record to another school should submit a "TRANSFER OUT" request in Bechtel Connect. The request can be found under the "My Student Home" section in Bechtel Connect.

If your new institution has a transfer-in form that Bechtel needs to complete, you can upload it as part of the "transfer-out request" in Bechtel Connect.
In order to transfer to another institution, you must maintain valid F-1 status.
You must apply to transfer to the new institution within 60 days (F-1) after the last date of attendance at Stanford University (if on OPT, within 60 days after the end date on your EAD card), otherwise, you must leave and reenter the US using the I-20 from the new institution.
The new institution will not be able to issue a new SEVIS I-20 until the transfer release date.
If you decide to cancel your transfer process, you must notify an advisor at Bechtel International Center before your transfer release date. Once the transfer release date passes, Stanford University cannot access your record, and you need to report to the new institution.
You are no longer eligible to work on-campus at Stanford University after the release date.
Your new program must start within 5 months following the transfer release date or within 5 months of the program completion date, whichever date is earlier.
For students on post-completion OPT, your program start date must start within 5 months of your SEVIS release date or your OPT end date, whichever date is earlier.

J-1 Students

Exchange visitors wishing to transfer their SEVIS record to another institution should submit a "TRANSFER OUT" request in Bechtel Connect. The request can be found under the "My Student Home" section in Bechtel Connect.

If your new institution has a transfer-in form that Bechtel needs to complete, you can upload it as part of the "transfer-out request" in Bechtel Connect.
In order to transfer to another institution, you must maintain valid J-1 status.
You must apply to transfer to the new institution before the end date of your current program as listed on your most recent DS-2019 (including any approved period of Academic Training), otherwise you must leave and reenter the US using a new DS-2019 from the new institution.
The new institution will not be able to issue a new SEVIS DS-2019 until the effective date of transfer.
If you decide to cancel your transfer process, you must notify an advisor at Bechtel International Center before your effective date of transfer. Once the effective date of transfer passes, Stanford University cannot access your record, and you need to report to the new institution.
You are no longer eligible to work on-campus at Stanford University after the effective date of transfer.

J-1 Scholars

Please make sure your Stanford department is aware of your proposed transfer.
The transfer must be done prior to or on the program end date on your current DS-2019 and can only be done after Bechtel International Center receives a transfer request from the new institution.
Please note that you must be in the U.S. during the transfer period.
Once your department is aware of your transfer, please ask the international office at your new institution to make a transfer request by sending an email to internationalscholars@stanford.edu.
The transfer request should include the following information:
Name
SEVIS number
J program number of the institution
Requested transfer effective date
Verification that you will be transferring to continue research according to your original program objectives and in the same J-1 category (Research Scholar or Short Term Scholar).

Joint Degree Programs and Transferring Back to Stanford

F-1 and J-1 Students

If you are currently at another U.S. institution (e.g. HKS/MBA, etc.) under a joint degree program with Stanford, are in F-1/J-1 status, and will be returning to Stanford this coming quarter, you will need to complete the steps below.

Contact your current institution regarding their procedures for transferring your SEVIS record to Stanford in a timely manner. Keep in mind that complications may arise with one sponsor being on a semester system and Stanford being on a quarter system. So the SEVIS record might not be released until the semester is over or as early as you would like.F-1 Stanford University School Code is SFR214F00617000, and the J-1 Program Number for Stanford is P-1-00162
Submit the following documents through Bechtel Connect at least 3-4 weeks BEFORE the start of the new quarter. Complete the "RETURN FROM LEAVE OF ABSENCE" request in Bechtel Connect in order to be issued a new I-20/DS-2019 before returning to Stanford. The request can be found under the "My Student Home" section in Bechtel Connect.
Attach proof of funding sources for the academic year (see budget at Financial Budget)
Attach a copy of your most recent I-20/DS-2019

Additional Notes

Bechtel International Center cannot create the new I-20/DS-2019 until the SEVIS record has been released to Stanford University and you have submitted all the aforementioned items to Bechtel International Center.
Do not make travel arrangements too early. Bechtel will take five to ten business days to issue a new I-20/DS-2019. Also, be mindful of the office closure during the winter break.
When your SEVIS record is released to Stanford, you must cease any current employment. This includes working under OPT, STEM extension, Academic Training, or working on-campus at your previous institution.