I-20 Transfer Procedures

Instructions for Students

F-1 International students are only considered "transfer students" for immigration purposes if you are currently in valid F-1 status and no more than 5 months has passed from your last date of attendance OR your last day of OPT (whichever is later). The deadline for F-1 students to request a transfer is 60 days after the program completion or OPT end date, whichever is later.

How to receive your new SF State I-20:

1. Notify the International Student Advisor at your current U.S. school that you have been admitted to SF State and intend to transfer.

2. The International Student Advisor at your current U.S. school will enter a SEVIS release date into your SEVIS record. Your SEVIS record will automatically transfer to SF State on the release date. The release date will most likely be the last day of your attendance at your current school. Please be sure that your release date is before or within 15 days of the beginning of semester.

3. OIP will issue a transfer I-20 after your SEVIS release date. Your I-20 will then be sent to the US address you indicated on your application form. Contact OIP iif you would like to pick up the I-20 in person, or make a special mailing arrangement.
   

OIP cannot issue your transfer I-20 before your SEVIS release date. If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. and need your new I-20 sooner (you must return to the U.S. using the I-20 from SF State), please speak with the International Student Advisor at your current U.S school about giving you an earlier SEVIS release date. F1 students will be out of status if they fail to receive a transfer I-20 from OIP within 15 days of the beginning of the semester. Back to top

Instructions for International Student Advisor