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OISSS > For International Students > F-1 > Transfer within the US

F-1
Transfer within the U.S from One School to Another

If you will be leaving the United States before enrolling at UNC-Chapel Hill
If you will be departing the U.S. before enrolling at UNC, you must let us know, so that we can issue a new I-20 form for you to use to re-enter the country. It is extremely important that you re-enter the U.S. using the visa document issued by UNC-Chapel Hill . If you re-enter the U.S. with the intention to attend UNC-Chapel Hill , but use the visa document issued by your old school, you will immediately be out of status with USCIS.

If you are currently studying in the United States in F-1 status and will not be leaving the country before enrolling at UNC-Chapel Hill
You must "transfer" to UNC by following the procedures outlined below (this applies even if you are finishing one degree at your old or current school or completing Practical or Academic Training and moving on to a new program at UNC-Chapel Hill )

1. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services must receive:
   • Your admission letter
   • Acceptable financial certificate
   • Visa clearance form from your previous International Student Advisor
2. You will be issued a photocopy of your new UNC I-20 form. This photocopy is only for your reference and is not a valid document (please do not try to use it to leave and re-enter the country).
3. To remain in F-1 status, you must pick up your valid I-20 at UNC-Chapel Hill after you complete the following steps:
   1. Attend New International Student Orientation
   2. Check in at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services
      1. Bring:
         
         • your passport
         • your I-20 visa documents from any previous schools
         • your I-94 card
         • your UNC One card for proof of enrollment, once you have enrolled and registered for a full course load
      2. Fill out the Student Data PR-100 Form
      3. After completing the above, you will sign your new I-20, an International Student and Scholar Advisor (ISSA) will process the new I-20, and will give you your copy. The ISSA will then notify both Immigration and your previous school that the transfer has been completed.

   IMPORTANT! You must complete this process within the first 15 days of enrollment or you will be out of status, ineligible to work (including research or teaching assistantships) or to change to another status, and you will be subject to deportation.

   Note: Immigration regulations allow transferring F-1 students remaining in the U.S. to work full-time on-campus during the summer at either the old or new school.

If you are in another non-immigrant visa status besides F-1 or J-1 student status
Please contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services! We can advise you about the possibility and/or necessity of changing your visa status. Changing your visa status can take several months so please contact us early.

If you are currently studying in the United States in J-1 status and will not be leaving the country before enrolling at UNC-Chapel Hill
J-1 transfer is processed by the International Student and Scholar Advisor (ISSA) at UNC and in some cases must also be authorized by USCIS.

1. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services must receive:
   • Your admission letter
   • Acceptable financial certificate
   • Visa clearance form (from your previous Foreign Student Adviser)
2. You will be issued a new form DS-2019. You should:
   • Complete the reverse (back) side only of page 1
   • Have your previous J-1 Program Sponsor sign box 8 for program transfer.
   • If your I-94 has the "D/S" notation: The FSA at your current school should return all three pages of the new DS-2019 along with a photocopy of both sides of your I-94 to the ISSA at UNC-Chapel Hill for processing.

If your I-94 indicates an expiration date
Either you or the ISSA at the previous school should mail to the Regional Service Center of the Immigration Service all 3 pages of the new DS-2019, copies of both sides of the I-94(s), the application form I-539 (use the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of International Student and Scholar Services's return address on the application) and fee (check or money order made out to "USCIS" for $120.00).

After the transfer has been approved, the USCIS should mail the pink copy of the DS-2019 and the new I-94(s) to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at UNC-Chapel Hill . The OISSS staff will then contact you to pick up the visa documents.