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

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

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 of the DS-2019 form from your old school to UNC-Chapel Hill 's sponsorship is processed by the International Student and Scholar Advisor (ISSA) at UNC-Chapel Hill and in some cases must also be authorized by USCIS.

1. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services must receive:
   a. Your admission letter
   b. Acceptable financial certificate
   c. Visa clearance form (from your previous ISSA)
2. You will be issued a new form DS-2019. You should:
   a. Complete the reverse (back) side only of page 1
   b. Have your previous J-1 Program Sponsor sign box 8 for program transfer.
   c. If your I-94 has the "D/S" notation:

The ISSA 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. Pick up your new pink copy of the UNC-Chapel Hill DS-2019 form when you check in at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

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), and your UNC-Chapel Hill admission letter.

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.

Note: You may not work on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus until the transfer of the visa documentation (DS-2019 form) is complete.

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.