SEVIS Transfer to Indiana University

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The US Department of State oversees the Exchange Visitor program, and must be notified whenever you plan to change your J-1 program sponsorship.  Changing your J-1 program sponsorship occurs when you are currently enrolled as a student at another US institution in J-1 status and plan to enroll at Indiana University, or if you are already enrolled at Indiana University under the sponsorship of another Exchange Visitor program (IIE, ACTR, etc.) and are having your J-1 sponsorship transferred to Indiana University’s Exchange Visitor program.  When the transfer process is completed, Indiana University becomes your program sponsor.

Indiana University cannot process your DS-2019 until your current sponsor processes an electronic transfer of your SEVIS record.  Discuss with your current sponsor the transfer “release date.”  That date should be the date that you no longer have ties to your current school or program (i.e., classes, employment).

The transfer of J-1 program sponsor must be completed if:

1. you are completing an academic program or Academic Training at another US school and intend to begin a new academic program at Indiana University (this must happen within 30 (thirty) days of the completion of your previous academic program); or
2. you are transferring schools in the middle of an academic program; or
3. you are transferring to a new J-1 sponsor in the middle of an academic program.

An Exchange Visitor in the student category (as indicated in section 4 of the DS-2019) may transfer from one program sponsor to another only if the purpose of the transfer is to complete the original educational objective for which he or she entered the US.  Note: It is not possible to transfer from a non-degree student status to a degree-seeking student status.  The “Responsible Officer” (RO) of the program from which you are transferring needs to determine that:

• The transfer is consistent with the goals of the exchange visitor program; and
• You are currently in valid program status.

The process

• Meet or speak with your current J-1 sponsor (Responsible Officer, or “RO”) to discuss your intent to transfer to Indiana University and to determine a SEVIS transfer “effective date.”
• Discuss the date of actual transfer with your current RO.  S/he will work with you to determine the best date to set for releasing the student from current program.  Note: This date must be on or prior to the current program end date on your DS-2019.
• Ask your current RO to be in touch with the Indiana University to discuss the process a “transfer out” in SEVIS for you to attend the Indiana University Bloomington.  Note: You must be certain that it’s Indiana University to which you want to transfer.  If you have admission applications pending at other schools that you may wish to attend, do not request the transfer release until you have made a final decision on the school you want to transfer to.
• If you have applied to the US Department of State for a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement, and your waiver has been approved, you are not eligible to transfer.
• You must report to the Office of International Services (usually during the new international student orientation) within 30 days of the new program start date on your DS-2019 in order to make your transfer official.  This is imperative to maintain your legal status.

If You Will Be Accompanied by Dependents

If your dependents—spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age—will transfer to Indiana University sponsorship along with you or will join you shortly after the transfer, you will need to provide additional documentation showing your ability to meet your dependents’ expenses and copies of the identity pages from their passports.  You may request a DS-2019 form for your spouse and/or children anytime during your stay at Indiana University.