An F-1 or J-1 student who intends to stop attending UNC-Chapel Hill and attend another U.S. school must request that their SEVIS record be electronically “released”, or transferred, to that school.

In order to process a SEVIS transfer, the student must notify the ISSS office of the intent to transfer to another U.S. institution.

A student will be eligible to transfer out if the following are true:

  • The student has been maintaining F-1 or J-1 status.
  • The student has been admitted to the transfer-in school.
  • The course of study at the transfer-in school will begin within 5 months of the end of the course of study at the transfer-out school OR within 5 months of the transfer release date, whichever is earlier.

The student must provide the ISSS office with the following documentation:

  • Written confirmation of admission to another SEVIS approved school
  • Transfer-Out Form

The student must request a specific SEVIS release date, which is the date ISSS will transfer the SEVIS record to the new school. At this time UNC-Chapel Hill will no longer have access to the student’s record in the SEVIS system. Students should not travel outside of the U.S. until they receive the new Form I-20 from the other institution. Also, students will not be able to work on the UNC campus once the SEVIS record is transferred out. If a student has off-campus work authorization, this will also end once the SEVIS record is transferred.