Hi guys,

I got admission from two Universities. " A" university relatively cheaper than "B". But I want to attend "B". For the VISA I was thinking, using I-20 of " A" universtiy so that I could avoid unnecessary VISA questions. Would it be possible to transfer to "B", after entering to US, that too without attending univ "A ( i.e from the first semester).

If anyone has been through such situation, please advise!

No, can't do that.  You gotta spend atleast one semester in a university before transferring to another.

Samsara is mistaken this time. I am 100% sure it is possible as couple of my friends have done that. But the university B should support in this case. But transfer is possible.

Before April 2002 (in response to 9-11 terrorist attack), you could do that. But now, you have to attend the college that is sponsoring your I-20 for at least one semester before transferring to another.

Absolutely wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mr hyde.............

 you can transfer to any institution u want 

no matter what . 

Well, I thought you could not but after reading through, seems like you can....

See the link below for more clarifications:

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/f_1_transfers.htm#_Toc174419528

 

 

 

hey i transfer from Oklahoma to New York but I want to go back to Oklahoma. can I ?

HoustonTX has given ALL the required info in his link!!  Hyde is 100% correct here.  All those cats above giving wrong advice, could you check your heads and your sources before putting up any gibberish that comes to mind??

You need to atleast go to the school you got your visa in and get them to allow you to transfer.  And if you've not entered the US but intend on attending another school rather than the one listed on your visa, you need to get a NEW visa again with the correct school!!

 

2.1.   Your student says, “I have my visa, but I have not entered the United States to attend school. I have changed my mind and want to attend a school different from that listed on my visa. I have a Form I-20 from the new school. What do I do?”

Advise the student to get a new visa issued for the new school before entering the United States, rather than transferring after entering the United States. This is required by 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1)(C).

2.2.   What are the obligations for an F-1 student with an Active SEVIS record at your school who wants to transfer to another school?

The student must maintain F-1 status at your school by pursuing a full course of study or be engaged in post-completion optional practical training until the transfer release date.

The student must be accepted by another SEVP-certified school. The student should bring you the following information:

• Written confirmation of the acceptance
  
  
• Contact information for the new school’s DSO
  
  
• The SEVIS school code for the transfer-in new school to ensure the record is transferred to the correct school

Work with the student to choose a transfer release date. It should be based on the student’s academic needs, travel and work plans, and projected program start date at the transfer-in school.

On the transfer release date, the responsibility for the student’s SEVIS record transfers to the transfer-in school. You can no longer have access to the record to make changes or print a new Form I-20. Your school will have a Deactivated record for the student.

Advise transferring students to contact the DSO at their transfer-in school. The transfer-in school will be able to create a Form I-20 issued for Reason of Transfer. This Form I-20 will have the student’s new program start date. It is important that the student obtain a new valid Form I-20 as quickly as possible. The Forms I-20 from your school will no longer be valid.

Transferring students must also contact their new DSO within 15 days of your program start date and register for classes. These students need to ensure that the school has all the information needed to update their SEVIS record, including any changes of address. Once transfer students register, they should ask for a Form I-20 that shows their status as a continuing student and that the transfer is approved.

kathCAT,

I do not know if you can o cannot transfer to the college other than the one in your F-1 visa without even attending the first semester. But what I know is, when you fill out the application form for the F-1 visa you have agreed to study at least the first semester at the college whose I-20 you're using. That is a consent you've agreed to. If you are able to transfer, like I have seen some people do in extreme situations, it is advised by many International Student Advisors strongly that you do not do so, because later while you'll be persuing legal documents in the future including while obtaining a new F-1 or stamping an H1, this thing might come up against you as you've not followed a simple rule of I-20 and F-1 visa.

So, Good Luck to you

Thanks guys for your suggestion. I will go with B I-20. Since i have two I-20s, so just thinking "what if"s??