J-1 students: Transferring schools
Immigration & Visas
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F-type visa information
- 17-Month STEM OPT Extension Request Form
- Termination of Employment Report
- OPT & 17 Month STEM Extension 6 Month Validation Report
- H-1B Visa Cap-Gap extension application
- 17-month OPT Extension as of 5/1/08
- OPT Changes - 4/23/2008
- F-1 reinstatement
- Change of status from H-1 to F-1 student
- Change of status from F-2 to F-1 student
- F-1/I-20 extension of stay
- Inviting an F-2 dependent
- F-1 students: Transferring schools
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 students
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 Undergraduate Students
- Optional Practical Training for F-1 Graduate Students
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J-type visa information
- J-1 DS-2019 extension of stay
- Inviting a J-2 dependent
- J-2 work permission
- J-1 students: Transferring schools
- J health insurance requirements
- Immigration updates
- Immigration resources / links
- Checking in with ISSS
- What is SEVIS?
- Maintaining your legal status
- How to get a Social Security Number
If you are a J-1 student and want to leave Rensselaer and begin studying at a different school, you will need to transfer your immigration status to the new school (with the exception of summer-only programs). This is true even if you graduate from Rensselaer and go for a degree program at another school, or if you are finishing your optional practical training at Rensselaer. J-1 students who wish to transfer to another school should make an appointment to meet with Jane Havis or Jaye Vien in the ISSS Office.
To transfer from Rensselaer to another school
Once you are admitted to the new school, you will need to make an appointment to see an advisor in the ISSS Office at Rensselaer. The first thing you will need to do is contact the new school to find out if they have a transfer form that they want Rensselaer to complete (each school has their own transfer form). Take your letter of admission to the new school with you, as well as any transfer form the new school may want your international advisor in the ISSS Office at Rensselaer to complete.
When you meet with the ISSS advisor at Rensselaer, you will decide on a "release date" which the ISSS advisor will enter into the SEVIS database. Upon the date of release, the new school will be able to produce and DS-2019 for you. Be sure to discuss any travel or work plans you may have with the ISSS advisor, as this will affect your transfer procedure.
60-day deadline date after graduation
If you are graduating from Rensselaer and are planning to go on to a program at another school, you must discuss your transfer with an advisor in the ISSS Office no more than 60 days after you graduatefrom Rensselaer.
Transferring to Rensselaer from another school
After you are admitted to Rensselaer, you will be required to speak with your international advisor at your current school. Take the letter of admission from Rensselaer with you as well as the Rensselaer transfer form which you have to request from the Enrollment Management Office at Rensselaer. We ask that your International advisor at your current school complete and return this form. Follow the directions on the form for faxing or mailing it to the Rensselaer Enrollment Management Office.
In consultation with the international advisor at your current school, you will decide on a "release date" which your current school's international advisor will enter into the SEVIS database. After that release date, Rensselaer's Admissions office will be able to produce an DS-2019 for you. Be sure to discuss any travel or work plans you may have with your international advisor, as this will affect your transfer procedure.
30-day deadline after graduation
If you are graduating from your current school and plan to go on to a program at Rensselaer, you must discuss your transfer with your international advisor at your current school no more than 30 days after you graduate.