Transfer Students

Transferring your F-1 or J-1 status to UC Berkeley requires several steps. It is important that you consult with your International Student Advisers at both your previous school and UCB to make sure the transfer is completed properly.

F-1 Students
F-1 International students are only considered "transfer students" for immigration purposes if you are currently in valid F-1 status and no more than 5 months has passed from your last date of attendance OR your last day of OPT (whichever is later).

The deadline for F-1 students to request a transfer is 60 days after the program completion or OPT end date, whichever is later.

J-1 Students
J-1 students who wish to transfer from their current program sponsor to UCB must consult with the International Student Advisers at both schools. To be eligible for a transfer, the J-1 category must remain the same and the J-1 must request a transfer before his or her DS-2019 program end date.

The deadline for J-1 students to transfer is the program completion date or the end of the Academic Training, whichever is later. J-1 students cannot transfer during their 30-day grace period following completion. If the J-1 student plans to re-enter the US following the transfer, the J-1 student must apply for a new J-1 visa with the new institution's DS-2019. If the J-1 student remains in the U.S. between transfer institutions and does not leave the country, a new J-1 visa stamp is not required.

Steps to Transfer to UC Berkeley:

1. Notify the international student adviser at your current school that you intend to transfer to UC Berkeley. The adviser will enter a SEVIS Release Date into your record. On this date, your SEVIS record will automatically transfer to UC Berkeley via the internet. The release date is usually the last day of enrollment at you current school.

2. Complete the Non-Immigrant Information Form (NIF) and send the NIF Cover Page and attachments to Berkeley International Office. F-1 students will receive a transfer I-20 from Berkeley International Office approximately two weeks after the complete NIF and attachments have been received.

3. Attend the mandatory Check-In meeting.

4. Pay your tuition fees and update your local address in Bear Facts no later than 15 days after the first day of classes in order to complete your transfer. If for some reason you have difficulty with this process, consult an Adviser in Berkeley International Office before the 15-day deadline.

5. F-1 students will be issued a second transfer I-20 and notified by email to pick it up in Berkeley International Office. This second I-20 is proof that your transfer has been completed successfully.

Traveling Between Schools
Transfer students may travel and re-enter the U.S. any time between school programs. However, transfer students must re-enter with their UC Berkeley I-20 or DS-2019 and not the previous school's document. F-1 and J-1 students must have valid visa stamps to re-enter the US. F-1 students can use a valid visa stamp issued for their pre-Berkeley institution as long as the SEVIS ID number remains the same. If the J-1 student plans to re-enter the US following the transfer, the J-1 student must apply for a new J-1 visa with the new institution's DS-2019. If the J-1 student remains in the U.S. between transfer institutions and does not leave the country, a new J-1 visa stamp is not required.

Transfer From UC Berkeley
If you are planning to leave UC Berkeley to go to another U.S. school, you must request a "transfer out" from an Adviser at Berkeley International Office. The Adviser will release your SEVIS record to the new school. The date of your release depends on your program status. For more information, contact Berkeley International Office.


	Transfer to UC Berkeley From Another U.S. School	A-Z Index
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