SEVIS Transfer Inspector

This tool accepts as input and presumes as true a set of germane attributes that a user provides concerning their F-1 status just prior to, during, and/or after a planned or completed SEVIS transfer, and then assesses the validity or propriety of that transfer against a timeline of salient events associated with their program of study. By analysing the array of dates and attributes unique to the user's F-1 record, the tool generates a report of any potential problems and recommends when possible SEVIS transfer-preserving paths that branch according to whether the user is continuing an unfinished degree or beginning a new degree level, on a period of unexpired OPT/STEM OPT or on their post-OPT/STEM OPT grace period.

For the purposes of this tool, any mention of the 5-month limit or ceiling in relation to the intervening months between a user's transfer-out date and their transfer-in school's first day of classses refers to calendar months, with month-end clamping. The earlier release/completion or OPT end date controls the start-date ceiling where applicable. The continuing-study branch also checks the last day of classes baseline discussed in SEVP’s transfer FAQs, so that a program end date on the transfer-out school's I-20's being within 5 months of the first day of classes at the new program is by itself insufficient to yield a favorable transfer validity analysis. For completed-study and expired-OPT scenarios, "completion” must be confirmed by the school currently in possession of the user's SEVIS record, though it is reasonable in theory if not practice to identify as a generality program completion with either the I-20 program end date or the OPT/STEM OPT EAD end date, whichever applies.

The recommendation to return before release for an eligible continuing student already abroad is a planning precaution. SEVP’s “How do plans for travel outside the United States impact a transfer?” expressly addresses return after a release that occurred during travel and directs the new school to provide an "updated" I-20. Even so, context supplied by neighboring discussion strongly suggests the updated I-20 mentioned actually refers to an Initial Attendance I-20. This tool presupposes and hence issues recommendations consistent with this more conservative interpretation without insisting on its veracity.

It is the user's sole responsibility to determine the precise meaning and scope of any and all guidance that is yielded by the use of this tool through independent corroboration by unaffiliated third-party sources, including (but not limited to) legal advice from a qualified attorney and the advice of user's own transfer-in and -out DSOs, to confirm whether and to what extent this tool's plan applies to them. Source review: October 14, 2026.

• Primary citation: SEVP — Transfers for F-1 Students. See “How do plans for travel outside the United States impact a transfer?”, “How do I set a transfer release date?”, “How long must a student with an Active SEVIS record wait…”, and “What is the impact of a transfer on a student engaged in practical training?”
• SEVP: Complete transfer of an F-1 record
• SEVP: Travel and reentry
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