How do I transfer my I-20 to another school?

To transfer to another school or program in the U.S., you must:

1. Apply for acceptance at the school you wish to be transferred to.
2. Complete the Request Form and upload your Acceptance Letter from your new university/ school to your Student Portal under My Files.
3. After the Immigration Advisor receives confirmation of your acceptance, your I-20 will be scheduled in the SEVIS database to be released to the new school on your last day of the program or after. This will enable the new school to issue a revised I-20 for their program while still keeping the same I-20 number.

The transfer process must be completed within the 60-day grace period immediately following the UCSB PaCE program completion date. You must begin studying at your new school during the next available quarter, which can be no later than five months from the program end date at UCSB PaCE.

If you plan to leave the U.S. between programs, you must be accepted by and receive an I-20 from the new school before re-entering the U.S. It is essential that a transfer student re-enter the U.S. with the new school's I-20 form. You must inform the UCSB Immigration Advisor of the date you are leaving the US before the quarter ends, by completing the Request Form 

If you leave the U.S. between programs and the visa in your passport has expired, the new I-20 form must be taken—along with other required documents—to a U.S. embassy or consulate to get a new visa. If the visa has NOT expired, you do not need to apply for a new visa. We recommend that you keep all former schools' I-20s in your luggage in case the immigration officer at the port of entry asks to see them.