Immigration

General Information for Current Students

Change of School for F-1 Students

 

If you are in lawful F-1 status and are completing or leaving your current program and plan to continue your studies in the US at a different institution in the next academic semester, you must complete the F-1 transfer process. The transfer procedure is initiated by the school you are currently attending and is completed through SEVIS.

It is important that all F-1 students understand the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations involving the transfer process since it will be their responsibility to submit certain forms at the appropriate time. Ignorance of the rules will not serve as a satisfactory excuse for non-compliance.

A SCHOOL TRANSFER IS DEFINED AS:

 

1. Transferring from another U.S. school to California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) at the same academic level.
For example, when moving from a bachelor's degree program at your previous U.S. school to a bachelor's degree program at CSUB, when moving from a master's degree program at your previous U.S. school to a master's degree program at CSUB, or when moving from a doctoral degree program at your previous U.S. school to a doctoral degree program at CSUB.

2. Transferring from another U.S. school to California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) at a different academic level.
For example, when moving from a U.S. high school to CSUB, from an associate degree program at your previous U.S. school to a bachelor's degree program at CSUB, when moving from a bachelor's degree program at your previous U.S. school to a master's degree program at CSUB, when moving from an intensive English language program at your previous U.S. school to either a bachelor's or master's degree program at CSUB, or when moving from another U.S. school to CSUB to pursue a certificate program.

3. Changing academic levels while remaining at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB).
For example, when moving from a bachelor's degree program at CSUB to another bachelor's degree program at CSUB, when moving from a bachelor's degree program at CSUB to a master's degree program at CSUB, or when moving from one master's degree program at CSUB to another master's degree program at CSUB.

4. Changing from Post-Completion Practical Training (authorized through your previous school) to a degree program at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB).

5. Changing from Post-Completion Practical Training (authorized through CSUB) to another degree program at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB).

However, if you use an initial I-20 form from CSUB to enter the U.S., you will not need to complete the transfer process as described below.

 

A STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER TO CSUB IF YOU ARE:

 

1. Presently a full-time student at your current school.

2. You have been admitted to CSUB and financially able to attend the University
3. Planning to begin classes at CSUB within 5 months of transferring out of your current school/your SEVIS release date or within 5 months of the program completion date on your I-20 form (whichever is earlier).

PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFER IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

Step 1: Apply and be admitted to CSUB.

Step 2: Inform the International Student Office at your previous U.S. school of your intention to transfer to CSUB.

Step 3: Your previous U.S. school will update and release your SEVIS records to CSUB.

Step 4: ISP will issue you a transfer I-20 AFTER your previous school release you to CSUB and AFTER you submitted all the required documents such as financial statements, SEVIS information sheet, and medical insurance agreement. You will be notified via email when your transfer I-20 is ready for pick-up. You must contact the office of ISP if you are planning to travel abroad before school starts. You must keep your transfer I-20 from CSUB for your records and future use.

 

The transfer process must be completed within 15 days of the start of classes at CSUB.