Transfer to CofC from Another Institution in the U.S.
International students maintaining valid F-1 status may transfer to the College of Charleston from another U.S. Service
approved school by following the transfer procedures set forth in the regulations.
Simply transferring academically from one school to another does not transfer a student's F-1 status unless the student
and DSO follow the federal regulations surrounding the transfer process. The transfer process, however, does not require
government adjudication. Rather, it is a notification process that takes place as an update event in SEVIS with the active
participation of the student, the "transfer out" school, and the "transfer in" school.
Transfer Process:
- Student must inform the DSO at current school ("transfer out") of intention to transfer and provide the DSO with the
complete name of CofC: College of Charleston.
- DSO at transfer-out school will need to release SEVIS record to CofC.
- A release date will be set for CofC to access a student's transfer record. However, if the transfer-out school determines
that the students has failed to maintain status, or if the SEVIS record indicates that the students is not in active status,
then a release date cannot be set, and the transfer cannot proceed.
- Once a student's record has been released in SEVIS (with a release date), CofC will then issue the SEVIS document.
Transfer Deadlines:
- If a student completes a course of study (or OPT), the student is eligible for transfer through the end of the 60-day grace
period. Failure to transfer during the 60-day grace period will result in the loss of your F-1 student visa status and you will
be considered "out of status".
- In addition, the start date at the transfer-in school must be within 5 months following the release date set by the transfer-out
school, or within 5 months of the program completion date in SEVIS, whichever date is earlier. This means that a student can remain
in the United States for nor more than 5 months between completing at the transfer-out school and beginning at the transfer-in school
(granted the transfer was initiated in SEVIS within 60-days of the completion of program or OPT).
Arrival at CofC:
Upon arriving at the College of Charleston, all new students, including transfer students, are required to bring the
following documents to the Center for International Education at the Multicultural Center within 15-days of arrival
(failure to do so will result in the termination of your F-1 student visa):
- CofC SEVIS issued visa document and I-20's from all previous schools attended
- Passport with F-1 visa stamp
- Form I-94 (arrival/departure record) Please note that failure to check-in with CIE within 15 days of the begin date of classes
will result in the termination of your F-1 student status. The transfer process is not complete until you check-in at CIE.
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