Transfer Students
If you have been notified of your official acceptance to UTRGV by Undergraduate Admissions or the Graduate College, the staff of the International Student Services wants to congratulate you and we look forward to your arrival.
If you are currently studying at a U.S. institution, this letter will inform you on the necessary steps to complete the immigration transfer in SEVIS to UTRGV. Please keep in mind that the “immigration” transfer is not related to your “academic” transfer.
The process is different depending on whether:
- You will be leaving the U.S. before reporting to UTRGV
- If you will be directly reporting to UTRGV without leaving the U.S.
- If you are out of immigration status
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT PERTAIN TO YOUR SITUATION
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If you are currently in F-1 status and are not planning to leave the U.S. before enrolling at UTRGV.
- Print out and complete the student section of the following “SEVIS Transfer Release Form” and then present it to the immigration advisor at your current school.
- You should attach a copy of the admissions letter from UTRGV to this form before submitting it to your current immigration advisor.
- In consultation with your current immigration advisor, select “SEVIS release date.” This is the date that your current immigration advisor will put into the SEVIS system. On that date SEVIS will automatically transfer your immigration records to UTRGV.
- Provide the ISS with evidence of sufficient financial support to attend UTRGV, if you have not already done so.
- Once the ISS is able to access your records and verified sufficient funding, our International Student Advisor will issue a new I-20 that will indicate “transfer pending.” This new I-20 will be sent to you.
- Once you receive the new “transfer pending” I-20 from UTRGV you should begin to use it. You may be asked to display it to any authorities.
- Check in at the ISS upon arrival at UTRGV bringing all of your non- immigrant documents; we are located in Brownsville Campus at MAIN 1.308 or Edinburg Campus at STAC 3.128. The office hours are Monday through Friday 8-5.
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If you are currently in status and are planning to leave the U.S. before enrolling at UTRGV.
- Follow the instructions provided above
- If you leave the U.S. before your SEVIS release date to UTRGV, you will not have the new “transfer pending application” from our office. Do NOT use your previous I-20 from your current school to re-enter the U.S.
- To re-enter the U.S. you will need to have your “transfer pending” I-20 from UTRGV.
- You will have to notify the ISS and request that the I-20 be mailed to you while you are outside the country.
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If you are currently out of status you will need to talk to an immigration advisor at our offices in Brownsville (MAIN 1.308) or Edinburg (STAC 3.128) so we can inform you about the reinstatement process.