International Student and Scholar Services | Transferring to Another School
You are eligible to transfer to another academic institution if you have been maintaining your student status.
Your transfer must be coordinated between SAIS and your new school. SAIS must release you to the new school. Therefore it is important that you clearly decide whether you actually want to transfer prior to initiating the process. You must begin classes at the new school within 5 months of being released by SAIS or within 5 months of completing your program at SAIS or completing your period of practical training, whichever is earlier.
A student who has not been pursuing a full course of study at the school he/she was last authorized to attend is ineligible for school transfer and must apply for reinstatement or may depart the country and return in a new F-1 nonimmigrant status on the new schoolÃ_s I-20 marked as an initial entry.
You must report to the international student advisor at the new school within 15 days of the new program start date to complete your transfer.
Please note that if you complete your program at SAIS, you have only 60 days from the completion date to transfer to another school.