University Transfer Before First Semester & SEVIS Transfer in the United States of America

One can transfer to another University in USA where FEW conditions do apply.

It is usually not recommended by international advisers to suggest one to do this in the first semester. Ideally, every university wants you to study first semester in their university and pay some tuition fee as one would come to USA with their visa.

Still, some of the conditions that are essential for transfer are :

1. One should have a valid I20 of the university to which they are transferring
2. One should be in USA with valid F1 Visa and I94
3. One should have proper legal status
4. The transferring university that one wish to go should accept his/her transfer
5. The classes should not have started at the transferring university you wish to go
6. One should not owe any fees to the university that he/she is transferring from
7. The University should not have a policy to prohibit transfers during first semester
8. HOD must approve your transfer at the university you are planning to transfer                           

SEVIS- Student and Exchange visitor program

It records all the info regarding legal status, schools, itinerary etc. The university that one is transferring from records the transfer in SEVIS and updates the status. The international adviser should appropriately release SEVIS record and authenticate your transfer. Flaws in this very particular thing may push one into trouble.

If NOT done properly one might end up in OUT of STATUS and can be on the verge of leaving the country due to status issues.