J Student Visa

J Student Visa - Transfers

A J-1 student in good standing may request to transfer from one educational institution to another as long as the transfer is to complete the same educational objective for which he or she was admitted to as a J-1 student. A transfer is processed through updates to the J-1 student's SEVIS record performed by both the current school and the new school. A J-1 student who intends to transfer from one educational institution to another should discuss his or her plans with the Responsible Officer (RO)/Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of both schools, provide official evidence of academic admission at the new school, and decide on a specific date of transfer. Since J-1 students are admitted for "duration of status" (D/S), which is defined as the period indicated in item #3 of Form DS-2019, plus a 30-day grace period following the program end date, all transfer requests should be made no later than the end of the 30 day grace period.

J Student Visa - Leaving Harvard

J-1 Grace Period
A J-1 student who has completed a course of study including any authorized Academic Training following completion of studies is given an additional 30-day grace period for departing the United States, applying to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change J-1 status to another status if he or she is not subject to the two-year home country residence requirement, or transferring to another educational institution.

Transfer out of Harvard
Harvard sponsored J-1 students who plan to transfer to another J-1 educational institution should contact their HIO advisors immediately after being admitted into a full-time degree program of study at another higher education institution in the United States.

Update Contact Information
J-1 students who are leaving Harvard or plan to transfer to another J-1 educational institution should also update their contact information with the HIO, their Harvard schools/departments and Student Payroll Office before leaving Harvard.

J Student Visa - Transfer to Harvard

Students admitted to a full-time degree program of study at Harvard, who are currently in the United States at another academic institution in J-1 status, should complete Part I of the Transfer In to Harvard form, and request an International Student Advisor at their current school to complete Part II of the form and fax it to the Admissions Office contact at the Harvard school to which the students have been admitted. They must also speak with the international student advisor at their current schools and request that their SEVIS records be electronically released from their current schools to Harvard. Once the SEVIS record is released and all other admissions materials have been submitted, the new Form DS-2019 from Harvard will be processed and sent to the student by the admissions office.