Transferring your SEVIS Record to Iowa State

After you've applied and been admitted to Iowa State, the next step to receiving your Iowa State I-20 is to transfer your SEVIS Record to us.

Transfer Process:

  • Be admitted to Iowa State
  • Submit all required documents to Admissions
  • Follow your current institution's SEVIS Transfer Out Process
  • Set your transfer release date with your current institution
  • Submit the Transfer to Iowa State e-form in Cystart
  • Receive your transfer pending I-20 from Iowa State

 

SEVIS Transfer FAQ

Once you have been admitted and you are certain that you plan to transfer to Iowa State, you can submit your transfer in form at any time. 

However, you will need to have created your university NetID in order to access your Cystart account before you can submit the form.

No, submitting the e-form in Cystart does not result in the automatic transferring of your SEVIS record, it just provides us with the information we need to process your transfer.

A SEVIS record transfer will only occur when your current institution transfers your record to us on your transfer release date.

Your transfer release date is the date you set with your current institution to have your SEVIS record transferred to Iowa State.

This is the guidance we provide students on setting their release date:

  • During an academic program: The student can choose a Transfer Release Date after the end date of the current semester, but before the start date of the next semester.
  • After completing an academic program: The student can choose a Transfer Release Date after the end date of the current semester, but not to exceed the 60 day grace period
  • While on OPT: The student can choose any date during OPT period, however if nearing 90 days of unemployment, the record must be transferred before 90th day of unemployment.
  • After OPT: The student can only select a Transfer Release Date within their 60 day grace period.

Ultimately, the date for your transfer release is up to you and your current international advisor.

We strongly recommend students looking to transfer to Iowa State have a conversation with their current international office regarding transferring out, as they will be best able to guide you based on your current status.

Your transfer pending I-20 will be processed and issued within 10 business days of your transfer release date. 

Your I-20 cannot be issued until your transfer release date.