If you're currently an F-1 student enrolled in a full course of study at a school approved by Immigration and Naturalization Services, or I-N-S, you may transfer to another school or continue in the same program or major at a different school. As long as you maintain your F-1 status, you may transfer to another school without permission from I-N-S by following a notification procedure. First, you must let your current school know that you plan to transfer. Then you need to obtain form I-20-A-B from the school you want to transfer to. This certificate must be submitted to the appropriate school official within 15 days of the first day you'll be attending class. You have to be a full-time student at the old school to be eligible to transfer. If you're attending classes full-time without F-1 status, you need to apply to the district office of I-N-S to obtain F-1 status. For this, fill out form I-5-39, the 'Application to Extend Time of Temporary Stay,' as well as Form I-20-A-B from the new school. You'll be charged a fee for the processing of your reinstatement application. If you're denied F-1 reinstatement, I-N-S will inform you of the date by which you must leave the U-S. If you're not a full-time student, and you try to transfer schools without first receiving permission from I-N-S, you could be deported.
