To transfer from Loyola to another school in the U.S., you must follow the transfer procedures outlined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Students who do not follow the USCIS procedures may lose their F-1 non-immigrant status.

Students who have violated their F-1 status in any way are not eligible for school transfer and may choose to either seek reinstatement to F-1 status or to depart the U.S. and re-enter in a new, initial F-1 status.

For information about transferring to Loyola, click here.

The following steps must be taken to transfer an international student to a new school:

1. The student should apply to and gain admission to the new school.
2. The student should submit a Transfer Out Form (PDF) to OIP within 60 days of completing studies at Loyola or completing OPT.
3. OIP will enter a transfer release date into the SEVIS database, allowing the student to transfer. The release date may be the student's program end date or up to 60 days beyond the end date. In some circumstances, the release date may be set before the end date.
4. The new school will issue the student a new I-20 form on or after the release date.
5. The student should begin attending the new school within five months of program completion at Loyola or transfer release date, whichever is earlier. Students on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) should begin classes at the new school within five months of the date the OPT authorization ends or the transfer release date, whichever is earlier.
6. The student should notify a Designated School Official (DSO) (usually in the International Students office) at the new school within 15 days of the program start date that he or she has begun attending school there.
7. The new DSO will notify the immigration service through the SEVIS database that the transfer is complete.

For more information about transfer procedures, please contact us.