ISSO | Psychology Building, 4
th
Floor | tel: 410 704-2421 | isso@towson.edu | www.towson.edu/isso
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRANSFERRING YOUR IMMIGRATION RECORD TO TOWSON UNIVERSITY
Congratulations on your admission to Towson University! If you are a student in F-1 status currently attending an
educational institution (high school, ESL, college or university) in the United States, you will need to complete a transfer
of your U.S. government SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record from your previous school to
Towson University. Please follow the steps below to complete the immigration transfer process.
1. Once you are sure Towson University is the school you will attend, inform your current/previous school’s
International Student Advisor (or Designated School Official) that you plan to transfer your F-1 record to Towson
University. Make certain this is your final decision, as your current/previous school can release your record to only
one university.
2. Agree on a “release” date with your current/previous school’s International Student Advisor. The “release” date is
the date on which your SEVIS record will be accessible to Towson University and no longer accessible to your
current/previous school. Towson University will then be able to issue an I-20 for your attendance here. The release
date is also the date on which you will no longer be allowed to work on your current/previous school’s campus. If
you are on OPT, you will not be able work with your current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) even though
there may still be time left on the authorization. Therefore, the careful selection of the “release” date is very
important.
3. Complete and return the “Transfer-In Form” to Towson University’s International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO).
4. Once we have your financial documents and passport copy, your transfer pending I-20 will be processed in 3-5 business
days.
5. Traveling outside of the U.S. before starting at Towson University
a) If the F-1 visa in your passport has expired, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You
will need to take your new I-20, a valid passport, and evidence of your financial ability in order to obtain a new F-1 visa.
b) If your visa is valid, you can use it to return to the U.S. The visa DOES NOT have to say Towson University in order to use
it for entry to the U.S.
6. Attend the required New International Student Program presented by the ISSO.
SPECIAL NOTE:
1) You must be maintaining legal F-1 status at your previous institution in order to transfer to Towson University through this
procedure.
2) If you are not currently in legal F-1 status, call the International Student and Scholar Office to make an appointment with an
international student advisor to discuss your situation. You may be able to apply to the government for a reinstatement to legal
status, or you may have to travel back home and re-enter the U.S. to regain your status.
Last Updated 05/2018