SEVIS Transfer

You are considered a SEVIS transfer student if you:

Are currently in the US;
Studying at another US school in F-1 status; and
Wish to transfer your SEVIS (I-20) record to PSU

This is true even if you are not an academic transfer student (for example, you are a bachelor’s student at your current school, but you will study for a graduate degree at PSU).

In order to transfer your SEVIS record to PSU, you will need to be admitted to a degree program at PSU. After you are admitted, you would need to work with an international student advisor at your current school or Program Sponsor to transfer your SEVIS record to PSU. You will also need to submit documentation showing the source and amount of your financial support during your program of study at PSU.

You may have two registration holds related to your SEVIS transfer on your student record. One hold will be related to the transfer of your SEVIS record from your previous school to PSU. The other hold will be related to the required financial documents, if you did not submit those during your application to PSU.

The holds typically start about one month before classes in your term of admission, and they will be removed as you complete the steps in the process outlined below. If you are working on those steps but are experiencing a delay and the hold is impacting your ability to register, please contact ISSS for assistance. We can move the hold temporarily so that you can register for courses while you complete those other steps.

Step 1: Apply to Portland State

The first step to qualify for an I-20 or DS-2019 from a school is to apply for admission to that school. You can learn more about options for admission and start your application online on the International page of our admissions website. If you have questions or concerns about your application, please correspond directly with the admissions staff in the Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions offices.

Step 2: Get Admitted

You will receive a notification email once your admission decision is ready for you to review. If you are admitted, you will also receive an email from an advisor in International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) regarding the next steps in the transfer process.

Step 3: Set up your PSU Student Account

Visit PSU’s Office of Information Technology website to activate your PSU computer account. If you already have a PSU Student (Odin) Account, but cannot log in to your application account, review the instructions to reset your password.

It will take 24-48 hours for your Odin account to be updated in our international student database, WorldLink. That update will be processed automatically, but it must be complete before you can move on to the next steps.

Step 4: Transfer your SEVIS record to PSU

Complete PSU’s Transfer Information Form. This form reports your intention to transfer to PSU to the ISSS office at PSU. You will be required to log in to this form using your Odin ID (PSU Student Account).

In addition to completing this form, please work with an advisor at your current school (F-1) or Program Sponsor (J-1) to transfer your SEVIS record (the electronic record of your I-20 or DS-2019) to PSU. Upon submitting the PSU's Transfer Information Form, you will receive a confirmation email including PSU's SEVIS School Code, in case your current school requires that information to complete their transfer out request.

Transfer Information Form

Step 5: Submit Documents for your I-20 or DS-2019

Financial Documentation: All F-1 international students must demonstrate financial support for at least one year of tuition, fees, and living expenses. All J-1 students must demonstrate financial support for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of their Exchange Visitor status.

Review estimated costs of attendance for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate (post-bac) students.

Review estimated costs of attendance for graduate students.

Review acceptable documentation of financial support.

Any documents that you submitted during the process of applying to PSU will be reviewed. After you are admitted, you will be notified whether or not further documentation is required and provided with instructions for how to submit the required documents.

Step 6: Receive your I-20 or DS-2019

After your SEVIS record has been transferred to PSU, we will reissue your I-20 or DS-2019 for your program of study here. You will be notified by email once your document is complete and the document will be provided to you electronically to print and sign.

You should continue to work on other pre-arrival steps that may be required, in addition to your SEVIS transfer.

Review the International Undergraduate Checklist.

Review the Admitted Graduate Student Checklist.

Review the New International Students page for information about International Student Orientation.