from ESL to Master degree

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matkok78

Registered Users (C)
Hi guys,

what happens if I get the I-20 for one year for ESL (english courses) and after a semester I get accepted by another university for a Master? Can I change my I-20 without going back to my country to get a new visa stamp on the passport? I am European, do you think this will help at the embassy?
Otherwise I can apply for a single semester and go again to the embassy in my country to apply for the master, but I am afraid that they will reject me for a second F1.
Thanks
 
You should talk to you present school DSO first (i.e. the International Office) about this. If you have attended school in the U.S. for at least a semester, you are eligible to transfer to another school. You do not need to go back home to obtain a new visa. The school that is listed in your visa does not matter at this point.

If I remember right, you need a transfer pending I-20 issued from your new school, then your old school has to release you in SEVIS to your new school. Again, your DSO should be able to tell you the exact procedure.
 
Thank you very much,

so it does not matter if my I-20 is for just a semester (fall 2009) and it ends in December? I would like to switch to another school for the spring 2009 where the starting date is January.
 
matkok78 said:
Thank you very much,

so it does not matter if my I-20 is for just a semester (fall 2009) and it ends in December? I would like to switch to another school for the spring 2009 where the starting date is January.
Click to expand...

No, the duration of the I-20 can be extended, but you MUST transfer while your current I-20 is still valid. By transferring, I don't mean you have to physically attend school at the new school before December, but you need to start the transferring process. Again, your school's DSO should be able to help you with that.

A trickier question is your I-94 (the card that is stapled in your passport). If it says "D/S" on the stamp, then you have nothing to worry about. If it has a definite date, you need tell your school DSO about it, so as a precaution, take a quick look at your I-94.
 
Thank you again,

in my case if I start the transfer process for instance in November I would not have completed my full semester. Do you think this change something?
 
matkok78 said:
Thank you again,

in my case if I start the transfer process for instance in November I would not have completed my full semester. Do you think this change something?
Click to expand...

It shouldn't change anything. If you haven't already, you need to start applying to the program for admission purpose. Once you are accepted, talk to your school DSO and tell them when the transfer will actually happen. Meanwhile, you should also let the new school know that you are an international student and they should have their DSO contact you. Again, I can't remember the exact sequence of how everything happens, but the school DSO would know since you are not the first transfer student at their schools for sure.

Be sure to keep attending the ESL class, which is necessary to maintain your current F1 status.

By the way, I am assuming the two programs has no overlap in time. That is, the ESL will end before Christmas, and the Master will commence after New Year 2010. If there is an overlap, it can get tricky.
 
You are super! Thank you very much. No actually the two programs will not overlap. The esl should end before Christmas and the MS starts the first part of January.
 
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