Transfer of Visa Sponsorship

Transfer of Visa Sponsorship

Our records indicate that, in accordance with Fulbright Program policies and/or in accordance with your home country Fulbright Commission policy, you are currently in your final year of Fulbright sponsorship. You have reached the maximum period allowed for Fulbright sponsorship extensions and are no longer eligible to request any further extensions. 

If you have not yet completed your degree:

You will need to request a transfer of visa sponsorship from the Fulbright Program to your university.  Below is a list of documentation required for the transfer of visa sponsorship process:

• A completed Transfer of Visa Sponsorship Form, signed by both your academic and foreign student advisers. The foreign student advisor must include the university’s J-1 SEVIS Program Number in the application. Your Foreign Student Advisor is located in the International Office of your university. Please be sure to respond to all questions and to provide complete information concerning your finances.
• A personal statement discussing your academic progress to date, along with an outline of work you have already completed and work you have left to complete.  Please prepare a timeline of all the work you have completed to date and provide a date by when you expect to complete the work still outstanding.  In this statement you must also confirm your intention to return home upon the completion of your degree to comply with the two-year home residency requirement.
• An updated official grade transcript.
• A list of courses taken during the current academic term. Include course titles and credits/hours for each class listed. If you were not required to take courses during the current academic year, describe your activities to date.
• If your Academic Advisor is unable to certify your progress as stated on the form, you must provide an official letter signed by your academic advisor regarding your academic progress, addressing any concerns, and confirming the date by when it is expected you will complete your degree. Your advisor should confirm whether your proposed academic plan and completion date are attainable.
• Official proof of your financial resources available for the next academic year (for example: a copy of an official bank statement, university award letters, etc.).  If you are receiving financial support from a family member, your family member must write a letter confirming the dollar amount that they will provide you, along with a copy of his or her official bank statement.
• If you are on leave of absence from an employer in your home country, you must submit confirmation that a continued leave has been approved.
• Statement of agreement to comply with two-year home residency requirement.

IIE will collect this information from you, review it and present it to your Fulbright sponsor for final approval of the transfer of visa sponsorship.  Once your transfer of visa sponsorship is approved, your university will prepare a new DS-2019 form for you and transfer your SEVIS record into their records. You will be notified when your SEVIS record has been transferred out by IIE.

Please contact your IIE Regional Contact if you have any questions.