[ARCHIVE] FAQs on Visas and Immigration – Transfer Students
Who is a "transfer student"?
For visa purposes, transfer students are students who already have active F-1 or J-1 SEVIS records based on enrollment and attendance at other US schools, and who are transferring to Tufts University to start new programs for Fall 2020. Transfer students are therefore "new" to their Tufts academic programs, but are not "new" students under US immigration, since they already have valid student status based on attendance at another US institution.
Transfer Students: Programs Starting In-Person for Fall 2020
Transfer students who are admitted to Fall 2020 programs that will resume in-person / on-campus instruction are expected to arrive at Tufts for Fall 2020. Please note: as of June 15, 2020 many programs are still making final decisions about how they will offer classes for the Fall semester and upcoming academic year.
Following your arrival at Tufts, you will complete a confirmation of arrival with the International Center. The International Center will confirm your Fall 2020 enrollment and complete the immigration transfer process at that time.
Once you start your studies, students in on-campus programs will generally be limited to only one in-person class for the fall semester, pending further guidance from the US Department of Homeland Security. Please check back for updates while we wait for more information from the Department of Homeland Security about whether this one-class restriction will apply for Fall 2020.
Transfer students who are outside the US should keep in mind that there are still significant challenges for persons attempting to come to the US for the current year, including temporary closures of US consulates and visa operations, COVID-19 related suspensions on entry into the US, and restricted international flight availability as well as worldwide restrictions on international travel due to COVID-19. Please contact the International Center at internationalcenter@tufts.edu for more information.
Your arrival date will depend on your school's specific orientation and arrival plan. In most cases, expect Orientation activities for Fall 2020 to be conducted on-line. Your school will announce when on-campus classes and other activities will begin and end.
If you are unable to arrive on campus by the announced arrival date, please let the International Center know. Depending on the length of your delay, you may need to defer your arrival at Tufts until the next available term.
You are not required to come to the US if you do not feel comfortable or safe doing so at this time. However, please talk to your school about options for possibly starting your education on-line from your home country. Availability of on-line options will differ from school to school and program to program. You may also ask them if there are options to simply defer to a later semester.
Once you have discussed the matter with your school and confirmed your decision, please notify your International Center advisor. If you decide to delay your attendance at Tufts, and are granted the option to defer your attendance to a later term, you will generally be expected to depart the US until you are prepared to come to the US to start on-campus classes. In this case, your transfer may be canceled and you will need to apply for a new I-20 from the International Center in order to return to the US at a later date.
Transfer Students: Programs Starting On-line for Fall 2020
As of June 15, 2020 the International Center is still waiting for updated US Department of Homeland Security guidance regarding Fall 2020 classes. We will provide updated information once it becomes available.
Currently, while waiting for federal government guidance, the International Center recommend the following:
- The International Center recommends that transfer students who were planning to come to Tufts for Fall 2020 not leave the US until the regulatory situation is clarified. We expect that transfer students who are still residing in the US will be allowed to start studying at Tufts in the fall semester even if classes are entirely or partially on-line. However, please note that this may be subject to change at a later date once the Department of Homeland Security issues final guidance.
- Transfer students who are outside the US may choose to remain outside the US and start their Tufts programs by taking on-line classes from their home countries or countries of residence. However, we are waiting for additional instructions on how to process your I-20 if you are not able or you choose not to come to the US until a later date, such as Spring 2021 or later.
- Transfer students who are outside the US but who want to return to the US may currently do so, provided that you have a valid visa, your transfer I-20 from Tufts, and you are not prevented from returning due to COVID-19 related travel suspensions
Your transfer pending I-20 will be considered valid for arrival for Fall 2020 until you receive different guidance from the International Center. We are still waiting for final confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security regarding transfer procedures for students who already have valid status but are starting programs that will be on-line only.
Transfer Students: Other Questions
The International Center has assigned international student advisors to each school. To find your international student advisor, go to https://icenter.tufts.edu/contact/contact-advisor/. You can also schedule brief appointments with your advisor by going to https://icenter.tufts.edu/contact/appointments.
You should first consult with your admissions office (and for graduate students, your department) about whether or not deferrals will be permitted. Each school has its own deferral deadlines and policies, and these are being reviewed as Fall 2020 decisions are being made.
If a deferral is granted, you will need to contact the International Center to notify us that your deferral request has been approved. An International Center advisor will work with you at that time to discuss the implications of a deferral on the transfer process. In general, if you defer your attendance you may need to remain outside the US until you are ready to come back to the US to start studying on a full-time basis.