How to Change Universities After Visa Appointment Booking?

Study Abroad Student Visa

To study in USA, any international student would require a study visa. The Indian students have 3 categories of US student Visa to apply from. The 3 categories of USA Visa are – F1, J1, and M1.

A.    F1: for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees
B.    M1: for technical or vocational programs
Both these above categories of visa need a document called Form I-20.
C.    J1: for individuals who are under the work-and study-based exchange visitor program who are approved to participate in it
This category requires Form DS-2019.

Depending upon the type of visa you are supposed to send the I-20 or DS-2019 form to the universities you are applying. The required form is generated by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which is a platform through which the US government tracks and monitors international students.

Read on to know how to change universities after visa appointment booking?
Now that you have chosen to change your university at this stage after all the USA Study Visa requirements are fulfilled, it means that you are into one of the 3 mentioned situations. Depending upon the situation we will see what process to follow for the change.

A.    Visa Payment is not Made although the DS-160 is Submitted and SEVIS is Paid

This situation is one of the easiest to get out from and make the change happen. Transfer the SEVIS from college A to College B and that’s all you need to do. The best part is, you don’t have to pay the SEVIS Fee again for the new college. Check the steps to follow below:
•    The fmjfee.com is the website used to pay the I-901 fee
•    To transfer the fee, you need to log onto the website fmjfee.com and pay the I-901 fee once you fill in the required details
•    You will see the Transfer Button if there is a valid record of your 1-901 fee
•    Enter the correct details when the website prompts you to fill the SEVIS ID and school code of the new university and submit
•    For request raised for the transfer you will receive an email
•    Another mail would hit your inbox acknowledging your transfer or denying it. Print the new details for later use if the transfer is approved. You will get an explanation email in case the request is rejected.

Take the following steps once you have the new SEVIS number:
•    You will have to fill DS-160 newly as you had submitted one for the previously selected college
•    With the details of new college fill the new DS-160 form
•    Submit the same and print the confirmation
•    Book an appointment
•    Once the appointment is scheduled take the new DS-160 confirmation page
And you are done.

B.    The Interview Date is Booked, Visa Payment is Made and the DS- 160 is Submitted

In the second situation, you need to complete the first steps mentioned in the above scenario A.
The next steps to be followed is mentioned below.
•    You need to generate a new DS-160
•    Once the form is created you need to fill it with the SEVIS number of the new university and submit the same

Now the only extra steps to take care since you have already paid for the visa and scheduled the interview:
•    On the CGI Federal Website, log on to your account and update the information on it. You need to change the following:
•    DS -160 confirmation number
•    SEVIS ID
As you have not attended the interview yet, there is no need to pay the visa fee again.
And you are done.

C.    You’ve Appeared for the Visa Interview

Till now, things and the procedures were manageable. Although now, in the 3rd situation things can get a little tricky. Let’s say a top university in the US accepts you after your FI Visa is approved through the interview. Now once this is done, if you are looking out for the university change, you ought to follow the below steps.
•    From the new college a new I-20 form is needed.
•    According to the steps explained above in Situation A, transfer the SEVIS fee
•    With the details of new college fill the new DS-160 form
•    Once again pay the fees for visa
•    For the 2nd time schedule and attend the OFC and visa interview
And you are done. Both with the third situation steps and the entire process of changing university after visa owing to all the 3 scenarios.
Keep following our page for more information on the Study Abroad Student Visa of various countries.