F-1 Students

F-1 Status Overview

Most Middlebury international students - attending Middlebury College or Middlebury Institute of International Studies or our affiliated programs - hold F-1 student visa status, a nonimmigrant classification that allows you to remain in the U.S. as long as you are in good standing while engaged in a full-time academic program of study. If you intend to study at Middlebury in F-1 status, our Guide for F-1 Students is a great resource and can be found on our Forms and Resources page.

F-1 status also affords the benefits of being able to participate in on-campus employment and, when eligible, apply for approval to take part in off-campus practical training opportunities that are directly related to your major field of study.

Obtaining Initial F-1 Status

For students who will be obtaining F-1 status for the first time, you will need to apply for an F-1 student visa. To apply for an F-1 student visa, you must do so at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. First you must obtain a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility from Middlebury College (undergraduate or language school students) or the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (graduate students). ISSS will reach out to you once it is time to start the I-20 application process. This usually starts 4-5 months before your program start date, so please watch for an email from isss@middlebury.edu. Once you receive this email, you will find the applicable forms and instructions located on our Form s and Resources portion of the website.

If you are currently studying in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, please refer to the “Transferring Current SEVIS Record to Middlebury” section below to learn more.

If you are in another status that allows for full-time study, please contact the ISSS staff at isss@middlebury.edu or (802) 443-5858 to discuss your circumstances.

Transferring Current SEVIS Record to Middlebury

What is a SEVIS Transfer?

If you are currently in F-1 status and are intending to join Middlebury, then you may be eligible to transfer your SEVIS record from your current U.S. institution to Middlebury. A SEVIS record is created when an I-20 has been issued for your studies in the U.S. A SEVIS transfer allows a student to maintain their F-1 status without any interruption to their status. Please make sure you consult with your current International Student Advisor about transferring your SEVIS record to Middlebury.

Are You Eligible?

If you are a F-1 student with an ACTIVE status, then you are likely eligible to transfer your SEVIS record.
If you are a F-1 student with a COMPLETED status, then you may be eligible to transfer your SEVIS record.
If you are a F-1 student with a TERMINATED status, then you should contact our office to discuss your circumstances.

If it turns out that you are not eligible for a SEVIS transfer, then you will need to exit the U.S. at the end of your current program (if you have not already) and follow the instructions to obtain a new initial I-20 from Middlebury. For more information about this process, please refer to our Student Visa Information section.

SEVIS Transfer-In Process

Students are required to complete the I-20 Application process with Middlebury even if you are eligible for a SEVIS Transfer. The I-20 application process is launched by Middlebury ISSS usually four months prior to the Middlebury program start date.

You will be asked several questions in the I-20 Application, including submission of documentation related to your current F-1 status, to assist in the SEVIS Transfer. When you begin the I-20 Application, be sure to answer “Yes” to the following question:

Are you currently in the U.S. or were recently in the U.S. completing a program of study?

Additionally, you will need to have the following information prepared in advance of beginning the I-20 application because the application cannot be saved once in progress:

Current School Name
Name of your DSO (also known as international advisor),
Phone number and email address of your DSO
Current SEVIS status (active / completed / terminated)
Are you intending to travel internationally between programs
Will you be on an approved work authorization during the time of the SEVIS transfer?
Requested SEVIS Release date (see below “How to determine your SEVIS Release Date” for more information)
Field / program at Middlebury

How to Determine your SEVIS Release Date

The SEVIS Release Date indicates when your SEVIS record will transfer from your current institution to Middlebury. Once the release date is reached, your current school will no longer have access to your SEVIS record, and your current I-20 will no longer be valid. Therefore, determining this date is an important step in the SEVIS Transfer process.

There are several factors to consider when deciding on the best SEVIS Release Date.

Current program end date (as indicated on your current I-20 page 1),
Middlebury program start date,
Where you are physically located or if you intend to travel outside the U.S. at any time between programs, and
If you are currently on an approved work authorization period.

Students who intend to remain in the U.S. between programs will select a SEVIS Release Date after their current program end date and before the 60^th day after their current program end date (this is often referred to as the 60-day grace period).

If a student intends to depart the U.S. between programs, it will be important to share these plans with Middlebury ISSS. Be sure to consult with your current International Student Advisor about the SEVIS Release Date and transferring your SEVIS record to Middlebury.

Important Information Required for Your Current International Student Advisor

To initiate the SEVIS Transfer, your current school will need our school’s name and our SEVIS school code. Please use the below instructions based upon your intended school and program information.

If you are transferring your SEVIS record to Middlebury College (in Vermont), your current school should transfer the record to: Middlebury College using SEVIS School Code: POM 214 F 10034000.
If you are transferring your SEVIS record to the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (in California), your current school should transfer the record to: Middlebury Institute of Int’l Studies using SEVIS School Code: SFR 214 F 01212000
If you are transferring your SEVIS record to one of the Middlebury Summer Programs (including Language School and Bread Loaf School of English programs), please use the Middlebury College SEVIS School Code.
If your summer program is English Language School or English Preparation for Graduate Studies, please use the Middlebury Institute School Code.

updated 4/11/2024