Transfer to Another Institution
You may transfer your J-1 program to another U.S. institution for the remainder of your allowable stay (up to 5 years for professors and researcher scholars, up to 6 months for short-term scholars and up to one year for specialists) if the program at the next institution is consistent with your program at Princeton and as long as there are no gaps in the dates of your J program. In other words, if you finish at Princeton on June 30, you must begin at the new institution on July 1. Professors and research scholars could be subject to the 24 month bar if there is any gap in the dates of the J program.
You should follow the instructions provided by your new J-1 program to begin the transfer. The new program will eventually contact the Davis IC at Princeton to request the transfer of your J-1 record in SEVIS.
Please note: the new program will not be able to print out a new DS-2019 for you until the effective date of the transfer. They will not be able to provide you with a DS-2019 ahead of your start date. This makes travel outside the US. between J-1 programs very difficult, if not impossible. Please discuss any travel plans you have with your new program sponsor before you confirm your travel plans.
