Interested In Transfering to NCC?
Are you an international student currently studying at another college or university in the United States and interested in transferring to Northampton Community College (NCC)?
NCC welcomes international students who wish to continue their education with us. If you are currently in F-1 status, you must coordinate the transfer of your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record from your current institution to NCC.
To begin the process, you must apply for admission to NCC and complete the required international student documentation, including submitting financial documentation. You will also need to work with your current institution to arrange the release of your SEVIS record to NCC.
Once the transfer process is complete and all required documentation has been received, NCC can issue your Form I-20.
Steps to transfer in your SEVIS Record:
- Complete the International Student Application
- Receive a Form I-20 by completing International student Application Requirements
- You will receive your I-20 via e-mail from International Student Services along with Instructions
- Pay the SEVIS Fee (this will be done after receiving your I-20)
- Complete and submit NCC's Transfer-In Form to international@northampton.edu
Deadlines for International Student Transfer-in Application
Students transferring to Northampton Community College should submit their transfer-in requests and all required documentation at least four weeks before the start of the intended semester.
- Fall Semester: July 27
- Spring Semester: December 22
Our office requires time to review documentation, coordinate SEVIS transfers, and issue Form I-20s. Late or incomplete submissions may not be processed in time for the intended semester.
Students should plan ahead and consider F-1 status requirements, full-time enrollment requirements, and course availability when determining their transfer timeline. Required in-person or hybrid courses may have limited availability as the semester approaches. Meeting the submission deadline does not guarantee course availability or completion of the transfer process by a particular date.
Transferring Out of Northampton Community College
Are you an F-1 international student currently attending Northampton Community College and planning to transfer to another college or university in the United States?
To transfer your SEVIS record to another institution, you must first be admitted to your new school and provide the Office of International Student Services with your transfer request and the required information from your new institution.
You will need to identify a SEVIS release date, which determines when your SEVIS record will be transferred to your new school. Please coordinate your timeline with both institutions to ensure a smooth transition.
Once your SEVIS record has been released, your new institution will be responsible for accessing your record and issuing your new Form I-20, as appropriate.
Steps to transfer out your SEVIS record:
- Submit your acceptance letter from your transfer institution to international@northampton.edu
- Complete and submit your Transfer-out Form to international@northampton.edu
Students With a Terminated SEVIS Record
Northampton Community College (NCC) accepts students with terminated SEVIS records and will transfer a terminated record to another institution if the receiving institution agrees to accept it. The Office of International Student Services does not provide legal advice or immigration legal services. Students considering applying for reinstatement to F-1 status are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified immigration attorney to understand their options and the potential implications of their individual circumstances before proceeding.
Students Transferring With a Terminated SEVIS Record
Applying for Reinstatement
Reinstatement is an application submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting the restoration of F-1 student status after a SEVIS record has been terminated. Students generally pursue reinstatement if they wish to remain in the United States and continue their studies without departing the country to seek a new initial F-1 status.
If USCIS approves the reinstatement application, your SEVIS record will be updated to reflect the reinstatement, and you will receive an updated Form I-20. If USCIS denies your application, you generally cannot appeal the decision. You should consult a qualified immigration attorney promptly to understand your options and determine the appropriate next steps, including whether you must depart the United States.
Eligibility Requirements For Reinstatement
When applying for reinstatement to F-1 status, you must demonstrate to the satisfaction of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that you meet the applicable eligibility requirements, which generally include the following:
- Time out of status: You have not been out of status for more than five months at the time of filing, unless you can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances prevented you from filing within that period and that you filed as soon as possible under those circumstances.
- Immigration history: You have not repeatedly or willfully violated immigration regulations.
- Full course of study: You are currently pursuing, or intend to pursue immediately, a full course of study at the school that issued your Form I-20.
- Employment: You have not engaged in unauthorized employment.
- Deportability: You are not deportable on any grounds other than those related to having overstayed or failed to maintain your immigration status.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee that USCIS will approve your reinstatement application. Consult a qualified immigration attorney to discuss your individual circumstances and eligibility before filing.
Additional Requirements for Reinstatement
You must also demonstrate to USCIS that at least one of the following applies to your situation:
- Circumstances beyond your control: Your failure to maintain F-1 status resulted from circumstances beyond your control. Examples may include a serious injury or illness, a natural disaster, or an inadvertent error or oversight by your international student adviser. This does not include situations involving repeated violations or a willful failure to maintain your status.
- OR
- Unauthorized reduction in course load: Your violation resulted from a reduction in your course load that your international student adviser would have been authorized to approve, and denying reinstatement would cause you extreme hardship.
USCIS evaluates reinstatement applications on an individual basis. Meeting these criteria does not guarantee approval. Consult a qualified immigration attorney to discuss your circumstances and eligibility.
What Are Potential Consequences of a Reinstatement Denial?
If USCIS denies your application for reinstatement to F-1 status, you may face significant immigration consequences. Depending on your individual circumstances, these may include:
- Cancellation of your visa: Your current F-1 visa may become automatically void under applicable immigration law.
- Restrictions on future visa applications: If your visa is voided under INA § 222(g)(overstay and visa cancellation), you may be required to apply for future nonimmigrant visas in your country of citizenship or permanent residence, subject to applicable exceptions.
- Unlawful presence: You may begin accruing unlawful presence, depending on your circumstances and applicable immigration rules. Accruing more than 180 days of unlawful presence may result in a three-year bar on returning to the United States after departure. Accruing one year or more may result in a ten-year bar.
A reinstatement denial may also affect your eligibility for future immigration benefits.
Important: Immigration consequences depend on your individual circumstances and immigration history. The Office of International Student Services at Northampton Community College does not provide legal advice or immigration legal services. We strongly encourage you to consult a qualified immigration attorney before submitting a reinstatement application so you can understand the potential risks and consequences of your decision.
Reinstatement vs. Traveling to Regain Status
Students with a terminated SEVIS record may have the option to regain F-1 status by applying for reinstatement through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or by departing the United States and re-entering with a new initial Form I-20 and a new SEVIS record.
Travel and Re-entry: If you have a valid F-1 visa, you may be able to depart the United States and return using a new initial Form I-20 issued by NCC under a new SEVIS ID. You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again for the new record before re-entering the United States. Re-entry is not guaranteed and is subject to inspection and admission by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Important Considerations: Re-entering with a new SEVIS record means you will be considered an initial student for SEVIS purposes. Time previously accrued toward eligibility for benefits such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) generally does not carry over to the new record. Before deciding between reinstatement and travel and re-entry, consult a qualified immigration attorney to understand the potential consequences and determine which option may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Each option has different cost, timelines, risks and implications for future immigration benefits.
Consideration |
Reinstatement |
Travel and Re-entry |
| Cost | USCIS application fee and any other applicable costs. An additional I-901 SEVIS fee may be required in certain circumstances. | $350 I-901 SEVIS fee for the new SEVIS record, plus travel expenses and a visa application fee if a new visa is needed. |
| Processing time | USCIS processing times vary and may take several months or longer. | F-1 status may be regained upon successful re-entry to the U.S. |
| CPT and OPT eligibility | CPT is not permitted while reinstatement is pending. If approved, prior qualifying time in F-1 status may count toward CPT and OPT eligibility. | You will be considered an initial student under a new SEVIS record. You generally must complete one academic year in valid F-1 status before qualifying for CPT or OPT. |
| Employment | You may not work while out of status and awaiting reinstatement approval. | You may resume eligible on-campus employment after being admitted in F-1 status, subject to applicable requirements. |
| Risk of denial | USCIS may deny your application. A denial can have serious immigration consequences, and you may need to depart the U.S. promptly. | Re-entry is not guaranteed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines whether you may enter the U.S. |
| Potential advantages | If approved, reinstatement restores F-1 status without requiring you to leave the U.S. Prior qualifying time in F-1 status may be preserved for certain benefits. | You may regain F-1 status sooner than waiting for a reinstatement decision, provided you are admitted to the U.S. |
| Potential disadvantages | Processing may take months and a denial may disrupt your studies and affect future immigration benefits. | Travel can be costly and carries the risk of being denied a visa, if needed, or admission to the U.S. A new SEVIS record resets the eligibility timeline for practical training. |
Important Considerations:
- If you have a spouse or children in the U.S., consider how travel may affect your ability to return to them.
- If your F-1 visa has expired, you may need to apply for a new visa before returning.
- If you leave the U.S. while a reinstatement application is pending, USCIS generally considers the application abandoned.
- Each option may have additional consequences depending on your immigration history and individual circumstances.
The Office of International Student Services at Northampton Community College does not provide legal advice or immigration legal services. Students are strongly encouraged to consult a qualified immigration attorney before deciding how to regain F-1 status.
While Reinstatement is Pending
- Submit your receipt notice: Email a copy of your Form I-797C, Notice of Action (receipt notice), to international@northampton.edu.
- Maintain full-time enrollment: You must remain enrolled full-time while your reinstatement application is pending. Contact the Office of International Student Services before making changes to your enrollment.
- Do not work: You are not eligible for on-campus or off-campus employment while your reinstatement application is pending.
- Avoid international travel: Departing the United States while your application is pending will generally result in USCIS considering your reinstatement application abandoned.
- Notify our office of updates: Send copies of any USCIS correspondence, including a Request for Evidence (RFE), to our office promptly.
- If your reinstatement is approved: Notify the Office of International Student Services immediately and submit a copy of your Form I-797A, Notice of Action, so we can update your SEVIS record and confirm your status.
