一般轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)有2種：一種是順利完成一個學(xué)位后，希望繼續(xù)攻讀更高的學(xué)位；另外一種是對目前就讀的學(xué)校不滿意，想進入更好的學(xué)?；颦h(huán)境學(xué)習(xí)（如果你只是在一個學(xué)校內(nèi)轉(zhuǎn)專業(yè)的話，不可稱之為轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)。）
    由于申請?zhí)ち?，從而想選擇一個相對容易申請的排名相對靠后學(xué)校，然后想出去后跳個較好的大學(xué)，這個問題幾乎80%申請的人都可能考慮過。但是不管是未完成學(xué)位的轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)或是順利完成學(xué)位的轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)，你都必須得到移民局的許可才能完成你的轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)手續(xù)。
    1. 以下是移民局對轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)的基本要求：
An F-1 student who was not pursuing a full course of study at the school he or she was last authorized to attend is ineligible for school transfer and must apply for reinstatement under the provisions of paragraph (f)(16) of this section, or, in the alternative, may depart the country and return as an initial entry in a new F-1 nonimmigrant status. (Revised effective 1/1/03; 67 FR 76256) 
    說的明白點就是：
An F-1 student who is maintaining status may transfer to another U.S. school. If you have not maintained proper F-1 status and are therefore "out of status," you will be required to apply for reinstatement to student status through the USCIS. Then you may request to transfer to another institution.
    2 美國轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)資料
If you plan to leave Regent University and transfer to another school in the U.S., you must request a release of your SEVIS record to the school that you have chosen to attend. The new school cannot make a new I-20 for you until they have control of your SEVIS record.
    首先要注意，以F1學(xué)生身份入境，必須在被許可的學(xué)校里注冊就學(xué)。你要轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)，首先必須先獲得移民局的批準，而且你現(xiàn)在的學(xué)校必須release你的SEVIS記錄，新的學(xué)校才能發(fā)給你新的I-20。
  
    轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)時間安排及注意事項
    美國的學(xué)校里, 轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)生與新生入學(xué)一起錄取,并沒有單獨的審核機制。所以凡是打算轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)的,一定要及早申請, 先要保證趕在對方學(xué)校的deadline前。也就是說，轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)等于重新申請一次學(xué)校，不同的是你人在美國申請。一旦有了轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)計劃，你應(yīng)該先向移民局申請這項批準，因為移民局處理你的申請需要花一段時間，所以你要盡量在轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)前取得轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)批準。比如你打算2010年9月轉(zhuǎn)入新學(xué)校，你在2009年11月份就應(yīng)該申請，好象在國內(nèi)申請一樣。
    關(guān)于有人問的轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)有沒有時間限制的問題，讓我們先看看來自 www.immigration.gov 官方關(guān)于transfer的一段話：
A student who is maintaining status may transfer to another Service approved school by following the notification procedure prescribed in paragraph (f)(8)(ii) of this section. However, an F-1 student is not permitted to remain in the United States when transferring between schools or programs unless the student will begin classes at the transfer school or program within 5 months of transferring out of the current school or within 5 months of the program completion date on his or her current Form I-20, whichever is earlier.
    上面這段的意思是，轉(zhuǎn)學(xué)期間你不能待在美國，除非你在新學(xué)校的課程在轉(zhuǎn)離原來學(xué)校的5個月內(nèi)開始。