一般轉學有2種：一種是順利完成一個學位后，希望繼續攻讀更高的學位；另外一種是對目前就讀的學校不滿意，想進入更好的學校或環境學習（如果你只是在一個學校內轉專業的話，不可稱之為轉學。）
    由于申請太激烈，從而想選擇一個相對容易申請的排名相對靠后學校，然后想出去后跳個較好的大學，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位的轉學或是順利完成學位的轉學，你都必須得到移民局的許可才能完成你的轉學手續。
    1. 以下是移民局對轉學的基本要求：
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 美國轉學資料
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學生身份入境，必須在被許可的學校里注冊就學。你要轉學，首先必須先獲得移民局的批準，而且你現在的學校必須release你的SEVIS記錄，新的學校才能發給你新的I-20。
  
    轉學時間安排及注意事項
    美國的學校里, 轉學生與新生入學一起錄取,并沒有單獨的審核機制。所以凡是打算轉學的,一定要及早申請, 先要保證趕在對方學校的deadline前。也就是說，轉學等于重新申請一次學校，不同的是你人在美國申請。一旦有了轉學計劃，你應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，所以你要盡量在轉學前取得轉學批準。比如你打算2010年9月轉入新學校，你在2009年11月份就應該申請，好象在國內申請一樣。
    關于有人問的轉學有沒有時間限制的問題，讓我們先看看來自 www.immigration.gov 官方關于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，轉學期間你不能待在美國，除非你在新學校的課程在轉離原來學校的5個月內開始。