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Changing Departments

The department to which the scholar will be moving is the one responsible for initiating the transfer process. The transfer must be approved by ISSS before it takes place. Premature transfers can jeopardize the scholar's immigration status and Emory's institutional compliance.  

J-1 scholars

J-1 scholars can switch departments as long as they maintain the same exchange program objective and stay in the same J category. ISSS must approve the change beforehand. The switch cannot take place until ISSS has issued the revised DS-2019. 

Each J category has a maximum time limit, and your request can't exceed the limit for your scholar's category. Limits by category >>

The revised DS-2019 request process is the same as the initial request process.

H-1B scholars

Department changes within Emory requires a new H-1B petition filing by the new hiring department.  Until after the new H-1B petition is filed with USCIS, the H-1B scholar must remain employed with the current department.  If not, both the H-1B scholar and Emory will be in violation of the federal regulations. The request process is the same as the initial request process.

The transfer of departments by the H-1B cannot occur until ISSS has received the receipt notice for the amended petition filing with USCIS.  

O-1 scholars

Changing hiring/sponsoring departments must be reviewed carefully before it takes place.  Contact your ISSS advisor who handled the current (previously filed) O-1 petition to start the discussion.  If you are not sure, please email isss@emory.edu.  

TN scholars

  1. Email your department's ISSS advisor about the transfer plans, and be sure to include:
    1. Name of department transferring from
    2. Name of department transferring to
    3. Title
    4. Salary
  2. Wait for your advisor to confirm that the transfer is OK and that no amendment is needed.
  3. Write a letter from the scholar's supervisor to ISSS confirming the transfer. Download a template lateral transfer letter >>
  4. Log in to ISSS Link and fill out the lateral transfer request e-form under TN Employee Management. You'll need to upload a copy of the lateral transfer letter.

Once ISSS reviews the request, you will either receive an approval email or a request for additional information.