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Cornell University

International Services

Office of Global Learning

Transfer or Leave

  • For Faculty/Staff

Whether you are beginning employment with another U.S. employer or leaving the United States entirely, be sure to complete the leaving Cornell form. If you're a J-1 scholar ending your Cornell program more than 15 days from the program end date listed on your DS-2019, you are required to provide this notification.

If you are leaving the U.S., remember you'll need to file taxes from abroad if you had income from a U.S. source in the past year. Visit our taxes pages for more information.

New U.S. Job?

Are you planning to leave Cornell for a job with another U.S. employer? The procedures for maintaining your legal status in the United States depend on your visa type.

A J-1 visa can be transferred to a new sponsor through a SEVIS record update, but the H-1B and O-1 visas require your future employer to submit a new petition. 

J-1 Visa Transfer

If you want to transfer your Cornell-sponsored J-1 visa to a new J-1 sponsor, you must submit a transfer-out request. International Services and your future employer will update your SEVIS record to approve the transfer. 

You must request the visa transfer before the end date of your program, listed on your DS-2019 form.

H-1B/O-1 Change of Employer

If you’re an H-1B or O-1 employee planning to start a new position outside Cornell, your future employer must submit a new petition for you. 

Check with your new employer if you have questions about the petition process or when you can begin working. We can't advise you on how to proceed, as different employers have different processes and document requirements. Please do, however, inform us as soon as possible that you're leaving Cornell.

Grace Period

Your visa status may give you a grace period to settle your affairs and prepare to return home. 

J-1 Grace Period

If you are a J-1 exchange visitor, you have a 30-day grace period after the end date on your DS-2019.

  • You may not work or complete any J-1 program activities during your grace period. 
  • Your J-1 program can’t be transferred during the grace period.

H-1B/O-1/TN/E-3 Grace Period

If you are in H-1B, O-1, TN, or E-3 status, you may have been granted a discretionary 10-day grace period. Find out by checking your most recent I-94—either at the bottom of your I-797 approval notice or from your most recent U.S. entry, whichever occurred most recently. 

  • You must leave the U.S. or file for an extension or change of status before the end date on your I-94. 

If you are in H-1B, O-1, TN, or E-3 status and your employment ends early, you may have up to a 60-day grace period to find new employment, change or extend your status, or leave the country. Read these helpful tips for people whose employment ends early.

Ten Things to Do Before Leaving the U.S.

There's a lot to accomplish as you prepare to return home. Our 10-step checklist can help you get organized. 

  1. Share your permanent phone, email, and mailing address with your department, faculty supervisor, professional network, friends, and others who might want to stay in touch. Return any Cornell keys. 
  2. Update your home country address in Workday. Request letters or documents from Cornell that you expect to need. 
  3. Change your address with the U.S. Post Office.
  4. End your data plan and make sure your final bill is paid. If you have a land line, contact the phone company to disconnect it. Notify utility companies (NYSEG, cable, etc.). Ask if you can pay the bills before you leave. 
  5. Clear all debts and accounts. Contact credit card companies to see if you can settle your outstanding payments before you leave. Close your U.S. bank account.
  6. File any medical insurance claims that are still outstanding. Pay any balance you owe. Note when your health insurance expires to see if you are leaving the United States after this date. 
  7. If you checked out books or other materials from the library, be sure to return them. Fines are imposed on missing books. 
  8. Return any other items you may have borrowed. If you have household items to pass on, donate them to other international students or scholars, or ask your friends to share them with new arrivals. 
  9. If you are taking a computer or technical equipment home, find out if you will need an export license. Consult your country's embassy to determine what other customs regulations may apply when taking your belongings home. 
  10. Check out of your apartment or rental. Leave forwarding contact information with the manager. Return your keys, and request the return of your security deposit.