HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL JOINT AND CONCURRENT DEGREE PROGRAMS | COMBINED DEGREE GUIDE
> Visa Documentation for International Students
As an international student pursuing a combined degree, you are responsible for obtaining and
maintaining valid visa documentation.
You must ensure that your immigration documents (the I-20 for an F-1 student visa; the DS-2019
for a J-1 student visa) are issued by the school where you are currently enrolled. For instance, if
your current I-20 or DS-2019 is issued by Harvard, you must request a transfer of your F-1 or J-1
record before you can begin classes at another institution.
The general transfer process is as follows:
1. Complete the Financial Certification process for the school you will be attending in the
next semester.
2. Request a transfer-in form for the school you will be attending for the upcoming semester.
You will complete the form with your current institution’s international student advisor.
3. Your current school’s international student advisor will transfer your F-1 or J-1 record to your
new school.
4. Your new school will receive your F-1 or J-1 record and issue you a new I-20 or DS-2019 that you will
need for all future travel outside the U.S. During the transfer process, your SEVIS ID number will
remain the same, allowing you to continue using the same F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport
throughout your combined degree program. You will only need to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa
stamp if you are traveling outside the U.S. and your current visa has expired.
However, each school will have specific procedures and policies for you to follow to transfer
immigration sponsorship. Familiarize yourself with these procedures after you are admitted to
each school. Note that you will need to proactively complete this process each time you change
schools during your combined degree program. For details on transferring your F-1 or J-1 record
from another institution to Harvard, review Transfer to Harvard and Change of Level.
If a sponsoring agency (AMidEAST, Fulbright, IIE, LASPAU, or USAid, for example) is preparing the
DS-2019 for your J-1 student visa, ask them about the procedures you will need to follow.
Due to the transfer process, obtaining U.S. work permission—F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT),
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT), J-1 Academic Training (AT), or even on campus employment—
as a combined degree student will involve extra planning and coordination. It is important that
you proactively discuss plans to work in the U.S. with your international student advisor at the
beginning of your program so you are aware of each school’s procedures and policies.
Please note: all international students must be enrolled at HKS in the spring semester prior
to obtaining summer work authorization through Harvard. F-1 students in the MPA and
MPP programs must also be enrolled at HKS in the fall semester following summer F-1 CPT
authorization. Contact the Harvard International Oce if you have any questions or concerns.
> Summer Internship Fund
As a combined degree student, you are eligible to receive funding from the Summer Internship
Fund (SIF) starting the summer after you are in residence at HKS. SIF funding is awarded one
time only.
> Health Insurance
You must have a clear understanding of the individual requirements and waiver policies at each of
your schools. This will ensure that you are not double-charged for health insurance or find yourself
without coverage.
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