74:
435:
outdated Form I-20 to get in. In particular, when adding a new travel signature to the OPT, it is the responsibility of the international student office to make sure that the student is still enrolled at the institution. In case the Form I-20 runs out of space for travel signatures, the international office may print out a new Form I-20 for the student.
255:(this is a one-time process). Note that an institution can be SEVP-certified despite not holding national or regional accreditation. Conversely, an institution may hold national or regional accreditation but may have chosen not to obtain SEVP certification if it does not intend to admit international students in the F, J, or M status.
492:
Reduced Course Load: This means that the student is not enrolled as a full-time student. Reasons for granting RCL include final quarter/semester, medical condition, and academic difficulties. Academic difficulties in turn include improper course level placement, academic difficulties with the
English
267:
At the time the first Form I-20 is issued to the student (after accepting the offer of admission from the institution) a record is created for the student in the
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). At any given time, the responsibility for keeping the student's SEVIS record up to
470:
It is important to note that the program end date on the Form I-20 need not coincide with the graduation date. Rather, it is the end date of the student's enrollment in courses. It is not possible to extend the program end date simply in order to be able to stay around till the graduation ceremony.
434:
Since travel signatures are valid for only a year, students need to periodically get updated travel signatures on their I-20 from their international student office. The purpose of this requirement is to avoid cases where people who are no longer enrolled as students at an institution keep using an
316:
After receiving information from the student and institution regarding the program length and end date, the international office creates the student's SEVIS record, gets a SEVIS number for the student, and issues a Form I-20. A physical copy of the form may be mailed to the student overseas. In the
91:
The I-20 was updated starting June 2015, with all new I-20s issued using the new format starting June 26, 2015, and the new I-20 necessary for all students seeking entry or re-entry starting July 2016. The main reason for the update to the form was the standardization of names in SEVIS. The changes
363:
For those entering the United States in student status, the date of entry to the United States is treated as the start date for the student being in the F or M student status (even if this is before the program start date). For those transitioning to student status from another status, the date of
271:
The Form I-20 can be thought of as a paper representation of the most up-to-date SEVIS information on record for the student's current enrollment. Whenever there are substantive changes to the information, the SEVIS record is updated, and a new Form I-20 is issued to the student by the institution
258:
A large university typically has an international office that manages its participation in the SEVP, and all the DSOs work for this office. The international office manages updates to the SEVIS record and issuing of new paper Form I-20s. Students who have any change to their plans (such as program
463:
If the Form I-20 is being shortened, the international office may require the student to submit evidence showing that the student has enough academic credits to graduate early. If the Form I-20 is being extended, then, in addition to any evidence from the student about changed academic plans, the
346:
It is needed when seeking admission to the United States. At the time of admission, a valid visa as well as a valid I-20 are needed. At the time of initial entry, the officer at the port of entry checks that the program start date is at most 30 days ahead, and that the I-20 has a valid travel
459:
It may happen that the student's actual program end date falls earlier or later than what the student expected. It is necessary that a new I-20 be issued reflecting the current program end date, both prior to the program's actual end and prior to the stated program end date on the Form I-20.
300:
Each international office may follow its own rules or guidelines regarding the type of documentation it requests from the student or from other departments in order to be able to issue the I-20. The jargon used for this documentation will also vary by institution. For instance, the
442:, whereby the student returns to the United States after a trip to Canada, Mexico, or a nearby island for at most 30 days, it is not necessary to have a valid visa at the time of re-entry. However, it is still necessary to have a valid Form I-20 and a travel signature.
347:
signature. It is also necessary that, at the time of initial entry, the school the student intends to attend matches the school on the student's visa and the student's I-20, though this is not a requirement in the future. The officer at the port of entry also issues a
450:
In general, whenever there are changes to the information in Form I-20, a new Form I-20 is issued. The student is advised to keep all historical Forms I-20 for the record but only the most recent copy should be used for travel or as proof of current student status.
250:
The Form I-20 is issued by a
Designated School Official (DSO) at the institution (college, university, or vocational school). Only institutions that are SEVP-certified can issue Form I-20s. An institution can acquire SEVP certification by filing Form I-17 with
351:
with expiration date indicated as "D/S" (Duration of Status), which means that the student is in authorized status in the United States until the program end date indicated on the I-20 (and can stay in the United States for up to 60 days after
288:
Apart from biographical information about the student (including the student's name, date of birth, citizenship, etc.), there are two main pieces of information that must be entered in the student's SEVIS record and the initial Form I-20.
487:
The following are some other types of major updates to the student's SEVIS record that require changes to the Form I-20. In all cases, the student must contact the international office beforehand and have a new I-20 issued in advance:
268:
date falls with the SEVP-certified institution the student is currently enrolled in. If the student transfers to a different SEVP-certified institution, the responsibility of updating the SEVIS record now falls on the new institution.
186:
The Form I-20 used until June 2015 has three pages, of which the second page was an instructions page, so that only the first and third pages contained information specific to the student's SEVIS record.
471:
If the graduation ceremony falls outside the 60-day grace period of completion of coursework, then the student must find some other way to be legally present for it (for instance, by staying around on
105:
General design improvements that include moving the instructions to the third page of the Form I-20, as well as the removal of the barcode, and the blocks for visa and port of entry information.
1152:
296:
How the student intends to meet tuition and living expenses for the first year the student is in the program, or until the end date indicated on the I-20, whichever is shorter.
964:
886:
55:
310:
31:
581:
642:
320:
The international office may refuse to issue a Form I-20 if the student is unable to demonstrate how he or she plans to cover expenses for the first year.
309:
uses the term "Financial
Resources Statement" for the statement that students need to submit to it regarding how they will meet their expenses, while the
394:
355:
For those who are not seeking admission to the United States but simply changing status, a copy of the Form I-20 needs to be attached along with the
837:
739:
711:
681:
252:
35:
426:
A travel signature on the I-20 (page 3) from the DSO that is at most one year old (six months in the case of students currently on post-completion
1157:
516:
413:
Whenever the student re-enters the United States after traveling, the student must have all of these at the time of arrival at the port of entry:
464:
international office also needs an updated statement of financial resources for the new I-20 to cover up to one year of the I-20 extension.
39:
62:
ID number) and school code. The Form I-20 is only for F-1, F-2, M-1, and M-2 statuses. J-1 and J-2 status holders have an equivalent Form
259:
end date, course load, leave of absence, return from leave of absence) must communicate these changes with their international office.
134:
Financial information for the first year of studies, with one column for estimated funding costs and another column for funding sources
1056:
131:
Information about the program of study: Program name, education level, normal program length, start and end date, English proficiency
67:
377:
The Form I-20 serves as evidence of the legality of the student's current presence in the United States. Note that a valid visa is
285:
Once the prospective student has accepted the institution's offer of admission, the institution issues a Form I-20 to the student.
393:
The Form I-20 may be used to demonstrate student status when applying for United States government documents and benefits such as
102:
Expandable field boxes that display information about cap gap extension, change of status, event history and other authorizations.
960:
939:
30:(also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students) is a
467:
After the change to the program end date is made in the student's SEVIS record, the new Form I-20 is issued to the student.
125:
The class of admission (F-1 or M-1; in case of additional pages added for dependents, the class of admission is F-2 or M-2)
978:
501:
402:
233:
A section for travel signatures. A travel signature at most 1 year old is necessary whenever re-entering the United States
228:
156:
317:
case that the student has a SEVIS record from previous student status, the existing SEVIS record should be transferred.
497:
472:
439:
427:
224:
152:
272:
with the updated information. The student must use the most up-to-date Form I-20 when demonstrating student status.
1078:
858:
785:
653:
108:
The new
Request Mass Reprint functionality that allows DSOs to reprint Forms I-20 for multiple students at a time.
1096:
122:
Student's biographical information: various kinds of names, countries of birth and citizenship, and date of birth
625:
1060:
200:
Information about the school and
Designated School Official who needs to be informed upon the student's arrival
1121:
810:"Declaration & Certification of Finances for I-20 / DS-2019 Application FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY"
603:
77:
Form I-20, Certificate of
Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students
340:
112:
The new Form I-20 is three pages long. Each dependent gets an additional three pages, with the same format.
809:
398:
306:
1125:
1100:
1082:
1032:
911:
764:
328:
The Form I-20 is used in the following stages of the transition to student status in the United States:
302:
20:
833:
879:
649:
54:) that provides supporting information on a student's F or M status. Since the introduction of the
147:
Page 2 contains the following (this is information that appeared on Page 3 in the previous I-20):
554:
1028:
907:
51:
1064:
313:
uses the term "Declaration & Certification of
Finances for I-20/DS-2019 Application".
237:
An additional Page 4 may be included for information on the student's dependents, if any.
128:
School information (school name, school address, school SEVIS code, and name of the DSO)
932:
1146:
197:
Student's biographical information (name, country of birth, country of citizenship)
162:
Information on change of status or the cap-gap extension (for post-completion OPT)
760:
175:
In the case of long event histories, Page 2 could spill over to multiple pages.
982:
356:
47:
348:
401:. It is also required to demonstrate authorization to work for students on
1004:
707:
531:
526:
521:
63:
58:(SEVIS) run by SEVP, the form also includes the student tracking number (
73:
423:
A valid I-20 (i.e., an I-20 whose program end date has not yet arrived)
43:
880:"I am a nonimmigrant. How do I change to another nonimmigrant status?"
735:
476:
389:
Documentation of student status for United States government purposes
364:
transition indicated on the Form I-539 is treated as the start date.
336:
786:"Financial Resources Statement for Issuance of Form I-20 or DS-2019"
99:
Better separation of student information from dependent information.
203:
The student's degree program, reporting date, and program end date.
343:, both when filling the application form and during the interview.
332:
The SEVIS number on the I-20 is needed while paying the SEVIS fee.
72:
59:
626:"I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimigrant Student Status"
677:
206:
How the student intends to meet his/her first year of expenses.
381:
necessary for being in lawful student status; a valid visa is
643:"SAMPLE Certificate of Eligibility I-20 (for F visa holders)"
293:
Program details: The program name, start date, and end date.
859:"Arriving in the U.S. at the Airport or the Port of Entry"
493:
language, or unfamiliarity with
American teaching methods.
736:"Requirements of Schools Seeking F & M Certification"
385:
needed when entering or re-entering the United States.
212:
Name and signature of the student, along with the date.
1029:"Finishing Courses Earlier Than I-20/DS-2019 End Date"
324:
Use of Form I-20 while transitioning to student status
908:"Visa vs. Status: One can expire; the other may not!"
417:
A valid passport (valid for at least six more months)
1057:"Dropping a Course, Withdrawal, and On-Leave Status"
1051:
1049:
933:"International Students And Social Security Numbers"
143:
Student attestation, signed and dated by the student
209:
Name and signature of the DSO, along with the date.
42:(SEVP), document issued by SEVP-certified schools (
965:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
887:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
549:
547:
1023:
1021:
834:"Student and Exchange Visitor Program: I-901 Fee"
223:Information on any work authorization, including
140:School attestation, signed and dated by the DSO
56:Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
576:
574:
572:
1153:United States Department of Homeland Security
730:
728:
702:
700:
698:
32:United States Department of Homeland Security
8:
678:"Overview of the SEVP certification process"
311:University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
500:(pre-completion and post-completion) and
395:Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
16:U.S. Department of Homeland Security form
838:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
740:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
712:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
682:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
373:Establishing legality of status and stay
253:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
70:-designated J exchange visitor program.
961:"Additional Documentation Requirements"
543:
517:College admissions in the United States
151:Employment authorization (such as for
1079:"Maintaining a Full Time Course Load"
761:"Qualifying for your I-20 or DS-2019"
604:"Coming Soon: A Redesigned Form I-20"
119:The SEVIS ID (printed in bold on top)
7:
96:More prominence to the SEVIS number.
40:Student and Exchange Visitor Program
1097:"OPT (Optional Practical Training)"
335:It is needed when applying for the
263:Student SEVIS record and Form I-20
14:
1122:"Leave of Absence and Withdrawal"
182:Structure of I-20 until June 2015
168:Other authorizations (as a table)
68:United States Department of State
506:Leave of Absence and Withdrawal
216:Page 3 includes the following:
190:Page 1 contains the following:
115:Page 1 contains the following:
1158:United States government forms
940:Social Security Administration
496:Practical Training, including
479:for the graduation ceremony).
178:Page 3 contains instructions.
1:
582:"International Student Visas"
502:Curricular Practical Training
455:Changing the program end date
403:Curricular Practical Training
359:application to change status.
229:Curricular Practical Training
157:Curricular Practical Training
708:"Transfers for F-1 Students"
584:. EducationUSA. 4 March 2015
409:Travel and travel signatures
498:Optional Practical Training
473:Optional Practical Training
440:automatic visa revalidation
428:Optional Practical Training
368:Subsequent use of Form I-20
281:Issuance of first Form I-20
225:Optional Practical Training
153:Optional Practical Training
1174:
246:SEVP-certified institution
165:Event history (as a table)
18:
87:Current structure of I-20
1061:University of Washington
555:"What is the Form I-20?"
438:In the special case of
399:Social Security Number
307:University of Michigan
78:
1126:University of Chicago
1101:University of Chicago
1083:University of Chicago
1033:University of Chicago
912:University of Chicago
765:University of Chicago
303:University of Chicago
76:
66:which is issued by a
21:I-20 (disambiguation)
1005:"Travel & Visas"
985:on February 16, 2016
446:Changes to Form I-20
19:For other uses, see
979:"Travel Signatures"
650:Brandeis University
420:A valid F or M visa
557:. January 28, 2013
220:The student's name
79:
52:vocational schools
171:Travel signatures
1165:
1137:
1136:
1134:
1132:
1118:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1093:
1087:
1086:
1075:
1069:
1068:
1063:. Archived from
1053:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1039:
1025:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1001:
995:
994:
992:
990:
981:. Archived from
975:
969:
968:
957:
951:
950:
948:
946:
937:
929:
923:
922:
920:
918:
904:
898:
897:
895:
893:
884:
876:
870:
869:
867:
865:
855:
849:
848:
846:
844:
830:
824:
823:
821:
819:
814:
806:
800:
799:
797:
795:
790:
782:
776:
775:
773:
771:
757:
751:
750:
748:
746:
732:
723:
722:
720:
718:
704:
693:
692:
690:
688:
674:
668:
667:
665:
664:
658:
652:. Archived from
647:
639:
633:
632:
630:
622:
616:
615:
613:
611:
600:
594:
593:
591:
589:
578:
567:
566:
564:
562:
551:
1173:
1172:
1168:
1167:
1166:
1164:
1163:
1162:
1143:
1142:
1141:
1140:
1130:
1128:
1120:
1119:
1115:
1105:
1103:
1095:
1094:
1090:
1077:
1076:
1072:
1055:
1054:
1047:
1037:
1035:
1027:
1026:
1019:
1009:
1007:
1003:
1002:
998:
988:
986:
977:
976:
972:
967:. 30 July 2020.
959:
958:
954:
944:
942:
935:
931:
930:
926:
916:
914:
906:
905:
901:
891:
889:
882:
878:
877:
873:
863:
861:
857:
856:
852:
842:
840:
832:
831:
827:
817:
815:
812:
808:
807:
803:
793:
791:
788:
784:
783:
779:
769:
767:
759:
758:
754:
744:
742:
734:
733:
726:
716:
714:
706:
705:
696:
686:
684:
676:
675:
671:
662:
660:
656:
645:
641:
640:
636:
628:
624:
623:
619:
609:
607:
606:. June 18, 2015
602:
601:
597:
587:
585:
580:
579:
570:
560:
558:
553:
552:
545:
540:
513:
485:
475:, or getting a
457:
448:
411:
391:
375:
370:
326:
283:
278:
265:
248:
243:
184:
89:
84:
34:, specifically
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1171:
1169:
1161:
1160:
1155:
1145:
1144:
1139:
1138:
1113:
1088:
1070:
1067:on 2016-02-16.
1045:
1017:
996:
970:
952:
924:
899:
871:
850:
825:
801:
777:
752:
724:
694:
669:
634:
617:
595:
568:
542:
541:
539:
536:
535:
534:
529:
524:
519:
512:
509:
508:
507:
504:
494:
484:
481:
456:
453:
447:
444:
432:
431:
424:
421:
418:
410:
407:
390:
387:
374:
371:
369:
366:
361:
360:
353:
344:
333:
325:
322:
298:
297:
294:
282:
279:
277:
274:
264:
261:
247:
244:
242:
239:
235:
234:
231:
221:
214:
213:
210:
207:
204:
201:
198:
195:
183:
180:
173:
172:
169:
166:
163:
160:
145:
144:
141:
138:
135:
132:
129:
126:
123:
120:
110:
109:
106:
103:
100:
97:
88:
85:
83:
80:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1170:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1127:
1123:
1117:
1114:
1102:
1098:
1092:
1089:
1084:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1052:
1050:
1046:
1034:
1030:
1024:
1022:
1018:
1006:
1000:
997:
984:
980:
974:
971:
966:
962:
956:
953:
941:
934:
928:
925:
913:
909:
903:
900:
888:
881:
875:
872:
860:
854:
851:
839:
835:
829:
826:
811:
805:
802:
787:
781:
778:
766:
762:
756:
753:
741:
737:
731:
729:
725:
713:
709:
703:
701:
699:
695:
683:
679:
673:
670:
659:on 2015-09-12
655:
651:
644:
638:
635:
627:
621:
618:
605:
599:
596:
583:
577:
575:
573:
569:
556:
550:
548:
544:
537:
533:
530:
528:
525:
523:
520:
518:
515:
514:
510:
505:
503:
499:
495:
491:
490:
489:
483:Other changes
482:
480:
478:
474:
468:
465:
461:
454:
452:
445:
443:
441:
436:
429:
425:
422:
419:
416:
415:
414:
408:
406:
404:
400:
396:
388:
386:
384:
380:
372:
367:
365:
358:
354:
350:
345:
342:
338:
334:
331:
330:
329:
323:
321:
318:
314:
312:
308:
304:
295:
292:
291:
290:
286:
280:
275:
273:
269:
262:
260:
256:
254:
245:
240:
238:
232:
230:
226:
222:
219:
218:
217:
211:
208:
205:
202:
199:
196:
193:
192:
191:
188:
181:
179:
176:
170:
167:
164:
161:
158:
154:
150:
149:
148:
142:
139:
136:
133:
130:
127:
124:
121:
118:
117:
116:
113:
107:
104:
101:
98:
95:
94:
93:
86:
81:
75:
71:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
22:
1131:February 10,
1129:. Retrieved
1116:
1106:February 10,
1104:. Retrieved
1091:
1073:
1065:the original
1036:. Retrieved
1008:. Retrieved
999:
987:. Retrieved
983:the original
973:
955:
945:February 10,
943:. Retrieved
927:
917:February 10,
915:. Retrieved
902:
890:. Retrieved
874:
862:. Retrieved
853:
843:February 10,
841:. Retrieved
828:
816:. Retrieved
804:
792:. Retrieved
780:
768:. Retrieved
755:
745:February 10,
743:. Retrieved
715:. Retrieved
685:. Retrieved
672:
661:. Retrieved
654:the original
637:
620:
610:February 10,
608:. Retrieved
598:
586:. Retrieved
559:. Retrieved
486:
469:
466:
462:
458:
449:
437:
433:
412:
392:
382:
378:
376:
362:
327:
319:
315:
299:
287:
284:
270:
266:
257:
249:
241:Overall role
236:
215:
194:SEVIS number
189:
185:
177:
174:
146:
114:
111:
90:
48:universities
27:
25:
1038:February 9,
1010:February 9,
989:February 9,
892:February 1,
864:February 9,
818:February 9,
794:February 9,
770:February 9,
717:February 9,
687:February 9,
588:February 9,
561:February 9,
397:(ITIN) and
1147:Categories
663:2016-02-10
538:References
357:Form I-539
349:Form I-94
92:include:
82:Structure
26:The Form
532:M-1 visa
527:J-1 visa
522:F-1 visa
511:See also
44:colleges
38:and the
276:Process
137:Remarks
64:DS-2019
477:B visa
352:that).
341:M visa
337:F visa
50:, and
936:(PDF)
883:(PDF)
813:(PDF)
789:(PDF)
657:(PDF)
646:(PDF)
629:(PDF)
60:SEVIS
1133:2016
1108:2016
1040:2016
1012:2016
991:2016
947:2016
919:2016
894:2016
866:2016
845:2016
820:2016
796:2016
772:2016
747:2016
719:2016
689:2016
612:2016
590:2016
563:2016
383:only
305:and
227:and
28:I-20
379:not
339:or
155:or
36:ICE
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