I-20 Form for International Students

If you are thinking about studying in the USA, you must hear about the Form I-20.  I-20 is a “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status”. All the students having F and M to study in the USA need an I-20 form. Once you are accepted by SEVP, you will get an I-20 form by DSO. 

As an international student, terms like DSO, SEVP, and I-20 may be uncommon to you. If so, no need to be worried. This article will cover the I-20 form for international students and other important information regarding this. So, if you are planning to study abroad in the USA, hopefully, this article is going to help you a lot.

What is an I-20 form?

Form I-20 is a mandatory document for students who want to study in the USA. It is also known as the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status”. I-20 is an important form that you will need in your entire student life cycle in the USA. This form helps international students pay their I-901 SEVIS fee, apply for a student visa at the nearest US embassy or consulate, and travel to the US. Not only that, you must also obtain an I-20 form for the dependents you are planning to bring with you. If your age is under 18 your parents must sign the I-20 form for you.

What are DSO, SEVIS and SEVP?

Previously we’ve discussed I-20 but now you may think about what the other things are like SEVP, SEVIS and DSO. And what is the connection between them with an I-20 form? Alright. Here we go.

• SEVP: 

Its full form is the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. SEVP is a part of a National security investigation division. It can be considered as a bridge between a government organization and non-immigrant students who want to visit the USA for study purposes.

• SEVIS:

The elaboration of SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is a web-based system used by the US Home Loan Security Department to track or monitor information on the students who come to the USA with F1 and M1 student visas. You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before entering the USA and this fee is valid for 12 months from the date of payment.

• DSO

DSO stands for Designated School Officials that serve as a connection between international students, institutions and the US government. It is your biggest resource as an F and M student. DSOs can answer your queries and guide you through the process of studying in the USA.

I-20 form on the type of visa

Previously we’ve discussed the I-20 form to study in the USA and the other basic things to get a form. Now we should discuss which type of visa I-20 is required for. So, here it is-

• F1 student visa- Academic and Language Students
• M1 student visa- Vocational students

The I-20 form is issued only to international students having F1 and M1 student visas. Though the forms for these two types of visas are different, they contain the same information. We will discuss it later.

Mandatory information on an I-20 form

The I-20 form is mandatory for international students to study in the USA. This form must contain the following information. Such as-

• SEVIS ID number.
• Course starting and Ending date.
• Program for studying in the US
• Source of Funding
• Attendance cost of your preferred institution.
• Other personal information.

Requirements of an I-20 form

If you want to study in the USA you must need to have an I-20 form. But the form also has some requirements and you’ll not get a form without that. So the requirements are-

• Get Accepted: You must be accepted by a college or university that is SEVP-certified (Student and Exchange Visitor Program). This means the school is approved to issue the I-20 form.

• Verify Your Information: The school must check that your personal details are correct and that you have enough money to cover your expenses while studying in the US.

What is the I-901 SEVIS fee and why do you have to pay it?

The I-901 SEVIS fee is a mandatory requirement to study in the USA. After getting accepted by a SEVP-certified university, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee as soon as possible. This fee is valid for 12 months and you must receive an I-20 form from DSO  before paying it. To make the payment, you must have your I-20 form.

You need to pay the SEVIS fee if you are:

• An F-1 or M-1 student from a country that requires a visa to enter the US
• An F-1 or M-1 student from a visa-waiver country (before you get to the US)
• A non-immigrant in the US wanting to switch to F-1 or M-1 status (before applying for this change)
• An F-1 or M-1 student who has been out of status for more than five months
• An F-1 or M-1 student who has been away from the US for more than five months and wants to return to continue studying in the same program

Documents Required to Pay the SEVIS Fee

To pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, you need to provide:

• Your name, address, date of birth, and email address
• Your country of birth and citizenship
• The School Code from your I-20 form
• The SEVIS Identification Number from your I-20 form

Who is Eligible for an I-20 Form?

The I-20 form is an important document that proves you are eligible for an F-1 or M-1 student visa in the US. You must keep this form with you during your studies in the US.

You need an I-20 form if you are an international student who is:

• A non-immigrant who has never studied at a US school or university
• A non-immigrant planning to transfer from a US secondary school, college, or university
• A non-immigrant changing your current visa status to an F-1 visa
• A non-immigrant returning to the US after being away for more than five months

How do you get an I-20 form?

If you are applying for an F1 and M1 student visa to study in the USA, you first need to obtain an I-20. Once you are accepted by a SEVP-certified university you will receive an I-20 from DSO. After getting the form you will be registered in SEVIS and must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. The start date of your program is listed in an I-20 form and you can travel to the US 30 days before your program. Your F1 and M1 visas can be issued 120 days before your program. 

Is it possible to get a new I-20 form?

Yes, you can request for a new form I-20 to your DSO only for the following circumstances. Such as-

• If the hard copy of the I-20 form is destroyed, stolen or lost.
• If your SEVIS status changes from initial to active
• If your personal information changes like a new program of study, optional or practical training etc. 

Do you need the I-20 form for travel?

No, you don’t need form I-2o for travel to the USA. You are required to have this form if you are re-entering the US with an F1 and M1 student visa. For example: If you are a student and want to travel outside of the US and will return to the university after travelling make sure you have your I-20 form with you.

Final Words

The USA is the most chosen study destination for international students. Getting a US visa is not so easy. So, if you are planning to study in the USA for the upcoming intake, you can always contact AIMS Education, the best education consultancy firm to study in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. 

FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions