I 20 Form Guide for Indian Students

International students wishing to study at a university in the United States will require an I-20 form in order to obtain a student visa. It is a critical document, and students must be aware of all specifics concerning the issuance, prerequisites, further documentation, and all other pertinent information. The Designated School Official, or DSO, issues the I-20 Form to international students.

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What is I-20?

The I-20 Form serves as a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. After you have been admitted into a SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)-certified school and paid your I-901 SEVIS fee, an official representative from your school will provide you with the appropriate I-20 Form dependent on whether the school you attend is in F-1 or M-1 status.

After you've paid the money, each school that accepts you will send you an I-20 Form. Only fill out the I-20 Form from the school you intend to attend.

What is the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which is part of the National Security Investigations Division, serves as a link between federal agencies seeking information on non-immigrants coming to the United States to attend school.

SEVP ensures that government agencies have essential information about nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in order to maintain national security. SEVP approved and monitors schools permitted to enroll F and M nonimmigrant students, as well as advises both schools and students on the requirements for retaining their status.

Types of the I-20 Form

There are two types of I-20 Form issued by the universities to international students. The I-20 Form type is determined by the type of visa that will be provided to the student.

• The first type of I-20 Form is issued to students who have been admitted to Academic and Language programs. It is an F1 visa, which is a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant students in the above-mentioned courses.
• The second type of I-20 Form is issued to students who have been admitted to vocational courses. It is an M1 visa, which is a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant students in the above-mentioned courses.

Structure of the I-20 Form

Page 1 contains:

• The SEVIS ID
• The student’s biographical information like name, countries of birth and citizenship, date of birth.
• Class of admissions (F-1 or M-1, F-2 or M-2)
• School Information (school name, address, etc.)
• Information about the program – program name, length of program, time period of the program
• Financial information for the first-year students about their funding sources, funding costs
• School attestation, signed and dated by the DSO
• Student attestation, signed and dated by the student

Page 2 contains:

• Employment authorization
• Information on change of status
• Event history (in form of a table)
• Other authorizations
• Travel signatures

Page 3 (Instruction page):

There is a certain amount to pay called the SEVIS fee after receiving the I-20 form from the university. It is mandatory to pay this fee to enter the United States. In order to register the SEVIS number into the database, students need to pay this fee to the USCIS (U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services)

Where to Get an I-20 Form from?

The I-20 form is issued by the university to which you have been admitted. Typically, the form I-20 is provided with or shortly after your admission letter. There is a provision on the form that states that if you want to change any information or make any changes to the form, you must notify the Designated School Official.

To obtain the I-20 Form from the university's DSO, check that the following requirements are fulfilled:

• Bank certifications
• Sponsor certification
• Information about sources of funding
• Loan sanction letters (Optional)
• Bank statement
• Scholarship letters

I-20 Form Uses

It is one of the most important documents to keep safe because it is essential throughout your foreign student experience. It can be used for the following purposes:

• You should pay the I-1901 SEVIS charge after receiving the I-20 form. This fee must be paid before entering the United States. The information from the I-20 form is necessary to complete the payment process.
• When applying for a visa, the visa officer may request an original copy of the I-20 form because it is required for the visa application procedure.
• When you arrive in the United States, you may be required to show your I-20 form by a customs and border protection officer. You may enter the nation up to 30 days before the start of your course.
• The I-20 form is critical for gaining the benefits of being an international student. This form is also used to obtain employment, a driver's licence, or a social security number.

Circumstances Under Which Changes Can Be Made in I-20

If a student applies to multiple universities and is accepted to the majority of them. In that instance, the student will be granted time to choose a university. With just one I-20 form, you can apply for a visa.

If you need to make modifications or update the I-20 form, you can do so under the following conditions:

• Any change in personal information.
• Any change in program/university you are studying.
• Any visa status update.
• Any change in program start or end date.
• Practical Training (OPT and CPT).

What Are the Documents Required for an I-20 Visa?

To procure the i20 form, you need to produce your passport copy and i20 financial documents. Here is a comprehensive list of the documents required for i20 Visa

• Bank Statement.
• Business sponsors.
• Proof that you intend to return back to your country.
• Original Evidence of financial resources.
• Proof of one’s relationship to the sponsor.
• Copy of your international passport.

How Long Will It Take to Get I-20?

After submission of the financial documents, it generally takes 1 to 2 weeks for an I-20 to be processed and received by the applicant. When sending the admission letter and I-20 abroad, you will be notified of your tracking number directly from the email and the information and SEVIS number will be mentioned in the email itself.

What To Do After Receiving Your I-20?

After getting the I-20 form, students can make an appointment with the US embassy in India to apply for an F-1 visa. They must apply 120 days before the I-20's expiration date.

Following steps need to be followed after receiving your I-20:

• Fill DS160 form
• Scheduling your US Visa appointment
• Fees Payment (SEVIS)

The I-20 Form is a critical document, and students must take all precautions to carefully fill out the university application form, as any error will delay the entire admission process or possibly prevent students from being admitted to the university. As a result, before filling out the university application form, one should consult the sample I-20 Form.