F-1: I-20 Application - International Students and Scholars Office (2023)

FAQs

How early can a DSO issue an I-20? ›

The Form I-20 lists a student's program start date. F-1 and M-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the student's course of study start date. Students are expected to have the original Form I-20 at their visa interview.

The date is usually on or around your last day of classes of your current term. After receipt of all required documents, it takes about 2–3 weeks for your I-20 to be processed.

A full course of study is as follows: Fall and Spring semester: F-1 visa students are required to enroll in and complete a minimum of twelve (12) units in the fall and spring semester.

You may print the Form I-20 after you have electronically submitted the Form I-20 and after you have made updates to the Form I-20. Note: Printing a copy of the Form I-20 requires that Adobe Reader Version 5.0 or later be installed on your computer.

At least three days prior to your visa interview, you will be required to pay the Visa fees of $ 200 that covers the cost of IT system utilized for recording your stay in the USA, (SEVIS). You can pay this from internationally valid credit card, by going to www.fmjfee.com .

While there are no rules requiring a minimum bank balance to apply for a student visa for the USA from India, it costs approximately $500 USD to obtain your F-1 student visa. The cost is broken down into two fees: the I-901 SEVIS fee ($350) and the DS-160 form fees ($160).

An F1 visa allows international students to study full time at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved university in the United States. F1 visa costs are around $510 per application, and you should apply at least three months before your course start date.

Processing with USCIS can take 6 – 8 months plus mailing time or longer depending on USCIS processing times. While the application is pending you may not leave the United States.

The Form I-20 lists your program start date, 30 days before which you are allowed to enter the United States. F-1 and M-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date.

How Long Can F1 visa students stay in the US after their program ends? ›

Transcript. International students studying in the United States often wonder if they can stay in the country after they graduate on an F1 visa. International students are allowed to stay 60 days after graduation or after the program end date to wrap up their affairs, do some tourism, whatever.

If you are applying for an F-1 student visa or a M-1 student visa, you first need to obtain the I-20 form, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, to travel to the US.

As of June 28, 2021, the Office of International Education (OIE) discontinued the issuance of paper I-20 forms to students and instead issues digitally-signed electronic I-20 forms. OIE advisors digitally sign the electronic I-20 form and provide the PDF file directly to students in a protected sharing format.

The first step is to apply to a SEVP-approved school in the United States. After the SEVP-approved school accepts your enrollment, you will be registered for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. The SEVP-approved school will issue you a Form I-20.

It is important to understand that while the Visa Interview is an integral part of your US Student Visa Application, it is by no means the lengthiest. In fact, on average, the US Visa Interview would last about 3 to 4 minutes (sometimes even lesser).

If a student completes the program of study prior to the completion date, the I-20 will automatically expire on the date the student completes. A student has an automatic grace period of 60 days upon the completion of studies.

Students holding F-1 and J-1 status who are employed in the U.S. must apply for a Social Security number. Dependents in F-2 status are not eligible for a Social Security number.

There is no set amount for the US visa, and therefore, this amount could vary depending on the university you are attending. But as a general rule, students should show 1.5 times the amount mentioned in their I-20. For example, the amount mentioned in your I-20 is $25,000 for the first year.

There is no fixed minimum bank balance for US student visa, but one should have 10,000 USD and above to get F-1 visa. Suggested: How Much Funds to Show for an F-1 Student Visa?

What is proof of finances for F-1 visa? ›

The United States government requires all international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before the forms needed for obtaining a visa can be issued. This proof can come in the form of personal or family bank letters, bank statements, stock statements, company sponsorships, etc.

The education loan provider will give you proof of funds once your loan is approved. So, your loan approval letter or the disbursement letter from your student loan provider will act as proof of funds to secure a student visa.

For students willing to study in the US, parents and relatives can very well be accommodated as sponsors. Applicants can also look for education loans to sponsor their study in the US. In some cases employers can also sponsor F-1 visa provided they are ready to employ applicants post their study abroad.

You may enter in the F-1 or M-1 visa category provided you meet the following criteria: You must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program. Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement.

There is no maximum limit, however, any amount exceeding $10,000 USD must be declared upon arrival on both the Form 6059B and FinCEN 105. All forms must be filled in completely and truthfully.

Once you complete your program of study and any authorized period of practical training, F students have 60 days after completion of your program (the program end date on your Form I-20) to leave the United States.

Therefore, it is very crucial for you to cross this stage to make your abroad dreams a reality. Clearing a visa interview is not difficult; however, if you didn't perform well, then you might have to face rejection, even if you have an excellent academic record.

Pre-Application Checklist

Your I-20 is required when applying for an F-1 student visa at an American embassy or consulate and for entry into the United States. This I-20 has been produced by Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and is an acknowledgement that your record is in the SEVIS system.

“The financial documents need to cover at least one year of expenses — including tuition, insurance, dining, living, books, and miscellaneous.” Lack of proof of sufficient finances is one of the top F-1 visa rejection reasons. You must also be able to show you have access to funds for your entire program.

What to do after getting I-20 form? ›

F-1 Student 5-Month Rule – Reentry after absence of more than 5 months. If an F-1 student is out of the United States for more than five consecutive months (and not on study/research abroad), their SEVIS Record must be terminated.

Automatic visa revalidation allows most F-1 students to take a trip of less than 30 days to countries contiguous to the United States and reenter on an expired visa provided you have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit.

I asked many experienced foreign ministry officers, they said there are 99.99% chances of visa rejection in second attempt with the same school, profile and semester. I had already invested 1.5lakhs in admission process and was not ready to waste it for not giving a last try. Still there is 00.01% chance of success.

You need to request a physical copy of your I20 to be shipped every semester.

You will need to fill in a Form I-901 with information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and pay the required fee. For most people, the I-901 SEVIS fee is $350. See the Fee Amount Chart for more detailed fee information.

Students receive a Form I-20 from their Designated School Official (DSO). The appropriate I-20 Form is issued based on the school you are going to attend is in F-1 or M-1 status. Every school that accepts you will send an I-20 form once you pay the fee.

Yes, the electronic copy of the signed I-20 WILL be accepted for visa appointments, you can print the signed I-20 copy out to carry with you to your visa appointment. You can also use it to enter the US.

Print the I-20

After receiving your digitally signed I-20, you will need to print a hard copy to apply for your F1 visa and travel with it in hand when you enter the U.S. Presenting your electronic I-20 on your phone, tablet or laptop will not be acceptable for any official purpose.

How long does it take to generate I-20? ›

The I-20 processing time for schools in general can be anywhere between 5-7 business days.

The $350 fee can be paid through the mail. Submit a completed Form I-901 and a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. currency. The fee can also be paid through a sponsor.

May apply up to 90 days before you complete a full academic year, as long as you do not start OPT employment until you complete one full academic year.

The student's personal information is available for editing by the designated school official (DSO), when the student is in an Initial or Active status. DSOs are required to update this information in SEVIS within 21 days of the change.

SEVIS records are government property. A DSO may not refuse to transfer records for a student accepted by another SEVP-certified school for any reason; including financial or business reasons. Please note the SEVIS transfer process is a transfer of SEVIS records only.

While on 12-month post-completion OPT, you must report the start and end of your employment to SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) within 10 days of occurrence.

They will need to issue you a new Form I-20. Your Post OPT status will terminate on the effective date of your new Student Visa Document (i.e. start date as listed on Page 1 of the Form I20), or on the Release Date from our school to your new institution, whichever comes first.

How long does it take to get authorization for OPT and when should I apply? Authorization for OPT is granted by USCIS and processing takes an average of 3-5 months. Therefore, it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to start working.

If International Students work over 20 hours per week, they violate the regulations of their legal status which results in their loss of the right to work in the United States.

You may check your current SEVIS status by talking to your designated school official or responsible officer. For questions, send a detailed e-mail to fmjfee.SEVIS@ice.dhs.gov.

What are the reasons for SEVIS termination? ›

Reasons for the termination of a SEVIS Record include:

Expulsion and suspension. Failure to enroll in classes. Enrollment in too many online classes. Failure to report OPT employment (automatic action by SEVIS, the database that produces your I-20)

The Form I-20 lists your program start date, 30 days before which you are allowed to enter the United States. F-1 and M-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date. Your type of student visa must match the type of Form I-20 you have (e.g., F-1 or M-1).

If you want to apply for an F1 visa again then a new application must be created, the visa fee must be paid again, and another interview needs to be scheduled.

The SEVIS fee will not be refunded but if you apply again for an F-1 visa within 12 months of a visa denial you will not have to pay the fee again.

Students are recommended to pay this fee before they start filling their Visa Application Form (DS 160) as the receipts of the payments are sent by post and might take up to 15 days to arrive. Also, the receipt, in original, would be required when you submit the documents.

EMAIL TEXT

The Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) will close your SEVP Portal account on <date of closure>. You have 15 days after the end date of your OPT authorization to make any updates. On <date 16 days after the OPT authorization end date> the account will change to read only.

OPT Card: No. The employee cannot work while waiting for the OPT card. STEM OPT Card: Yes.

The SEVP Portal is an important tool that lets F-1 students on post-completion optional practical training (OPT) and M-1 students participating in practical training meet their legal reporting requirements. Use the resources below to learn how to get started with the SEVP Portal and maintain information in the portal.