Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status)
The Form I-20 is the document an SEVP-certified U.S. school gives an admitted international student so they can apply for an F-1 student visa. It is issued by the school's Designated School Official (DSO) — never by an agent or a government office — and you need it to pay the SEVIS fee, apply for the visa and enter the United States.
Who issues / uses itIssued by the Designated School Official (DSO) of an SEVP-certified school after the school admits the student and receives proof of funding. Used by the student, the U.S. embassy or consulate, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
When in the processAfter admission and after the family sends the school its financial documents — before the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 and the visa interview.
CostThe school does not charge a government fee for the I-20 itself. The SEVIS I-901 fee and the visa application fee are separate.
Last checked2026-10-10
Steps
- Accept the school's offer and send the deposit and enrollment documents the school asks for.
- Send proof of funding (for example a bank letter and a sponsor's support statement) for at least the amount the school lists for one year.
- The DSO creates your record in SEVIS and issues the I-20 with your SEVIS ID (it starts with N).
- Check every detail (name as in passport, date of birth, program dates, costs). Ask the DSO to correct any error.
- Sign the I-20. If the student is under 18, a parent also signs.
- Use the SEVIS ID to pay the I-901 fee, then complete the DS-160 and book the visa interview.
- Carry the signed original I-20 in your hand luggage when you travel; the CBP officer will ask for it.
What the I-20 is
The Form I-20 shows that an SEVP-certified school has admitted you as a full-time F-1 student and that you showed enough money for your studies and living costs. It carries your SEVIS ID, the school's details, the program start and end dates and the estimated yearly costs.
What you use it for
- SEVIS I-901 fee — you need the SEVIS ID on the I-20 to pay it.
- F-1 visa — the visa type must match the I-20, and you bring the original to the interview.
- Entry to the U.S. — you show it to the CBP officer at the airport. You may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date.
- Later — schools, the DMV and the Social Security office may ask to see it.
F-1 visas can be issued up to 365 days before the program start date on the I-20.
Boarding-school notes
- Each school decides when it issues the I-20 and what financial documents it accepts. Ask the admissions office early.
- Only schools on the SEVP certified-school list can issue an I-20. You can check a school's status on its USAnaru™ page or with Study in the States.
- Public high schools are different: F-1 study there is limited to 12 months in total and must be paid for (see the related rule).
- If anything on the I-20 changes (for example a new school or new dates), the DSO issues an updated form.
Common mistakes
- Name spelled differently from the passport.
- Forgetting the student's (and, for minors, the parent's) signature.
- Packing the I-20 in checked luggage.
- Trying to arrive more than 30 days before the program start date on the I-20.
- Treating an I-20 from a school that is not SEVP-certified as valid — only certified schools can issue one.
Questions
Can an education agent issue or 'fix' my I-20?
No. Only the DSO of the SEVP-certified school can issue or update an I-20. An agent can help you collect documents, but the form itself comes from the school.
How early can I travel with my I-20?
Study in the States says you may arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20. Arriving earlier on an F-1 visa is not allowed.
Do parents sign the I-20?
Yes, if the student is under 18 a parent must also sign, together with the student and the DSO.
Official sources
- Students and the Form I-20 — U.S. DHS, Study in the States · checked 2026-10-10
- 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1) — Admission of F-1 students — eCFR (U.S. Government Publishing Office / Office of the Federal Register) · checked 2026-10-10
Information, not legal advice. We summarize public U.S. government sources in our own words; rules and fees change. Confirm with the school’s DSO (F-1), your sponsor’s Responsible Officer (J-1) or the U.S. embassy or consulate before you act.
Cite as: USAnaru™ — https://usanaru.com/documents/form-i-20