Form I-20 FAQs

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 - 06:10

Documents required for F-1 OPT holders to travel to the United States of America during pandemic

Question

I am on my OPT period (June 1st, 2021 - May 31st, 2022) and am working for a company in the USA. I plan to travel to India for my sister's wedding from December 18th, 2021, to December 28th, 2021. The following are my questions for travel in these COVID situations:

1. I wanted to know the details for entering the USA. What documents should I have while entering the USA?

2. Does the USA allow OPT holders to enter?

Answer

A1: You will need to contact your DSO for endorsement on your I-20 to travel, evidence that you have been working (like pay stubs), and a letter from your employer confirming that you will be returning to your ongoing employment.

A2: Yes.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 07:09

Students aging out of H-4

Question

1. My son is currently a student studying engineering at a 4 year public college in Illinois. I am working in the US on H1B, and my son is on H4. The issue is that he turns 21 next year before he would finish his final year in college, and since would age out of the H4 So what are the options he has left to continue his study Can he change to F1?<br>

2. What are the caveats to this? Can he do the adjustment of status in the US, or does he need to travel out of the country? I've heard that F1 visa processing takes a long time to process, and there is no determinate time - he has about 14 months for him to become 21 years as of now. When inquired the college said they are not processing the I-20s for Fall 2021 now, only for Spring 2021, and have asked him to wait, what are the consequences of this ?

Answer

Watch the Video on this FAQ: Students aging out of H-4

Video Transcript

1. He can change to F-1

2. You are likely to get the H-4 to F-1 conversion and he should be able to do it within the United States. You can check with them about I-20s. File as early as you can and that's the best you can do. He might be able to travel to Canada or Mexico to get his F-1 visa stamp in done. FAQ in detail...


Note: This is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 01:27

Handling of the Forms I-20 and DS-2019 by USCIS ELIS

Question

How does USCIS ELIS handle the Forms I-20 and DS-2019?

Answer

USCIS will accept a photocopy or scanned electronic version of a valid Form I-20 or DS-2019. If USCIS needs to review the original document, USCIS will ask you to provide the original document. USCIS will adjudicate the request electronically. Although the student will receive the approval notice (Form I-797) through the mail, the scanned copy of the Form I-20 will not be stamped and returned. As of Aug. 10, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer provides admission stamps on Forms I-20 and DS-2019 for prospective and returning international students and scholars (traveling with F, M, and J visas) seeking admission to the United States. This change makes CBP processes consistent with USCIS’s recent change to stop stamping the Form I-20.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 01:25

Endorsed Form I-20

Question

What is an endorsed Form I-20?

Answer

The Form I-20 is endorsed when it is signed by a DSO, which allows the student to travel internationally or apply for employment authorization.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 01:24

Form I-20 and Applying for State or Federal Benefits

Question

How will an unstamped Form I-20 affect applying for state or federal benefits?

Answer

An unstamped Form I-20 should have no negative impact on applications for state or federal benefits, including driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards. USCIS is actively communicating with Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) to ensure their understanding that a Form I-20 does not require a stamp to be valid. International students and scholars who encounter issues with their state or federal benefit applications should contact the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at (703) 603-3400 orSEVP@dhs.gov.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 01:17

Form I-20 valid without a stamp

Question

Is a Form I-20 valid without a stamp?

Answer

Yes. A stamp is not required on the Form I-20. Some state and federal agencies require foreign students to present a Form I-20 to identify the end date for the student’s program. However, a stamp is not required for this purpose.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 01:16

SEVIS Form I-20

Question

What is the SEVIS Form I-20?

Answer

Foreign exchange students will receive a Form I-20 from the DSO of the educational institution that accepted the student to study in the United States. That student must have a Form I-20 to apply for a visa, to enter the United States, and to apply for benefits.

Friday, February 1, 2013 - 11:48

I-20 Terminated

Question

1.I am in India and my I-20 has been terminated. What should I do to reenter in the United States?

2.Can I reenter the United States with an I-20 issued by a private university for a full time course and not by public university?

Answer

1. You will have to look for another school/visa.
2. As long as the school is authorized to issue I-20, you can apply for an F-1 visa. But make sure the school is not running into problems like Tri-Valley University did.