I-20

• You should keep all I-20s you are issued even if you have been issued a new I-20.
• Your travel signature is located on Page 2 of your I-20 and must be resigned when expired by ISS staff.
• You should never loan your I-20s to others or give out the information on your I-20 to anyone other than ISS staff or verified officials of the US Government.

This is a unique number assigned exclusively to you. Your SEVIS ID will stay the same for the entire time that you’re in F-1 or F-2 status in the U.S. If you’re a new student, coming to the U.S. in F-1 or F-2 status for the first time you will need your SEVIS ID to pay your SEVIS fee and apply for your F-1 or F-2 visa stamp. As a continuing student, we will occasionally ask for your SEVIS ID number to verify information. No one other than your school or U.S. government agencies should ask for your SEVIS ID number. You can memorize it, but it’s not required.

F-1: This shows that you should be admitted or are in the U.S as an F-1 student.

F-2: This shows that you the dependent family member of a person in F-1 status. Your I-20 will look a little different than an F-1 I-20, as it contains not only your information but your family member’s F-1 information, too!

Also called “family name” or “last name”

We are required to use the name standardization of the machine readable line of your passport when creating an I-20 in the SEVIS immigration system. You should enter your name as it appears here for all official and U.S. government processes (SEVIS fee payment, visa application, driver’s license application, Social Security, U.S. bank accounts etc)

If you have questions about the way your name appears or have changed your name on your passport, please contact our office.

Also called “first name”

We are required to use the name standardization of the machine readable line of your passport when creating an I-20 in the SEVIS immigration system. You should enter your name as it appears here for all official and U.S. government processes (SEVIS fee payment, visa application, driver’s license application, Social Security, U.S. bank accounts etc)

If you have questions about the way your name appears or have changed your name on your passport, please contact our office.

This field is used for students that have a legally recognized name order that is different than the name order on the machine readable line of their passport.

This can only be updated in certain circumstances.

If you have questions about the way your name appears or have changed your name on your passport, please contact our office.

This field is used for students that have a legally recognized name order that is different than the name order on the machine readable line of their passport.

This can only be updated in certain circumstances.

If you have questions about the way your name appears or have changed your name on your passport, please contact our office.

This is based on your passport or self-reporting.

This is based on the passport you provided at the time of your first SCU I-20 request.

This should match the date of birth on your passport. The standard date format in the U.S. is MM/DD/YYYY.

For new students, coming to the U.S. in F-1 status for the first time, this should be blank.

For continuing students being issued new I-20s, this is very frequently blank. This occasionally is automatically populated based on your I-94 entry information.

If your I-20 shows an admission number, you do not need an updated I-20 if the admission number changes.

Initial

Change of Status

Transfer In

Continued Studies

Updated

This is blank for most current students and would only be included for students who were issued their current F-1 SEVIS immigration record prior to 2015.

This section includes general information about our school, including our School Code and the name of the advisor who created the I-20.

This section includes general information about your program of study, including the level of your degree and when classes start.

The information that is printed under "major" on the I-20 is known as a "CIP code". The Classification of Instructional Programs ("CIP code") is a U.S. government designation used to classify and describe a wide variety of degrees and majors across U.S. universities. The appropriate CIP code for your major was assigned by our university based on the content of your classes. The CIP code is not exactly the same as your "major" or degree, but it is directly related.

For example, all MSIS students have the same CIP code on their I-20: "11.0103, Information Technology"; when you finish your degree your diploma will say "Master of Science in Information Systems".

All CSE students have the same CIP code on their I-20: "14.0901, Computer Engineering, General"; when you finish your degree your diploma will say "Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering".

New students or continuing students entering the U.S. in F-1 status for the first time are eligible to enter the U.S. up to 30 days before their program start date (the program start date is either the start date of classes or ISW, whichever is earliest). We strongly recommend that students arrive early to allow themselves time to adjust before classes begin.

Our university's best practice is to issue the I-20 with a program length that is 1 year longer than the minimum length of study for the academic program. For example, if you are enrolled in a program that requires a minimum of 12 quarters of full time enrollment to complete the minimum number of units for your degree, we would issue your I-20 for 5 years, rather than 5 years. We do this to ensure that international students have sufficient time to meet their academic goals while also making normal progress within their degree program. If you complete your academic program in less time than is listed on your I-20, we will shorten the program end date on your immigration record when you complete your degree.

If your program end date is nearing and you need additional time to complete your degree you will need to request a program extension as soon as possible, no later than DATE.

After you program end date you have 60 days to

This shows the minimum estimated expenses for one full academic year. These are published and managed by SCU Financial Aid and cannot be modified or edited.

This figure is based on the funding documents you provided to our office at the time of your initial I-20 request. It generally does not change while you’re a student at SCU.

Occasionally we will round or even numbers for consistency or clarity (for example, if a student showed 76593 in funding, we might just list 76000 or if a student showed substantially more funding that is required, we might list a lower number).

For new students coming to the U.S. in F-1 status for the first time or applying for a change of status, this should list your mandatory ISW date.

For continuing students being issued new I-20s, this is frequently blank. This occasionally is populated with notes (such as in the case of student studying abroad or updating CPT employment after authorization).

If your I-20 shows a remark, you do not need an updated I-20 if the note is no longer relevant.

This section should be signed by an ISS team member in blue ink.

Each time you get a new I-20 you should sign and date the I-20 in blue ink immediately.

This section should not be completed for most students. This should only be completed by a parent or guardian if you are less than 18 years old.

For new students coming to the U.S. in F-1 status for the first time or applying for a change of status, this should be blank. You are not authorized to work off campus!  

For continuing students being issued I-20s for CPT, OPT, STEM OPT and Cap Gap, this section should include information about your employment authorization and may include information about your employer.

CPT: Your I-20 is the document that proves you’re allowed to work, and therefore, must show your current employer name. If your I-20 shows CPT employment, you do not need an updated I-20 after the employment authorization ends.

OPT / STEM OPT / Cap Gap: Your EAD card is the document that proves you’re allowed to work and therefore, your I-20 is not required to show your current employer. If your I-20 shows OPT / STEM OPT / Cap Gap employment, you do not need an updated I-20 after the employment or immigration authorization ends.

This section should be blank for all students that are not currently relying on Cap Gap benefit for work authorization. See scu.edu/lifeafterf1 for more information.

This section is blank unless you have been authorized to take a Reduced Course Load.

If your I-20 shows Reduced Course Load authorization, you do not need an updated I-20 after the authorization ends.

Each term the ISS team is required to confirm that all current F-1 students are enrolled in a full course load of classes. This process is called “registration”. This section of the I-20 shows the most recent registration event that the ISS team has recorded in your SEVIS record.

Often called a “travel signature” this section should be completed by an ISS advisor at the time your I-20 is created.

Signatures are valid for 1 year for current students and 6 months for alumni on OPT / STEM OPT.

You will need a valid signature to get into the U.S. after travel abroad.

“The fine print”. Legal information and agreements (this is what you’re agreeing to when you sign page 1).