Obtaining an I-20

All F-1 students that study in the United States need a Form I-20 "Certificate of Nonimmigrant Student Status". This form shows the U.S. government that you are considered eligible to apply for a F-1 Student visa based on your documented funds and academic record. Once you have been admitted to University of Dallas, and you have provided all of the required I-20 documents, your Immigration Advisor will issue your I-20. 

To be Eligible for an I-20, you must:

1. Be admitted to a full-time program of study
2. Be able to provide proof of financial resources to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses for your first year of study. You must demonstrate this to University of Dallas in order to obtain your I-20. You will also provide the same information to the U.S. Consulate/Embassy or to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when applying for your F-1 visa.

How to get your University of Dallas I-20:

• If you indicated on your admissions application that you plan to study at University of Dallas as an F-1 visa holder, you will recieve and email entitled "Next Steps for International Students". Please follow the instructions carefully. You will email the following documents to bcollins@udallas.edu
  
  
  • Copy of passport bio page (passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future)
  • Completed Confirmation of Financial Resources Form
  • Evidence of financial support (e.g. bank statements, scholarship confirmation letters, approved student loan confirmation)
  • If you're currently living in the U.S., a copy of your most recent I-94 
  • If you're currently an F-1 student living in the U.S. transferring to UD from a different schoool, the SEVIS Release Form.

I-20 Document Deadlines:

• Students admitted for the spring term must submit their required I-20 documents by November 1st.
• Students admitted for the summer term must submit their required I-20 documents by March 1st.
• Students admitted for the fall term must submit their required I-20 documents by June 1st.

You will need an I-20 to:

• apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or consulate
• enter the U.S. at anytime as an F-1 visa holder
• apply for a change of status from another non-immigrant visa type
• show evidence of your proof of immigrant status after you have arrived in the U.S. 

After your I-20 documents have been submitted:

• It will take approximately 1 week to prepare your I-20 once you have been accepted and have submitted all of the required documents.  
• Once your I-20 is ready, you will receive an electronic notification via email.

• Your email message will also contain the information you need to pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee to USCIS . This fee must be paid at least three days before your F-1 visa appointment.  When paying the fee online, please be sure to print a receipt. You will take the receipt with you to your visa appointment. You cannot pay the SEVIS fee until your I-20 has been issued to you.
  
  
• You will need to make a visa appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission.  Consult the U.S. Department of State for valuable information on what you will need for your visa appointment.  Among other things, remember to take your I-20, letter of acceptance, SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, and financial documentation with you.