# Form I-20

URL: https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/immigration-forms/form-i-20
Category: Travel and Immigration Forms
Attributes: Monthly top‑searched, Trusted by students

Form I-20 is an official document issued by U.S. schools that international students need to fill out to apply for an F-1 or M-1 visa.

The form can only be obtained from your designated school officer (DSO) once you’re accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. However, our printable Form I-20 sample can show you what to expect.

## Versions

- 1988 — [download PDF](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/i16te7yp/production/333b87e61f2bc521e1224b6af52e511c008233f1.pdf)

## How to Fill Out Form I-20

1. Obtain Form I-20 from your DSO.
2. Review the information and read the Form I-20 instructions on the last page.
3. Complete the student attestation section and sign the form.
4. Apply for a visa and bring the form with you when travelling to the U.S.

## Facts

### What Is Form I-20 Used For?

Form I-20, or the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, is used to apply for an M-1 or F-1 visa. International students must prove that they have been admitted to a full-time program at a SEVP-certified school, and this document demonstrates that they have the right to be in the U.S.

### Who Should Use Form I-20?

All international students accepted into an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) should use Form I-20. They should always keep this document on hand, as losing it may result in complications with proving their student status.

### When Is Form I-20 Due?

There is no specific due date for Form I-20, but you need to have it on time to pay your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee, apply for a visa, and enter the country. Without it, none of this is possible.

### What Happens If Form I-20 Is Not Submitted?

If your school doesn’t issue you a Form I-20, you can’t obtain the student visa you need for your stay during the studies. In other words, you can’t enter the country and attend the program. However, if you’ve lost or destroyed Form I-20 while in the U.S. and have not received a replacement, you may face immigration complications or loss of status.

### How and Where Do I File Form I-20?

You don’t file Form I-20; instead, your DSO issues it to you upon request, after you get accepted by a SEVP-certified school and provide proof of sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses. Once you have the form, keep it with you at all times.

## Related forms

- [Form I-983](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/education-forms/form-i-983)
- [Form I-765](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/immigration-forms/I-765-form)
- [Form I-485](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/immigration-forms/form-i-485)
- [Form AR-11](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/immigration-forms/ar-11-form)
- [Passport Renewal Form](https://pdf.net/pdf-forms/immigration-forms/passport-renewal-form)