Obtaining an I-20
New and current International Students may need to obtain an I-20
in order to enter the United States or to maintain their status,
or for a variety of other reasons. This page provides information
about the I-20, how to obtain it, and what materials must be submitted
as part of the application process.
General
Information
The I-20 is also known as the Certificate
of Eligibility. The
initial I-20 that international students at Lewis receive
is issued by the Lewis University Admissions Office.
It is one of the documents you must present to the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate in order to apply for a student visa
(if you are entering the University from abroad) or maintain
your non-immigrant student status (if you are already in
the United States). If you are coming to the U.S.
for the first time as a Lewis University F-1 student you
will also be asked to present evidence of your financial
support, your English language ability, and your academic
qualifications. You will also be asked to show that
you have strong ties to your home country and plan to return
home when you have completed your education in the United
States.
Undergraduate
Applicants
The International Undergraduate admissions application
contains both the application for admission as well as
the application
for an I-20/IAP-66. All
materials should be returned to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
-
The
Office of Undergraduate admissions will evaluate your
application and determine whether or not to grant you
admission.
-
Once
you have been accepted, the Undergraduate Admissions
notifies the Office of International Services and we
generate an I-20/IAP-66. It is important that you send
all required documentation with your application for
admission. If your application is complete, the I-20
or IAP-66 will be mailed along with your acceptance
letter. If you have not sent your financial documentation,
the Office of International Services will not be able
to issue the I-20 or IAP-66 until we receive it.
-
Undergraduate
applicants do not need to pay the $35.00 orientation
fee until you confirm your admission. Confirming your
admission is completed once you return the confirmation
sheet and deposit.
If
you are already in the U.S., follow the instructions above. You
must also take the Immigration Transfer Recommendation Form to
your current International Student Advisor. S/he must complete
the form and fax it to our office at 815/838-8092. Please pay
special attention to the question that asks whether you plan to
travel before beginning your studies. If you are traveling, your
I-20 will be mailed to you and you should re-enter the United
States using the Lewis University I-20. If you are not traveling,
your I-20 will be held in this office until you arrive. At that
time, you will complete the immigration transfer procedure and
your I-20 will be given to you.
Graduate
Applicants
- Graduate students should obtain the application for admissions
by contacted the Graduate School. They may be contacted by
the
Internet, telephone or fax.
- Graduate students must also submit an application for
an I-20 or IAP-66.
- The department in which you are seeking admission will evaluate
your application and make their decision whether or not to
grant
you admission to the University. The Office of International
Student Services usually receives notification from the department,
but
it is in your best interest to submit a copy of your acceptance
letter to our department as well.
- The Office of International Student Service will keep track
of all materials you have submitted to this office (see I20/IAP-66
application requirements below) and, upon receiving notification
that you have been admitted, mail you your I-20.
- If you submit your application for admission without submitting
all necessary materials you may experience a delay in receiving
your I-20 as it takes some time for our office to receive and
process your application. It is in your best interest to submit
both the admission application and all supporting documents
(including
bank statements, TOEFL scores, official transcripts, etc.
at the same time. You need
not pay the orientation fee until you are notified of your
admissions. The I-20 will not be sent to you, however, until
all required
documents, including the fee, are received in this office.
Required
Documentation
-
Financial
documentation: You must document that you will pay all
required tuition and fees while studying in the United
States.
This generally takes the form of a combination
of a bank statement and and affidavit of support from
your parents. You must show an amount equal to
$29,000 in order to be issued an I-20 unless you have
been granted a scholarship or Graduate Assistantship
at Lewis.
-
Orientation
fee of $65.00 (non-refundable ~ mail to our office or
include credit card number on application
-
A
copy of your acceptance letter.
If
you do not yet know whether you have been admitted, please
return items one and two to the Office of International
Services as soon as possible. If you wait to begin your
I-20/IAP-66 application until after you know you have been
admitted, you may experience a delay in receiving your I-20
or IAP-66 in time to begin your studies in the semester
you currently intend.
Definitions
- Certificate of Eligibility: The document that is issued
by Lewis University to enable you to apply for a student
visa (if you are entering the University
from abroad) or maintain your non-immigrant student status
(if you are already in the United States)
- I-20: The document that is issued in order
to apply for an F-1 non-immigrant student visa
- IAP-66:
The document that is issued in order
to apply for J-1 Exchange Visitor Student Status. Lewis
does not currently have permission to issue IAP-66's,
however,
students and scholars on an exchange
visitor program sponsored by an international organization
or the U.S.
Government may come to Lewis.
- Visa:
A visa is stamp placed inside your passport by
a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
A visa allows you to come to the border of the
United States and to request permission from the
U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to enter
the
United States. The I-94 Record of Arrival/Departure
determines how long you may stay after you arrive. Your
visa stamp, therefore, does not need to be renewed
while you remain in this country (unless you plan to
leave
the USA and re-enter).
If you leave the USA and want to re-enter the
USA, there are certain conditions you must meet.
If you have been in valid F-1 status and will be gone
less than 5 months, you still need a valid visa, but
you may use your previous I-20 as long as it is endorsed
on the back. If you will be gone for 5 months
or more, you will need a new I-20, transcripts, and
proof of financial support, as well as a new visa
stamp.
If
you are transferring to Lewis University from another U.S. Institution
Follow the
instructions above. You must also take the last page of the application
to your current International Student Advisor who must
be an INS
authorized "Designated School Official." S/he
must complete the form and fax it to our office. Please pay special
attention to the question that asks whether you plan to travel
before beginning your studies. If you are traveling, your I-20
will be mailed to you and you should re-enter the United States
using Lewis University’s I-20. If you are not traveling, your
I-20 will be held in this office until you arrive. At that time,
you will complete the immigration transfer procedure and your
I-20 will be given to you.
Current
Lewis University Students who need to obtain a new I-20
Current
Lewis University students may need to obtain a new I-20
for a variety of reasons. You may need a new I-20
due to:
- Dependents
who need an I-20 to enter the United States to join you
- Change
in major
- Change
in degree including level
- Lost
previously issued I-20
- Traveling
outside the U.S. for 5 months or more
- Previous
I-20 is expiring
If
any of these circumstances apply to you, you should come
to the ISS with new documentation showing your financial
support, evidence that you have maintained your status,
and a completed application
for an I-20.
Additional
Information
If you
have any questions regarding any of this information,
please contact the Office of International Services at iss@lewisu.edu
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