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Understanding Your I-20 FormThe first thing to check is your I-20. Now that you are in the US and have gone through customs, you should have in your possession an I-20 that has an 11 digit number starting with an N on the right hand side, right below where it says Student Copy. This will be your SEVIS ID number, which is very important during your stay in the United States. If you don't have this type of I-20, please contact someone at the International Education Services (IES) office.Always keep your I-20 in a safe place. It should not be left with employers, landlords or anyone except DHS agents or the IES staff (in certain circumstances). Always keep all I-20s that are issued to you. Don't throw out the old one when you are issued a new form - keep them all together. It's also a good idea to read the rules that govern your stay here as an F-1 student. They are printed on page 2 of your I-20. D/S Now, look at the upper right hand corner of your I-20. There should be a stamp in red ink with the date you entered the US. Under that date should be written "Admitted F-1 until D/S" (the F-1 and D/S will probably be hand-written, and is often very difficult to read). This indicates that you have been admitted as an F-1 student for the duration of your status (or D/S). What does this mean? It means that as long as you are meeting the requirements for maintaining your full-time F-1 status, you may remain in the US until you have completed your studies. How do you maintain your full-time status? Click here to find out. This will only occur on I-20s that you have used to enter the US. If you transfer from one school to another, or if you get a new I-20 for a change in studies or financial situation or other reason, you will not necessarily have a stamp on the new I-20. Admission Number Now look at the box directly under your date of birth. There should be a hand-written number there, possibly beginning with the letter A. This is your admission number. It should be the same as the number on your I-94, the small white card that is most likely stapled in your passport by your entry visa. Completion of Studies Date The next place to look is item 5. This lists the program of study you are pursuing (at least for now), when you are expected to report to this school, and when we expect you to finish your studies. If you have not finished your studies before this date arrives, you should come to the IES office and ask about how to extend your I-20. It is very important not to allow this date to pass without either getting an extension, or you may be out of status, which could have very serious consequences. When do you need a new I-20? * If you change your level of study (ie., from a Master's to Doctorate) in a way that will affect the length of your stay here. * If you transfer to a new school. * If you will need additional time beyond the completion of studies date listed to finish your degree. * If you are traveling, will need a new entry visa, and have had important changes in your financial situation since the original I-20 was written (ie., now you have a teaching assistantship when you did not before) * If your original I-20 is lost or seriously damaged. Travel When you travel, be sure to come by the IES office and have page 3 of your I-20 signed before leaving. This shows the US CBP (Customs and Border Protection) that you are currently a student in good standing at UMBC and that we expect to see you come back to resume your studies after your trip. Failure to have a recent signature might prevent you from being readmitted to the US. (NOTE: The I-20 says that a signature is good for one year, but in practice it is recommended to have a new signature each semester. A new signature is not, in general, needed each time you travel ) When you travel, it is a good idea to also take with you a transcript of your studies in the US and current financial documents. International Education Services 224 Administration Bldg. 1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250 Tel: +1.410.455-2624 Fax: +1.410.455-1130 E-mail: ies@umbc.edu |