What is an I-20 Form? What is its Utility in the US Student Visa?

Loan Sanction Letter from the Lenders
Students must have the loan sanction letter from an authentic lender. It is only required for those students who have taken an abroad education letter, and it must contain the loan amount, the date of issuance of the loan letter, and all the information must be clearly visible. 

Evidence to Substantiate that the Student Will Return to the Native Country 
It is an important aspect of getting the I-20 Form as the US visa officials require solid reasons to believe that the student will return to the home country. To substantiate the intent of returning, the students need to give property documents; parents job details, social proof, or anything substantial that can convince the authorities that the student has sufficient reasons to return to the home country. 

Payment of I-901 SEVIS Fee
To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, which is $200, the student should have the I-20 Form with them, without which it is impossible to complete the payment. The completion of payment requires information from the I-20 Form issued by the DSO from the university. The payment of the I-901 SEVIS Fee is compulsory before entering the US. Students seeking both F1 and M1 visas are required to pay for the I-901 SEVIS Fee, and one needs to provide the following information:

• Name, Date of Birth, and Address of the student visa applicant. All the information must be the same as that in the mark sheet and certificates. 
• The place of birth (i.e. the nationality of the visa applicant), and the status of present citizenship. 
• School Code as listed on the Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”
• The I-20 Form also includes the SEVIS Identification number, which has to be provided at the time of payment of the SEVIS fee. 

Use of I-20 after Entering the US

There is a misconception that the use of the I-20 Form is only till the time a student visa isn’t issued. However, its use is way more than that, and it can be used for several other purposes than getting an F1 or M1 student visa. A student visa is required at the time of entering the US, while it is not the only document that a student has to show at the time of entry. When a student reaches the US, the customs and border protection officer asks for the I-20 Form at the port of entry. Students are allowed to enter the US 30 days before the start date mentioned on the I-20, as it helps students in putting things into order. The students need some time to settle, so a 30-day window is allowed. 

The Use of the I-20 Form is way more than entry and getting the student visa. It can be used to take the driver’s license and open a bank account. Students are advised to open a bank account in an American bank as soon as possible because using an Indian debit or credit card can be a pricey affair. It also helps students in bringing their dependents to the US, as each dependent will have their I-20 Forms. The I-20 Form is also used when students wish to re-enter the US. There are several instances when students leave the US due to projects, research work, seminars, vacations, etc., each time students must show the I-20 Form. 

Cost of the I-20 Form

Students have to pay for the SEVIS fee, and it costs $200. It is a one-time fee and applicable to students seeking F1 or M1 student visas. Students can apply for it only after the SEVIS fee is paid, for which one needs the I-20 Form. 

Redesigned I-20 Form

The USCIS has redesigned the new form for students seeking F1 and M1 visas. The new form doesn’t have the barcode which used to be there in the earlier forms. Students can also ask for a new I-20 form in the following case:

• If the original copy is destroyed, lost or stolen. 
• For travel related needs. 
• If the SEVIS status has changed from initial to active.
• If the student has enrolled in a new program or switched the field of study. 

For the issuance of the new I-20 Form, the students have to talk to the DSO. The students must note that the DSO can only reprint the I-20 Form when the status is active or initial. 

Getting admission to a top university is a great opportunity for students to change the course of their lives. The US is certainly a top location for students seeking world-class education and great employment opportunities. The I-20 Form is a crucial document, and students must take all the precautions to fill the university application form carefully as any mistake will delay the entire admission process or even the admissibility to the university. So, one must refer to the sample I-20 Form before proceeding with entering the details in the university application form.