I 20 how long

What do I need to do? What happens if I become out of status as a student? LCI is authorized to apply for reinstatement for students who are out of status. If you become out of status, contact LCI and we will review your request. We handle each request on a case-by-case basis. SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students and exchange visitors and their dependents.

The fee must be paid at least 3 business days prior to applying for your visa, or applying for admission at a US port-of-entry for those exempt from the visa requirement Canadian citizens. The fee must be paid prior to submission of a change of status petition or reinstatement application. What about my F-2 dependents?

F-2 dependents do not have to pay the fee. How do I pay the fee? The fee can be paid online at www. It can be paid by you or by a third party, inside or outside the US. To Pay Online Recommended 1. Find Form I at www. Canadian citizens must pay the fee before going to the U. Changes in any of the following categories should be reported to a DSO and a new I should be requested within 10 days of the change:.

The I is a legal document and will be requested for identification purposes when entering the U. Always keep all copies of your original I in a safe place and never throw it away. When traveling domestically within the U. After an international student is admitted to an institution, the school collects necessary financial and identification documentation, which is entered into SEVIS by a St.

This includes changes in biographical data, program dates, change of major, the addition of a work authorization, etc. Any changes of this type must be reported by the student to the PDSO within 10 days of the change. Anytime a new I is issued, make sure to keep old copies in a safe location for future reference. Always use the most recently issued I for travel, work or other purposes.

Express mail is available to students at their own expense. Please register for express mail as early as possible. You do not need to wait until your I has been issued to register for this service. Once your I has been issued, the Office of Admissions will check to verify if you have registered for eShipGlobal. If not, your I will be sent through air mail. Please follow the instructions below to use this service:. If the document is sent via express courier, it is trackable and should reach you within the time period quoted by the shipper.

Additionally if the shipper reports it lost, we can immediately report your I lost to the government and re-issue you another copy of your I Regular Airmail is not trackable and there is no guarantee when you will receive it. If your I is lost in the mail, we must wait 30 days before we can report it lost to the government and re-issue it. Regular mail sent within the U. Overseas mail takes approximately weeks to be delivered.

Once you have received your I, you can apply for your F-1 visa. To acquire this, you must fill out the online visa application, pay the non-refundable application fee, and schedule a visa interview at a U. Embassy or Consulate excluding citizens of Canada and Bermuda.

Follow the steps below to complete this process. For more detailed information and guidelines, we suggest visiting the Study in the States Website and U. Visa Exchange Website. Online Visa Application. How is an I used? Do I need the I for travel? What is my completion date? What is the day grace period? What happens if I lose my I?

Should I keep all my Is? Does my family need Is? How is the I is used? What is the I completion date? Undergraduate Students: The completion date is considered to be the last day of final exams of the semester degree requirements are fulfilled. Graduate Students: The completion date is the day on which all degree requirements are fulfilled, such as filing the thesis or dissertation in the Graduate Division.

The day Grace Period When students complete a study program, they are allowed a day grace period to either 1 depart the United States, 2 request a school transfer , or 3 change visa status.

Should I keep all copies of my Is? Do my family members need Is? Immigration F-1 vs. Entry Visa.