What is a Form I-20?
Form I-20s is a “Certificate of Eligibility” for F visa status. This form shows the U.S. government that you are considered eligible to apply for a F-1 Student visa based on your documented funds and academic record. After receiving an I-20, you may schedule an appointment for a visa interview at your closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Note: East Georgia State College issues the I-20, but does not issue the visa.
Remember! The I-20 application process takes time to complete, so you should begin as soon as possible!
F-1 students transferring to East Georgia : Your current school will need a campus code in order to transfer your SEVIS record. See the codes below:
- EGSC Swainsboro campus: ATL214F01224000
- EGSC Statesboro campus: ATL214F01224001
- EGSC Augusta campus: ATL214F01224002
IMPORTANT: If it is near the deadline to submit documents for your I-20 and you are still pending admission or a scholarship, you should still submit all your documentation before the deadline.
Required documents for an I-20
- A copy of your passport photo identification page
- SEVIS Data Form or SEVIS Transfer In Request (if transferring in from a US school)
- Certificate of Financial Support
- Financial Documentation Requirements
- Guarantor Affidavit of Support
After Requesting an I-20
- It will normally take 1 week to prepare your I-20 once you have been accepted and have submitted all of the SEVIS/visa documents.
- When your I-20 is prepared, you will receive an electronic copy by email.
- Please review all the information in the email and on your I-20 to ensure that everything is correct.
- Your email message will also contain the information you need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. This fee must be paid at least three days before your F-1 visa appointment or entry to the U.S. if a visa is not required. When paying the fee online, print at least two receipts. Take the receipt (Form I-797) with you to your visa appointment and keep it permanently with your I-20 forms.
- You will need to make a visa appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Diplomatic Mission. Consult the U.S. Department of State for valuable information on what you will need for your visa appointment. Among other things, remember to take your I-20, letter of acceptance, I-901 payment receipt, and financial documentation with you. An F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa, meaning that you will need to demonstrate that you intend to return to your home country after your studies are complete.
