Your Form I-20 ("Certificate of Eligibility") is one of your most important immigration documents.  It shows that you are eligible to apply for a student (F-1) visa to come to the United States as a student.

During the international admissions process, we collect all  documents that we need to issue your Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility). As soon as you are admitted, International Programs & Initiatives will generate the I-20. That process can take up to 7-10 business days days if all documentation, to include finances, has been received. Holidays, incomplete or incorrect documents, or bad mailing addresses can delay this process.

International Programs & Initiatives will mail your official letter of admission, I-20, and additional information about preparing to attend UAF, as well as information regarding the visa applciation process. You will need the information printed on your I-20 to pay your SEVIS fee and schedule your visa interview with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate (special instructions for Canadian students).  

You will need your Form I-20 for your visa interview and to enter the United States. If you receive I-20s from different universities, you must apply for the F-1 visa using the I-20 for the school you wish to attend and must enter the U.S. with the same I-20.  Shoud you change your mind after you have applied for and received your student visa, before arriving in the U.S., you are required to obtain a new F-1 visa for the school you wish to attend.

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot scan and e-mail your I-20 to you, as this has been identified as a potential security risk by the U.S. governmental agencies that oversee immigration and national security. Also, you must have your original I-20 with you when you attend your visa interview.

Your I-20 is extremely important - it's a document that you should save forever, as the information contained in it about your time in the United States could affect eligibility for future U.S. immigration benefits.