Understanding the I-20

You should make sure that your personal and biographical information are correct.

• Your surname and given name should match your name as printed in your passport (these will match the naming as it is listed in the Machine Readable Zone at the bottom of the passport, using the SEVIS Naming Standards).

• If your name on your passport uses any special characters or marks, this can be included in the Preferred Name section.

• Your country of birth, country of citizenship, and date of birth should be correct.

Non-required Fields (SFBC does not enter this information on the I-20):

• The passport name field does not need to be filled out and will be left blank.

• The admission number is no longer filled out and will be blank.

Form Issuance Reasons:

• The form issuance reason for new students will usually be “initial attendance” for your first I-20, and “continued attendance” after you arrive in the US, and only if your I-20 is later updated with new information.

• The form issuance reason may also indicate “transfer pending” if you have finished your studies at one school and are waiting to start your program at another school.

• There may be other reasons indicated – contact International Student Services Department if you have any questions.

The financials section of the I-20 includes the estimate of expenses for your program and a description of the financial resources you showed when applying for your I-20. Your financial resources can include a combination of personal, family funds or other resources.

We outline our current estimate of tuition and fees, living expenses, dependent expenses and other expenses on our Required Funding & Estimated Expenses page.

You must submit new financial documents if you apply for an I-20 extension (see F-1 Program Extension) or F-1 reinstatement.

The financial information on an I-20 is always an estimate of your educational expenses. Actual expenses may vary from student to student and program to program. However, the information on the I-20 should provide a reasonable indication of the likely costs for a student in your program.

While pursuing studies as an F-1 student, if you are authorized by ISSD to pursue employment options such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT), your SEVIS record will be updated and a new I-20 will be issued to you. The updated I-20 will have the type of employment authorization (e.g., CPT or OPT), the dates of the work authorization, and the name and location of your employer (if required).

The travel endorsement section (or travel signature section) of the I-20 is signed by your DSO, usually once a year. By signing the form, the DSO is confirming that you are attending school, maintaining valid F-1 status, and are eligible to return to South Florida Bible College after a trip abroad. When you return, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will look to see that your I-20 has been signed by the DSO.

NOTE FOR INITIAL ATTENDANCE I-20s: The travel endorsement section only needs to be signed after you arrive in the U.S. and register with SFBC as an F-1 student. After that point, the travel endorsement confirms your arrival and status as an F-1 student in good standing.

Only International Student Services Department staff can sign Form I-20 for SFBC students – do not request travel signatures from your academic advisors or professors / instructors.

• The travel signature should be no more than one year old at the time of your return to the US. You do not need a travel signature if you are not traveling outside the US or if you have completed your program and are simply leaving the U.S. permanently.

• If you are on post-completion Optional Practical Training, the travel signature should be no more than six months old on the date of your return.

To learn more about obtaining travel as an F-1 student, refer to the Student Travel Requirements page.