Form I-20

Issued by Minnesota State Mankato, your Form I-20 is used to:

• Apply for your F-1 student visa outside the U.S.
• Apply for F-1 status within the U.S.
• Enter and reenter the U.S. in F-1 status
• Prove your eligibility for various F-1 benefits

Your I-20 indicates the institution in which you are permitted to study, your program of study, and the dates of eligibility. Your I-20 must remain valid at all times. You must request an extension to your program dates prior  to its expiration date. Allowing your I-20 to expire before you complete your academic program is a violation of F-1 status.

Your I-20 is a printout from your SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) record.  SEVIS  is an internet-based database that allows schools and federal immigration agencies to exchange data on the status of international students. Information is transmitted electronically throughout an F-1 or J-1 student’s academic career in the U.S. Each student has a unique SEVIS ID number, which is printed on your I-20 in the top right corner.