How to Read Your Form I-20: Every Field Explained

The Form I-20, officially the "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," is one of the most important documents in your U.S. study journey. Your school issues it once you are admitted, and you need it to pay the SEVIS fee, apply for your F-1 or M-1 visa, attend your interview, and enter the United States. A single wrong detail can cause delays, so it is worth understanding every part of it.

The top of the form: your identifiers

The most important numbers sit at the very top.

• SEVIS ID: the letter N followed by ten digits (for example N0012345678). This is yours for the whole program, and it is what you enter to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. Check it digit by digit.
• Your name: surname and given name, which must match your passport exactly. A mismatch here is a common reason interviews go sideways.
• Date and country of birth, and country of citizenship: confirm these are correct, since they affect both your visa application and your payment options.

School and program information

The next block describes where and what you will study.

• School name and SEVIS school code: the code (letters and numbers) identifies your institution. You may be asked for it during the SEVIS fee step.
• Program of study, education level, and major: make sure these match the offer you accepted.
• Program start and end dates: your status is tied to these. You generally cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the start date.

Financial information

The I-20 lists the estimated cost of attendance (tuition and living expenses) and your sources of funding. The consular officer uses this to judge whether you can actually pay for your studies. Bring documents that back up the funding shown here: bank statements, scholarship letters, or sponsor affidavits.

Signatures

Your Designated School Official (DSO) signs and dates the form. You must also sign it yourself (a parent signs for a minor). An unsigned I-20 is not valid for travel, so check for both signatures before your interview.

What to double-check before anything else

• Your name spelling matches your passport.
• The SEVIS ID is correct (you will use it to pay the fee).
• The program dates and level are right.
• The form is signed by your DSO and by you.

If anything is wrong, contact your school's international office for a corrected I-20 before you pay the SEVIS fee or book your interview.

Found your details? Pay your SEVIS fee here. Not sure whether you have an I-20 or a DS-2019? See I-20 vs DS-2019 explained and how to find your SEVIS ID.