Table of Contents
1. What Is Form I-20 and Who Issues It?
Form I-20 is an official Department of Homeland Security document issued by a SEVP-certified school’s Designated School Official (DSO). It certifies that you have been admitted to a full-time academic program and have documented sufficient financial support.
Every Form I-20 features a unique 10-digit SEVIS Identification Number (starting with "N") at the top right, barcode verification, program start and end dates, educational costs, and documented student funding sources.
2. Critical Data Fields to Verify on Your I-20
• Section 1 (Student Information): Ensure your Surname and Given Name match your Pakistani passport character-for-character.
• Section 2 (School Information): Details school code and DSO contact.
• Section 3 (Program of Study): Specifies major, CIP code, and official program start date.
• Section 7 & 8 (Financials): Breaks down estimated 9-to-12-month expenses (tuition, living, dependents) and verifies how much personal, sponsor, or institutional aid has been verified.
3. Maintaining Lawful F-1 Status in the United States
Once in the United States, maintaining your legal status requires adhering strictly to federal regulations: enroll in a full course of study (minimum 12 credits for undergraduate, 9 credits for graduate), obtain a DSO travel signature on page 2 before leaving the U.S. on vacation, never work off-campus without CPT/OPT authorization, and notify your DSO within 10 days of any physical address change.
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