I-20 Request Form

If you are requesting a Form I-20 from our university for the purposes of seeking an F-1 Student Visa, you must submit the following documents to International Admissions after you have been granted admission to Lamar University.

For international students, the next step in reaching the university is obtaining a Form I-20 (or Form DS 2019 if you intend to apply for a J-1 Visa) from our office. This form allows you to proceed to a visa interview at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for your F-1 (or in some cases J-1) visa, which allows you to lawfully enter the United States to study. If you know you will be applying for a J-1 visa (the visa category for exchange students, short-term study, visiting scholars and some types of sponsored programs), please notify us immediately at internationaladmissions@lamar.edu.

Per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), financial documents must meet the minimum Estimated Cost of Attendance for a Form I-20 to be issued by International Admissions.

Ensure you have the following document scans for this form

Passport
- Include your dependents’ passports (if applicable)
Bank Statement, in English
- Or a signed letter from a financial institution stating the current amount available
Proof of Financial Resources Form, or an similar affidavit from your third-party sponsor declaring their willingness to fund your education pursuits.
Sponsorship Letter, if you are sponsored by a business company or government entity (if applicable)
Lamar Scholarship and Assistantship Letter(s) (if applicable)
- For graduate students who receive a standard $1,000.00 scholarship and out-of-state waiver from your Department/College of Graduate Studies, the total amount required to submit in your financial guarantee will be USD $20,002 only.

For detailed information on the process, please visit our SEVIS and I-20 Resources.

Immigration Information

Are you already inside the U.S.?

Advisement for those already inside the US with a documented visa status:

If you wish to change your status while remaining in the United States, you will need to file a request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) using the I-539 form/application. It is advised that you check the approximate wait time for that Change of Status application using this USCIS webpage.

Alternatively, you may also decide to leave the United States, apply for a visa, if applicable, and re-enter as an F-1 student. You will need to do the following:

· Apply to and receive acceptance from an SEVP-certified school.

· Receive a new initial Form I-20 from your designated school official (DSO).

· Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee.

· Apply at a U.S. consulate or embassy for an F-1 visa to travel to the United States.

o If you are from a country where no visa is required, such as Canada, you may proceed directly to a U.S. port of entry or a U.S. pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station and apply for admission to the United States as an F-1 student.

· Once admitted by an immigration officer in F-1 status, you may begin your studies.

For more information about consular processing, please visit the Department of State Student Visa page.

We advise making the choice on which method you wish to pursue in obtaining the F visa status. It is further advised to stick to that path, so as to not lose any unnecessary fees to US government agencies by abandoning any application process. If you wish for further consultation on your chances of successfully completing a Change of Status application, then we must advise that you consult with a certified US immigration attorney.

What is your current visa status?

For current F-1 visas holders who already have an active SEVIS record at another school:
You will be required to complete a different form in order to seek a transfer of your SEVIS record between schools. Please stop and instead complete the online webform found here.

Please note: Since you are changing status from B-1/B-2 to F student, you must refrain from enrolling in or beginning your studies until USCIS has approved your change to the F-1 visa status.

Enrolling in a course of study while in B-1/B-2 status, or any status that does not permit you to enroll in a program of study, can result in a status violation and invalidate your lawful status inside the US. If USCIS has not adjudicated your change of status at least 15 days before the program start date that will be printed on your Form I-20, contact our offices as you may need to actively defer your admission to a further semester of entry.

If you selected other, what is your current immigration status?

Student Information

LU ID number (Lxxxxxxxx, 9 characters required)

First Name / Given Name

Last Name / Family Name / Surname

Legal Sex

Date of Birth

Country of Birth

Country of Citizenship

Email Address

Residential Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Immigration Documentation

Passport (Biographical Information page)

Submit all documents for Proof of Financial Ability below
If you have multiple file scans, you may need to use a computer program to merge and combine these into fewer files for submission. Online alternatives are available by searching through your preferred online search engine. There is a 5 file limit with this submission.

DeleteFinancial document # _ID_
Submit all Financial Documents as needed. Click the hyperlink below to submit additional files.
File to upload:

CLICK HERE to add another financial ability document (limit of 5 total)

Required Documentation

U.S. Visa Stamp

Most Recent I-94
Please retrieve from the webpage here using your passport details: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/search/recent-search

Do you have a spouse and/or any children for whom you wish to have F-2 I-20s issued?

Yes

Dependents

Please list your spouse and/or children as an F-2 dependent. Please be aware that every dependent will add to your total expected expenses (USD $6,526 for spouse, and $5,136 for each child), and so additional funding will be required in your proof of financial ability. Full details of each dependent will also be needed within the proof of financial resources affidavit document found here.

DeleteDependent _ID_
Please list all desired F-2 Dependent(s).
Dependent First Name Last Name Country of Birth Relationship to You Dependent Passport biographical information page

CLICK HERE to add another F-2 Dependent

Acknowledgment

I certify that the information given in this form is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any conflicting or untrue information found during review may require my revised submission of certain documents or information, including this webform. I also understand that my I-20 cannot be formally issued to me unless all conditions and requirements are met under US laws and regulations.