| Frequently Asked Questions on Obtaining an I-20 from UCLA Required Documents Q: Could you please clarify which documents I need to obtain the I-20 form from UCLA? A: The I-20 is the "Certificate of Eligibility" form that schools issue to admitted students who have accepted an offer of admission so they can apply for their F-1 Student Visa. In order to process the I-20, we need to receive and evaluate the following items that have been fully and accurately completed.
You also need to accept your offer of admission to UCLA.
Q: Is there a deadline for sending you my CFS? A: We strongly recommend that you send your documents as soon as possible, but preferably no later than June 15, 2008. Though we will accept the documents after these dates, you could jeopardize obtaining your visa before school starts. You need a valid I-20 from UCLA and an updated F-1 Visa to be in compliance with United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). It is important that you send the CFS to us in a timely manner so that we have adequate time to process your I-20. Then you need adequate time to apply for your visa. With recent world events, visas often take longer to process than in past years. Please allow adequate time and factor the processing time into your travel plans. Your enrollment at UCLA could be jeopardized if you are not able to get your visa in time to enter the U.S. by the start of school. Also, for students already in the U.S., you must visit the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS) and present your passport, immigration, and UCLA admission documents BEFORE the end of the second week of your first quarter at UCLA, or you will be out of compliance with USCIS.
Q: My bank won't sign your CFS form. Can they send a letter instead? A: Yes. Our instructions indicate that either a bank stamp and the proper signatures on the form OR an official letter from your bank, signed by a bank officer verifying sufficient funds, is acceptable.
Q: I got my bank letter/verification a few months ago. Can I just send that along with my CFS? A: No. The bank verification must be dated within ONE MONTH of when you sign and date the CFS. Both documents have to be dated within six (6) months of the start of the term you are first attending. If your bank statement is older than one month from the time you date your CFS, you will need to request a new funds verification.
Q: The first CFS I sent you was not completed accurately. What should I do now? A: You can print out another copy of the Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) and send it to us with the updated information. Always make sure you fill in the student information section again and get all required signatures. Please contact us and let us know you are sending a corrected CFS.
Q: I have an I-20 from my previous school. Do I still need an I-20 from UCLA? A: Yes. Even though you may have a valid F-1 Visa and an I-20 from another school, you will still need an I-20 from UCLA. USCIS requires updated school information on all international students. To be in compliance with USCIS regulations, you need a valid I-20 from the school you are currently attending and an updated visa. Important: Your previous school must release your SEVIS record to UCLA before we can issue you an I-20. Notify the International Student Office at your previous school about your impending enrollment at UCLA so processing of your I-20 is not delayed. After our office issues the I-20, DCISS will assist you with transferring your visa to UCLA.
Q: Can I re-enter the U.S. with my current visa and the I-20 from my old school and get the UCLA I-20 after I've returned to the U.S.? A: No. If you are outside of the U.S. after completing your course of study at your previous school and re-enter the U.S. with an I-20 issued by your previous school, you will be considered in violation of your F-1 status unless you continue at the old school. If you do not receive our I-20 within a time frame that allows you to obtain your visa, you may want to reconsider your travel plans. We'll make every effort to process your I-20 promptly.
Q: I received my I-20 from your office and I'm about to travel outside the U.S. Do I come to Undergraduate Admissions to get the last page of my I-20 signed? A: No. Our office only issues and signs page one (1) of the initial I-20 for new undergraduate international students. You should go to DCISS for any further signatures when you are traveling outside the U.S. You are only required to get DCISS signatures on your I-20 AFTER the first time you have entered the U.S. using the UCLA I-20. When leaving the country prior to starting school at UCLA you will be traveling on your previous documents.
Q: Do I really need an I-20? I'm in the process of securing permanent U.S.
residency. A: If you are an international student, you must have a valid visa to enroll. Only students who are planning to attend school on an F-1 Student Visa are required to apply for an I-20. Any other issues concerning your residency status should be directed to the Registrar's Office, Residency Deputy. Note: We will begin issuing I-20's on a rolling basis after July 1, 2008. Q: I checked MyUCLA and saw that you've received my transcripts. When do I get my I-20? A: Remember, the transcripts are just one of the documents needed to process your I-20. Have you fulfilled all the other document requests we outlined previously – scores, financial documents, etc. If not, make sure you have completed or sent all the necessary documents. There is a period during the summer when we are receiving hundreds of transcripts each day. Even though the computer may show online that we have received your transcripts, they still have to be evaluated to verify that you have successfully completed all the requirements for admission (completed all classes with satisfactory grades). Because of the number of I-20s we issue, we cannot give you a specific time when your I-20 will be completed. As soon as your transcripts are evaluated, and all other documents have been received, we will issue the I-20 promptly. Generally, once everything is cleared, we process your I-20 within 5 to 7 days.
Q: I sent in everything you've requested. When will I get my I-20? A: Because of the number of I-20s we process, we can't give you a specific time when the I-20 will be completed after we have received all the documents. Universities now interface with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) used by the USCIS. We process the I-20s on a continuous basis and we are mindful of the time-sensitive nature of you receiving the I-20 to apply for your visa. Assuming you have kept your mailing address updated on URSA, we will mail the I-20 as soon as it is ready. Generally, once everything is cleared, we process your I-20 within 5 to 7 days. Please make sure that your contact information (including e-mail address) is accurate on URSA. If you have critical travel deadlines or timing problems that we need to know about, please contact us.
Q: You have all my documents and I've verified that I've been cleared for all your requirements. Can you expedite the processing of my I-20? A: Yes. If, indeed, everything is ready and you need your I-20 to be expedited, feel free to contact us and request that we process your I-20. After we verify that we have received all your documents, they have been evaluated and we have the authorization to process your I-20, we should be able to process your I-20 in approximately 72 hours.
Q: Can I give you updated mailing instructions? The address I gave you on the CFS is no longer valid. A: Yes. Here is what you must do: First: Login to URSA and update your mailing address. Next: Contact us and advise us that you have just changed your mailing address, in case we were about to mail your I-20.
Q: I need my I-20 right away and I know it is ready to be processed. Can you send it express mail? A: Generally, we only mail the I-20s through standard U.S. Air Mail. It could take an average of two to four weeks for you to receive the I-20 after we mail it. However, you can contact us and arrange for special handling (at your expense) in cases where there is an urgent need to expedite the mailing.
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