Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Student Status, is commonly referred to as the SEVIS I-20. It proves that a student is legally enrolled in a program of study in the U.S. Students and their dependents must have a Form I-20 to apply for a student visa and to enter the U.S. and apply for benefits. The form contains information about the student’s status including their admission number, designated institution, and any authorized transfers and extensions of stay.
The University, as a SEVP-certified school, may issue a Form I-20 to a prospective or continuing nonimmigrant student, or to an accompanying dependent, who meet all qualifications for the program of study. At the port of entry, a USCIS officer endorses the form with an admission stamp and returns it to the student. Endorsements of any travel, reentry, and/or authorized curricular practical training, on are a separate page issued by UNL ISSO.
WHAT MAKES IT VALID?
- Name matches passport
- Authorized school is UNL (section 2)
- Unexpired (section 5)
- For CPT: If UNL ISSO approves the training, an advisor will endorse an attachment to the SEVIS I-20. No USCIS approval is required.
- When original Form I-20 for pre-degree student is from another institution and not UNL (see section 2), an endorsement from the original sponsor must accompany the form stating that they will release the student for PT at UNL during specific validity dates. The student’s original program advisor also endorses a Form I-538 certification form.
- For OPT: If UNL ISSO approves the training, an advisor will endorse an attachment to the SEVIS I-20 with a recommendation for OPT and forward the application to the USCIS. Upon approval, the USCIS will send an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the student. The student cannot begin OPT before obtaining the EAD.
Information from an employee's Form I-20 is populated in SAP infotype IT0094.
