F-1 Students: Request Form I-20
After Academic Admission: What's Next?
You will receive an email from ISSS with instructions to log in to “iStart” to submit your I-20 request or verify your lawful presence in the U.S. You must provide financial documentation and other information needed to process immigration documents. Learn about iStart.
Please be aware:
- All newly admitted students receive an international admissions hold until ISSS's review is complete and immigration documents are issued. You cannot register for classes until the hold is removed.
- The speed of submitting financial documentation is up to you; however, ISSS recommends submitting your documents as soon as possible to allow adequate time for the visa application process.
- ISSS will communicate final deadlines to submit your I-20 request.
- ISSS will review your submission once your request is complete and all required eForms are submitted. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
- Once complete, ISSS will review your request and issue your Form I-20 to your student email address. Please allow 5-7 business days for processing.
Required Documentation for I-20 Request:
- If you are currently in the United States in F-1 or J-1 status, you must also submit a copy of your current F-1/J-1 visa or change of status approval notice, I-20/DS-2019, I-94, in addition to your passport identification page.
- If you are currently in the United States on a visa other than F-1, you must also submit a copy of your current visa and I-94.
- If dependents (spouse and/or children) will accompany you, you must include a copy of their passport identification page. If your country of citizenship is different from that of your country of legal residence, please submit a copy of the appropriate identification.
Follow the steps in the iStart invitation email sent after you were academically admitted to provide information for ISSS to process your I-20.
What are the estimated costs, and what types of documents are needed?
- Please review the Estimated Cost of Attendance page to find the required funding for your program.
All financial documents must meet the following requirements:
- Show liquid assets that can be readily converted into cash if needed
- Show the date of issuance and be less than 6 months old at the time the I-20 or DS-2019 is issued
- Be written in English, or accompanied by official translation
- Clearly state the currency of funds
Acceptable Types of Financial Documents
| Bank letters/statements |
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| Loan Letters |
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| Graduate Assistantship Offer Letters, Grants, Scholarships, or Organization Sponsor Letters |
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| Provident Fund Statement |
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| Employment letters or Salary statement |
NOT ACCEPTABLE. These types of funds are not considered as liquid assets. |
| Non-liquid Investments | |
| Credit card statements | |
| Real estate statements | |
| Life insurance statements | |
| Stock market statements | |
| Valuation statements | |
| Tax return documents |
Sponsor Funds:
A Sponsor Letter of Commitment (an affidavit) or Sponsor Commitment Form is required for students who are not using a personal bank account in their name. The sponsor’s bank letter/statement is required with this letter/form. The sponsor must include the following information in their letter of support:
- Student’s full name
- The relationship between the student and the sponsor
- The amount and duration of the support
- The sponsor’s original signature, full name, telephone number and address
Dependents
Students with dependents who will be applying for an F-2 or J-2 visa must provide additional proof of funding for each dependent: $4,500 per year for a spouse and $2,500 per year for each child.
Documents will be electronically uploaded and submitted via iStart. Please note that an original copy of the documents will be needed at the time of the visa interview.
Once financial documents have been approved by ISSS, an I-20 will be processed and sent to your GSU student email. The Form I-20 makes you eligible to apply for the F-1 student visa.
Be Aware: The financial information on your I-20 is only an estimate, not a tuition bill.
Transfer Students
Requirements
- If you are transferring from another U.S. college or university, your SEVIS record must be transferred to Georgia State through SEVIS before ISSS can issue a Georgia State I-20 document. Contact your current international advisor or your campus Designated School Official (DSO) about that process. See Transfer Students under Step 1.
Changing Degree Level?
Requirements
- If you are advancing from one program or degree level to another at Georgia State (ex. IEP to Bachelor; BS to MS; or MA to PhD), updated financial documentation is required for each new I-20. It may not be more than 6 months old, based on the date of issuance for the new program I-20 (not the program start date on the new I-20). ISSS cannot process the new program I-20 without updated financial documentation.
Contact Us
Location:
Sparks Hall - Room 252
ISSS, Georgia State University
33 Gilmer St. SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404-413-2070
Fax: 404-413-2072
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address (please use our physical address above for express mail):
International Student and Scholar Services
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3987
Atlanta, GA 30302-3987
USA
Georgia State-sponsored H-1B, TN, O-1, J-1 Scholar and Permanent Residency Petitions
Any advising for employment-based visas, green cards or hosting a J-1 Scholar (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Student Intern, Specialist) which are sponsored by Georgia State needs to be set up by appointment after the hiring department has requested the immigration process they wish to sponsor.
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students) are as follow:
Monday: 1-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 1-4 p.m.
Thursday: No Advising Hours.
Friday: 1-4 p.m.
ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest and most efficient way possible.
QLESS: F-1 and J-1 students wishing to speak with an ISSS advisor at the Atlanta Campus over the phone or in-person must access the QLESS system during advising hours in order to get into our virtual queue. Once in the virtual queue you will receive instructions regarding a call back from one of our available advisors or instructions on when to come into the ISSS lobby to meet an advisor.
If you wish to speak with an ISSS advisor, please click the QLESS link below during advising hours and get into the virtual queue.
Clarkston Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building CN 2230 (Student Center)
ISSS, Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
555 N. Indian Creek Dr.
Clarkson, GA 30021
Telephone: 678-891-3235
Fax: 678-891-3068
Email: [email protected]
Dunwoody Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building NB
Room 1200
ISSS, Perimeter College, Dunwoody Campus
2101 Womack Rd.
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Telephone: 770-274-5570
Fax: 770-274-5253
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Walk-in Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students):
9-11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday
1:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Occasionally it may be necessary to make emergency cancellations of advising times last minute. We apologize for any inconvenience.