Leave and Reentry I-20

On This Page: Overview • Request Your I-20 • Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee • Apply for a Student Visa • Enter the United States • Download Your I-94 • Check In

Overview

The Leave and Reentry I-20 process provides students with a new SEVIS record so they can reenter the U.S. in valid F-1 status and continue their studies.

Common reasons for requesting a Leave and Reentry I-20 include:

• Returning after a leave of absence.
• Departing the U.S. to apply for a new F-1 visa instead of filing a Change of Status application with USCIS.
• Resuming studies after falling out of status.

If you are unsure whether this process applies to you, meet with an international student advisor to discuss your situation before submitting your request.

Request Your I-20

Instructions:

1. Submit the appropriate e-form in MyGlobal:
   • New Students
   • Continuing Students
   • Change of Campus
2. Upload your passport biographical page.
3. Upload your funding documents (bank statements from checking or savings accounts, or proof of scholarship/sponsorship).
4. Upload your Declaration of Support (for funding from family/friends).
5. If you are a graduate student receiving university funding, enter the name and email for your department contact so they can upload a Graduate International Student Award Letter (GISAL).

For funding documents, review the Financial Guarantee Requirement. Graduate students should contact your department if you have any questions about university funding.

Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

After receiving your I-20 or DS-2019, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. The SEVIS I-901 fee, paid to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), is separate from visa application fees. Print a copy of your receipt to bring to your visa interview.

Special Considerations:

• Students with a country of birth/citizenship of Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, or Gambia cannot pay online and must pay by mail or Western Union Quick Pay. Mail service varies throughout the world, allow at least 2 weeks for delivery.

Apply for a Student Visa

A valid visa is required for all students entering the U.S., except citizens of Canada and Bermuda. As far as we are aware, as long as your F-1 visa is unexpired, you can use it with a new I-20, even if the SEVIS numbers do not match. You can read more about visa validity on the U.S. State Department website.

The instructions below provide general guidance for applying for a visa, however, steps and processing times vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please check the embassy or consulate website where you will apply for specific instructions.

1. Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160.
2. Schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live.
3. Gather your documents for the visa interview:
   • Passport
   • DS-160 application form confirmation page
   • If required before the interview, application fee receipt
   • Photograph if not successfully uploaded to the DS-160
   • University of Arizona I-20
   • Your academic preparation, such as transcripts, diplomas, degrees or certificates from previous schools and standardized test scores submitted for admission
   • Documentation showing proof of ties to your home country and plan to depart after completing your studies
   • Proof of funding
4. Attend your visa interview. A consular officer will review your eligibility for a student visa. Digital fingerprint scans may be taken during the interview or at another time.

If your application requires further administrative processing, the consular officer will provide additional information.

If your visa is approved, you might need to pay a visa issuance fee, depending on your country. The embassy or consulate will also let you know how your passport and visa will be returned to you.

Review these resources to learn more about applying for your student visa:

• Check visa processing times
• Student Visa Overview & How to Apply
• 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa
• EducationUSA: Apply for your Student Visa

Enter the United States

IMPORTANT  Please check the Announcements page regularly for immigration updates.

You are allowed to enter the U.S. 30 days before your program start date. You’ll find this date listed on your I-20 under “Program of Study” as the “Earliest Admission Date.” You should hand-carry the following documents to present at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the U.S. Port of Entry:

Required

• I-20 (don't forget to print and sign!)
• Passport with a valid visa (if applicable)

Recommended

• Funding documents
• SEVIS I-901 Fee receipt (required for citizens of Canada and Bermuda)
• Visa & Entry Letter

Entry to the U.S. is at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CBP may require you to go through Secondary Inspection and/or choose to inspect your electronic devices to further verify the information. Since this may cause delays at your initial port of entry to the U.S., make sure you have enough travel time between any connecting flights.

Read more about entry to the U.S. on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website: Student Process Steps: How to Navigate the U.S. Immigration System.

Download Your I-94

Customs and Border Protection creates an I-94 record for every nonimmigrant who enters the U.S. The I-94 shows your date of entry, visa category, and D/S for Duration of Status. "Duration of Status" means you may remain in the United States so long as you are maintaining your I-20 SEVIS record. It also gives you a grace period to leave the U.S. at the end of your program (60 days for F-1 students).

Students Entering By Land: Within 7 days of entry through a land port of entry, you can apply and pay $30.00 for your I-94 online. Please be aware that the I-94 you obtain online is temporary (a "provisional I-94") and just the first step in completing the I-94 application. To obtain the final, legal-for-travel Form I-94, you will need to appear at a port of entry in person with your immigration documents. If you are entering via an airport, you do not need to apply for an I-94 in advance in order to access your record at the CBP website.

To access your electronic I-94 record after entry:

1. Go to the I-94 website.
2. From the menu at the top, click “Get Most Recent I-94.”
3. Enter all information exactly as it appears on your travel documentation you used to enter the U.S.
4. Click “Next” to get your most recent I-94 record.

Can’t find your I-94? Try entering different combinations of your names (e.g., first and last name order, with or without hyphens or middle names) or use your SEVIS number instead of your passport number. See NAFSA’s I-94 Retrieval Tips for more guidance.

You are required to carry evidence of your admission (entry) to the U.S. at all times. You can carry your passport with admission stamp, a print out of your electronic I-94, or your paper I-94 to satisfy this requirement.

Check In

You must complete a check-in with International Student Services by your I-20 start date:

• Check-In e-form: Please complete this as soon as you arrive in the U.S.
• New Student Tutorials: Available through MyGlobal 30 days before your program start date. Be sure to submit the e-forms linked from the last slide to confirm completion.