Form I-20
Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for International F-1 Student Status)
Click here to access the I-20 Application
Read the entire I-20 Application carefully, complete the form, and email it to International@caldwell.edu
Be sure to include the following documents in a single email:
- I-20 Application (Pages 9-16 must be completed and submitted)
- Supporting Financial Documents for ALL sponsors
- Copy of Passport Information page
***You can submit your I-20 application for review prior to submitting your enrollment deposit; however, you will be required to make your enrollment deposit in order to receive your official Form I-20.***
Submission Deadline:
The deadline to submit the complete I-20 application with ALL required supporting financial documents is:
-Fall Semester (June 1st)
-Spring Semester (December 1st)
Next Steps After Submission:
Upon submission of ALL required documents, please allow 5-10 business days for your Form I-20 to be issued. Once ready, your Form I-20 will be sent to you via email with information about the next steps, including SEVIS Fee payment, Visa application, etc.
F-1 Transfer-In Application Form
International Students already studying in The United States (on an F1 Visa) that would like to transfer to Caldwell University must submit the F-1 Transfer-In Form in addition to their I-20 Application.
Click here to access the F-1 Transfer-In Application Form
About Form I-20
What is a Form I-20 and why do you need one?
Form I-20 is a government form on which Caldwell University certifies to the U.S. government that you are eligible for F-1 Student Status. It certifies that you: are or expect to be a “bona fide” student; meet our admissions requirements; will pursue a full course of study; have proven that you have enough money to study and live in the U.S. without working illegally or suffering from poverty.
You need a Form I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa or status, or to maintain lawful F-1 status when transferring or changing schools within the U.S. We will send you our I-20 before you travel if you tell us that you are traveling outside the U.S. before classes begin.
Does everybody need an I-20?
No, some international students do not need an I-20. If you are maintaining another non-immigrant status in the U.S., you do not need an I-20 and may attend school full or part-time. Dependent children in E, F, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, R, or S status need to change their status after their 21st birthday or if they marry. If you have no legal status, you may attend school but you are not eligible to change status and do not need an I-20.
Are there legal restrictions?
Yes. You cannot enter the U.S. with a B-1, B-2, OR B-1/2 Visa unless it is marked “Prospective Student”
If you use a B visa to enter the U.S., you could be found guilty of “fraudulent entry” and refused permission to stay longer than six months or to extend or change your status. Do not listen to people who say it is easy to enter the country as a visitor and change your status. It is not true!
You can’t enter the U.S. without a Visa (Unless you are Canadian)
If you are from a country eligible for legal visitor entry into the U.S. with a round-trip airline ticket, do not do this. If you enter without a visa, you will only be permitted to stay for 90 days. You will not be given more time or allowed to change to student status.
New International Students Without a Valid F-1 Visa
All international students entering the United States are required to have a student visa. The University’s Office of International Student Services (OISS) assists admitted international students with obtaining the necessary documents for visas for entry into the US. Working closely with University admissions, OISS facilitates the following steps in the immigration document process:
- Once admitted to Caldwell University, you will receive instructions to make your enrollment deposit and to apply for your I-20 through admissions.
- Submit your enrollment deposit and a completed I-20 application to OISS with financial certification and a copy of your passport.
- OISS then prepares a U.S. Visa Eligibility Document (I-20). Processing may take 2 – 3 weeks in peak season.
- You will receive an I-20 Form via email from OISS.
- International students must then pay the SEVIS fee and apply to obtain an F-1 student Visa.
The information above is for international students entering the U.S. for the first time.
International Students With a Valid F-1 Visa
Some international students may already have obtained an F-1 Visa. If you are transferring from another school and live in the U.S., or you left a previous school and went home but still have a valid F-1 Visa, you can skip the interview. Your I-20 application process will be processed as follows:
- Once admitted to Caldwell University, you will be assigned a 6-digit student ID which will allow you to access the student portal.
- You will receive instructions to apply for your I-20 through admissions.
- Submit your Enrollment Deposit and a completed I-20 application to OISS with financial certification and a copy of your passport.
- OISS then prepares a U.S. Visa Eligibility Document (I-20). Processing may take 2 – 3 weeks in peak season.
- You will receive an I-20 Form in the mail from OISS.