What is the Form I-20?

The Form I-20 is an important document for students in Virginia who are noncitizens seeking educational opportunities in the United States. The Form I-20 is provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is essentially a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and can be obtained by providing various documents such as proof of financial support and an acceptance letter from a school. The Form I-20 is used to obtain an F-1 or M-1 student visa which is required by all international students who want to enter the U.S. to attend school. The I-20 must be signed by the designated school official and must include the student’s name, Alien Registration Number, and the date of initial entry into the U.S. The I-20 also contains information about the school, such as the type of educational program, valid dates of attendance, and the expected date of completion. Before the student arrives in the United States, they must present the I-20 to their local U.S. consulate or embassy to obtain the F-1 or M-1 visa. Upon arriving in the U.S., the student must present the I-20 to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to be allowed entry. The I-20 must also be presented each time the student re-enters the United States. The Form I-20 is an essential document for any noncitizen student in Virginia, so it is important they understand what the form is and how to properly obtain and use it.

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La Forma I-20 es un documento que se emite a los estudiantes internacionales para demostrar que pueden entrar, estudiar, y residir legalmente en los Estados Unidos. Esta forma se otorga por la escuela que la persona está programada a asistir. Tiene esencialmente dos objetivos: Primero, establecer que el estudiante tiene los fondos necesarios para pagar todos los gastos relacionados con asistir a clases, así como el costo de la vida durante su estancia. Segundo, es una parte importante del trámite para obtener una Visa F-1. La Forma I-20 también proporciona información esencial como el nombre de la escuela, el programa al que el estudiante está asistiendo y si ellos están planeando asistir a clases a tiempo completo o a tiempo parcial. Los estudiantes internacionales que asisten a una escuela en el estado de Virginia deben presentar la Forma I-20 para obtener una visa o para cambiar a esta clase de visa.

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