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Requesting Your I-20

Requesting Your I-20

Owned by William Vittetoe
Last updated: Apr 03, 2024 by Brian Todd
6 min read

This article explains how to request the I-20 required for your visa application and interview. We will explain what documents you need to submit and how to fill them out correctly. Remember, we can not issue your immigration documents until after you have been admitted.

What documents do I Need?

You will need to provide several documents to us. We will need the following:

  1. Scan of your valid passport;

  2. Proof of financial support following the requirements listed at Required Funding for Student Visa Sponsorship;

  3. A scan of your admission letter.

What type of visa do I need?

We issue sponsorship documents for two different visas at the University of Tennessee (UT). Almost all of our students use the F-1 (student) visa. There a few situations where a J-1 exchange visitor visa may be necessary. If you think that you need a J-1 exchange visitor visa, please contact us at international@utk.edu.

Important, the following instructions are only for students needing an F-1 visa.

What type of I-20 do I need?

There are three different ways to get a from I-20. It is important that you choose the correct option for your situation.

Initial I-20

This is a new form I-20 issued for you. This is the correct option if you do not have an active I-20 at another institution in the U.S.

Transfer I-20

This is where your current school transfers your I-20 to UT. This is the correct option if you are currently on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or if you have just graduated from another school.

Change of Status I-20

This option is used if you enter the U.S. in a different status (for example F-2), and you now want to change your status to F-1. This is not an easy process, and we require that you complete a consultation with us before we will issue the form I-20 for a change of status case. You can book a consultation with us at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/ISSS@live.utk.edu/bookings/s/Cs_zbrZJS06RfXbYQUR01Q2 .

How to Complete the Immigration Document Request Form

Once we review your admission, you are automatically added to the correct checklist for your type of admission. In order to issue you the form I-20, we need you to confirm several pieces of information and submit the necessary documents to us.

Step One: Log into iVols and begin the Immigration Document Request

Log into your iVols account. You can find instructions on how to do this here.

From your iVols homepage select the In Progress checklist assigned to you.