OVERVIEW

All F1 students that are studying at the University of Utah will need a Form I-20 also known as the "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status." Students will receive the Form I-20 from a Designated School Official. Students must have their Form I-20 with them at all times. If a student loses or there is damage to the I-20, they must request a replacement from ISSS through UAtlas. Students who need to pay their I-901 SEVIS Fee must navigate to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement I-901 Fee.

icon If there is any information on the I-20 that is updated/changed at any time, the student is                    required to obtain an updated version of the Form I-20.

 

PURPOSE OF THE I-20

The Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility, is an official U.S. immigration document required for:

• Applying for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad
• Entering the United States in F-1 status
• Maintaining lawful F-1 student status throughout your studies

The University of Utah issues I-20s only to applicants who have been admitted to an approved
degree-seeking program.

Note: Admission to a certificate program does not qualify a student for I-20 eligibility. 

 

GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Submission of immigration and financial documents is not required for the admission decision itself.
• These documents may be uploaded at any time but will be reviewed only after a student has
  been officially admitted.
• All required materials must be submitted before the published I-20 deadlines to ensure timely processing.

iconPlease ensure that all i-20 documents are in English or accompanied by an English translation. these documents must be translated by a bank or a certified translator. translations provided by applicants or friends/family members are not accepted.

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR I-20 ISSUANCE

Before the SEVIS Specialist & DSO team can issue an I-20, the following items must be received and approved:

A) Financial Documentation: Proof of Funding

All admitted students requesting an I-20 must demonstrate access to sufficient liquid financial
resources to cover at least one year of estimated educational and living expenses.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS MUST:

• Show readily accessible (liquid) funds, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, or fixed deposits that can be withdrawn
• Be issued within the last six months
  • Clearly display:
    • Account holder’s name
    • Bank name
    • Date of issuance
    • Current account balance
    • Currency type
  • Account type (checking, savings, fixed deposit*, etc.)
    • Reflect enough funds to meet or exceed the University of Utah’s estimated annual expenses
    • Demonstrate that funds will be available no later than the first day of classes
    • Students should consider currency fluctuations and may wish to show additional funds to avoid delays.

iconFixed or time deposits need to include the maturity date on the bank statement. The maturity date will only be accepted if it is prior to date your classes begin.

ACCEPTABLE PROOF OF FUNDING:

The following documentation is acceptable:

• Bank statements meeting all criteria above
•  Approved or sanctioned education loans
  • Loan disbursement prior to I-20 issuance is not required
• Official sponsorship or scholarship letters
  • Must be printed on organizational letterhead
  • Must include the authorized official’s signature
• University of Utah scholarships or tuition waivers
  • Must be verified by the academic department

UNACCEPTABLE PROOF OF FUNDING:

The following documents cannot be used to issue an I-20:

• • Credit card statements
  • Lines of credit
  • Stocks/investment/bonds
  • Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or property/asset valuations
  • Solvency certificates
  • Bank documents without a current balance “In-principle” or conditionally approved loans
  • Funds that will be frozen or inaccessible
  • Provident funds without documentation of withdrawable amount
  • Salary statements or pay stubs

Please note that screenshots are not acceptable. Submitting any unacceptable documents may cause significant delays.

B) Affidavit of Support

iconIf the financial documents are issued in the name of someone other than the student, an Affidavit of Support must also be submitted.

AN AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT IS NOT REQUIRED IF:
● The financial document is in the student’s own name
● The student is receiving government funding
● The student is using an approved education loan

AFFIDAVITS FOR MULTIPLE SPONSORS:
Each sponsor must submit:

• A separate Affidavit of Support
• Corresponding financial documentation

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS:

The Affidavit must:

•  Contain a sponsor name that matches exactly the name on the financial document
• Include a sponsor address consistent with the bank statement (recommended)
• Identify the semester and year the I-20 is being issued for
• Be signed by the sponsor with a handwritten signature (typed signatures are not accepted)
•  Indicate whether the sponsor will:
  • Provide full financial support (Option 1)
  • Provide partial support (Option 2), specifying the exact dollar amount

If Option 2 is selected, the bank balance must be equal to or greater than the amount listed. 

C) Passport

Students must submit a clear, readable copy of the biographical page of their passport. This page must show:

• Full legal name
•  Date of birth
• Passport expiration date
• The Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) at the bottom

The passport must be valid at the time the I-20 is issued. Blurry or incomplete images will cause delays.

icon Please ensure that your passport will not expire within the next six months. Otherwise, you will be required to renew it. 

D) SEVIS Transfer-In Form

This form is only required for students transferring an active SEVIS record from another U.S.
institution.

• The student completes the upper section.
• The International Student Advisor/DSO at the current institution completes the lower section
  and submits it directly to: immigrationdocs@utah.edu
• The University of Utah cannot issue a new I-20 until:
  • The SEVIS Transfer-In Form is completed, and
  •  The student’s SEVIS record is officially released to the University of Utah on the selected
    release date

iconTyped signatures are not accepted. Digital handwritten signatures are acceptable.

E) Company Funds

Company funds can be accepted. However, please note the following:

• Company bank statement must be submitted
• Must also be accompanied with one of the following:
  • Affidavit of Support from your sponsor. We will not be able to issue you an I-20 until this form has been received.
  • If your sponsor chooses to submit an affidavit of support it must include the following:
    • Must include an official company stamp. 
    • Must be signed by someone authorized to issue such a letter (such as the CEO, HR representative, etc.).
• A consolidated letter of support. If your sponsor chooses to submit a consolidated letter of support it must include the following:

              *Must be on company letterhead

              *Name of sponsor and student

              *Relationship to sponsor 

               *Clearly indicates what the sponsor will be financially responsible for (funding amount                        they will be providing the student).

              *Is signed and dated by someone authorized to issue such a letter (such as the CEO, HR                        representative, etc.).

              *Includes semester the student plans to start attending the U.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MAY BE REQUIRED

Submitting the following information in the same email as your documents can help speed up
processing:

● Foreign (home country) address

○ Must be located in the student’s country of citizenship
○ May differ from the mailing address
○ Cannot be a P.O. box or organizational address

● Phone number
● City of birth
● U.S. address (if applicable)

○ Must be a physical address
○ Required for students living in or recently returned from the U.S.

● Dependent information (if applicable)○ Dependents include a spouse or children under age 21

○ Must provide:

■ Passport copies for each dependent
■ Proof of an additional $6,000 USD per dependent

 

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

• Please upload your I-20 documents using the following link: https://uatlas.isss.utah.edu/istart/controllers/client/ClientEngine.cfm?serviceid=CategoryServicePr… 
  • It will be available once you create your CIS/Student account upon admission

If you have trouble accessing your portal, materials must be submitted by email to: immigrationdocs@utah.edu

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Submit all documents as PDF attachments (do not embed images in the email)
• Do not combine multiple document types into one PDF
• Ensure all documents are clear, complete, and readable
• Only submit the documents requested by the Office of Admissions
• Check your email frequently for follow-up requests
• Documents older than six months cannot be used
• Processing may take several weeks after receipt of all required materials

Please note: repeated inquiries may delay processing by diverting staff from document review. 

 

I-20 SUBMISSION DEADLINES

To ensure your arrival before the start of the term, all materials must be submitted by the deadlines
below: 

iconSPRING SEMESTER

• • November 1 — Students outside the United States
  • December 19 — Students inside the United States

iconSUMMER SEMESTER

• •  April 1 — Students outside the United States
  • May 1 — Students inside the United States

iconFALL SEMESTER

• • June 1 — Students outside the United States
  • August 1 — Students inside the United States

 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE I-20

• Official acceptance letters will issued via your Slate/FutureU Application portal.
•  I-20s will be sent electronically to the preferred email address listed in SEVIS.
• Students may request that a physical copy be mailed if needed.
• The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) currently permits Designated School Officials (DSOs) to issue digitally signed I-20s via email.

 

STEPS TO TAKE AFTER RECEVING YOUR I-20

1. Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

• Required only for students with a new SEVIS ID
•  Print the payment receipt for your visa interview

2. Complete the Online Visa Application (Form DS-160)

• Upload a passport-style photo
• Print the DS-160 confirmation page

3. Schedule Your Visa Interview

You must bring the following to your interview:

• Valid passport
•  DS-160 confirmation page
• Visa application fee receipt
• Form I-20
• Any additional documents required by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate

4. Attend International Student Orientation

• Mandatory for all F-1 and J-1 students during their first semester
• Students returning after three or more semesters away must attend again

 

DEPENDENT VISAS (F-2 VISAS)

To request I-20s for dependents (spouse or children under age 21), you must submit:

• Evidence of additional funding of $6,000 per dependent
• A copy of each dependent’s passport biographical page

If dependents will arrive after the student, their I-20s must be requested through the International
Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office.

 

2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR ESTIMATED EXPENSES

This section includes information regarding the estimated cost of the student's program and the funding. When students are admitted to the University of Utah, they will provide "Proof of Funding" for one full year of tuition, health insurance, and living expenses. 

Estimated Inter­national Under­graduate Expenses for I-20 Purposes

Below is a breakdown of estimated undergraduate expenses for international students requesting an I-20 from the University of Utah for the 2026-2027 academic year.

PLEASE NOTE: Undergraduate international students must only prove to have funding for 12 credit hours per semester in order for the University of Utah to issue an I-20.

Estimated Inter­national Graduate Expenses for I-20 Purposes

Below is a breakdown of the estimated graduate expenses for international students requesting an I-20 from the University of Utah for the 2026-2027 academic year.

PLEASE NOTE: Graduate students must only prove they have funding for 9 credit hours per semester in order for the University of Utah to issue an I-20.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)