Understanding the I-20 – International Services

A Form I-20 is the physical document of your SEVIS record. This document is required during travel into the United States. Below are the descriptions of important sections of the Form I-20.

Form Information

SEVIS ID Number

SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. As an F-1 student, you will be assigned a SEVIS number.

Form Issue Reason

The issue reason can be Initial Attendance (issued to new students who have not entered the US, or had their SEVIS record registered), Continued Attendance (current students whose SEVIS record is registered), or Transfer (incoming students whose SEVIS record is transferred from one university to CGU).

Student Information

Country of Citizenship

The country of citizenship of the student.

Admission Number (typically I-94)
An 11-digit number which tracks your travel history into and out of the United States. An admission number is generated after your first entry into the United States. You can view your I-94 Admission Number and travel history after you arrive to the U.S.

Program Information

Degree Level

There are three eligible degree levels for CGU students: English Language, Masters and Doctorate. Students enrolled in the International Scholars Program (ISP) are assigned the English Language degree level.

Major & Minor (CIP Codes)

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes are five–digit codes (00.000) assigned to each program of study at university. CIP codes also determine which programs are designated as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The CIP codes are pre-assigned by the Registrar’s Office. Any changes to the CIP code impact all students who earn the degree and cannot be individually assigned. The Major description on your I-20 may vary slightly from the actual name of your degree from CGU.

Earliest Admission Date

The earliest arrival date to enter the United States (30 days prior to the initial start date).

Start of Classes

This date is determined by the first day of classes for the upcoming or current semester. If classes have already started, the current date is used.

Program Start and End Date

Program start date states indicates the date of orientation or the required activities to start the program. Program end date is the expected end date that students will complete the degree requirement. For International Scholars program students, this date period is one semester. For MA/MS students, this date periods is 2 years, and for PhD students, it is 7 years. For dual master’s degrees the period is 3 years. Your actual time to completion may be shorter or longer than this timeframe.

Financials

All F-1 students must show proof of funding for the first year of the program. The financials section outlines the estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, living expenses) as well as student contributions (sponsorship, fellowships, family funds, etc). The annual cost of attendance and expenses are determined by the Office of Financial Aid.

Current Session Dates

The current session dates refer to the current semester dates. Typically, current session dates are updated after the add/drop deadline. You do not need a new I-20 for each semester, but these dates will be updated in your SEVIS record.

Employment Authorizations

Students are only allowed to participate in off-campus employment or practical training (Curricular Practical Training, or Optional Practical Training) after approval from the Designated School Official (DSO) within the Office of Student Life, Diversity and Leadership (SLDL), or US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).

Approved employment or practical training information will be listed in this section by the Designated School Official (DSO). For more information, please review the authorization procedures for CPT, OPT and off-campus employment.

Change of Status/ Cap-Gap Extension

This section applies to students who are changing their immigration status (F1 to H1-B; F1 to permanent resident; etc). In addition, students approved for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and an H1-B visa may be eligible for a cap-gap extension between their OPT end date, and H1-B start date. If approved for the cap-gap extension, USCIS will enter the approved dates in this section.

Reduced Course Load

Authorization for F1 students to enroll in less than full-time coursework during the semester. For more information, please review the eligibility and authorization procedures to request a reduced course load.

Travel Endorsement

The signature under Travel Endorsement is valid for one year from the date signed by the Designated School Official. This endorsement can be used for re-entry in the United States along with a valid F-1 visa stamp.