If your plans change and you do not plan to attend the University of Oregon, please send an email to International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
I-20 "Certificate of Eligibility"
An I-20 is issued by International Student & Scholar Services based on your admission to the University of Oregon and submitted evidence of financial support.
The I-20 is required to apply for an F-1 student visa and for entry to the U.S. You will receive your I-20 as a .pdf file via email. You must print, sign and date the I-20 copy and keep the I-20 with your passport for your visa interview and for entry to the U.S.
- Review your I-20 for accuracy, sign and date. Your name and birthdate should match your passport. If corrections are necessary, email a copy of your passport to International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
- The I-20 Program State Date coincides with the start of classes. You must enter the U.S. before the I-20 program start date but not earlier than 30 days before the program state date. If your arrival is delayed, please contact International Student & Scholar Services at intl@uoregon.edu.
- The I-20 Program End Date is an estimate and may not reflect the actual completion date of your degree program.
- The I-20 Estimated Average Costs are based on non-resident tuition and fees, and estimated living and school expenses. Actual costs may be higher or lower depending on specific program costs and individual needs.
I-901 SEVIS Fee
Afer you receive your I-20, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee ($350) to the U.S. government based on your I-20 SEVIS ID number. You are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before you apply for your F-1 visa.
Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at FMJfee.com. Print payment confirmation and keep it with your I-20.
Graduate Employees (GE) may request reimbursement of the I-901 SEVIS fee from the UO Graduate School. For reimbursement instructions, go to SEVIS Fee Reimbursement for International GEs.
F-1 Visa
After you receive the I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, you will need to schedule a visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as possible. You will use the SEVIS ID to schedule the interview but you must present the printed, signed & dated copy of the I-20 you received via email to the consular officer when you attend your visa interview. You can apply for an F1 visa up to 365 days before the I-20 program start date.
Learn how to schedule your visa interview and apply for your visa. Review the student visas page on travel.state.gov as well as the instructions at the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a visa. After you receive your visa, check to see that you received the right type of visa and that your name and date of birth are correct and match the information in your passport.
Canadian Citizens: You do not have to apply for an F-1 visa in advance of your arrival to the U.S., but you are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee (see above).
Entering the U.S.
You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the I-20 program start date; not earlier! Arrival to the U.S. should be a smooth experience if you have everything prepared in advance. For new student arrival guidance, go to https://isss.uoregon.edu/fall-2020-guidance-new-international-students