I-20 and F-1 Visa:Steps for Community College Students

The I-20 is the eligibility document a U.S. school issues to an admitted international student. Its full name is Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. With the I-20, the student pays the SEVIS fee, applies for an F-1 student visa, and presents it at the port of entry. Before issuing an I-20, a community college requires the applicant to prove sufficient funds for one year of tuition and living expenses. An F-1 visa may be issued up to 365 days before the program start date, but new students may enter no earlier than 30 days before the program start date. This page is compiled from U.S. government and college websites; for actual procedures, the college’s international student office and official U.S. government guidance are the final authority.

What the I-20 Is

This section explains how the I-20 is issued, what it is used for, and what information to check.

The I-20 is issued by a school’s Designated School Official (DSO). Only schools certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program may issue an I-20. The I-20 lists the program start date and the school code, both of which are needed to pay the SEVIS fee and apply for the visa. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security states that the student’s visa type must match the I-20 type; an F-1 visa corresponds to an F-1 I-20. At the port of entry, the student should carry the signed original I-20.

SEVIS is the U.S. government information system that manages the status of international students (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Paying the SEVIS fee requires information from the I-20, so the student must receive the I-20 first.

Proof of Funds: Requirements at Two Colleges

This section uses Saddleback College and Pasadena City College as examples of the proof of funds a community college requires before issuing an I-20.

Item	Saddleback College	Pasadena City College
Annual amount to prove	$31,000 (2026-27 academic year)	$35,876
Bank statement validity	Statements issued within the past 4 months	Valid for 6 months from the date of issue
Accompanying form	Financial Responsibility Form	Sponsor Statement Form
Account types	No restriction stated on the website	Checking, savings, and certificates of deposit only; stock, investment, and retirement accounts not accepted
Accompanying dependents	An additional $5,000 each	See the college tuition page

Saddleback College’s $31,000 consists of four components. Tuition is $12,288, health insurance is $2,580, and the health fee is $56. Living expenses such as housing and transportation total $16,076. Pasadena City College also requires bank statements in English or with a certified translation, signed and stamped by a bank officer. Government-sponsored students may submit a financial guarantee letter from the sponsoring agency instead. For budget figures at other colleges, see Annual Budget.

Visa Application Steps

This section lists the F-1 visa application steps in order. The sequence may differ by embassy or consulate; follow the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate in China.

1. Check the I-20Confirm that the name, date of birth, and program start date match the passport.
2. Pay the SEVIS feePay the I-901 SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com ($350 for F-1 applicants) and keep the payment receipt.
3. Complete the DS-160The DS-160 is the online nonimmigrant visa application form; print the confirmation page after submission.
4. Pay and schedulePay the visa application fee as instructed on the embassy or consulate website and schedule the interview.
5. Attend the interviewBring the required materials and answer the consular officer’s questions.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lists the materials to bring to the interview. These include the original I-20 with an ink signature, a valid passport, and the DS-160 confirmation page. The visa application fee receipt and a compliant photo are also required. The consular officer may also ask for academic records and evidence of intent to return home and of financial ability. U.S. rules require the SEVIS fee to be paid before the Department of State issues the visa.

Entry Timing and Check-In

This section explains the time limits on visa issuance and entry.

Since 2023, the U.S. Department of State has allowed consular officers to issue F-1 visas up to 365 days before the program start date. Earlier visa issuance does not change the entry date. New students may enter no earlier than 30 days before the program start date listed on the I-20. A visa only allows the student to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission; a border officer decides whether to admit the student. After entry, the student must attend the international student orientation and complete registration as the college instructs.

SEVIS Transfer When Moving to UC

This section explains how the SEVIS record moves from the community college to UC at transfer.

1. Notify the current collegeSubmit proof of UC admission, UC contact information, and the SEVIS school code to the community college international student office.
2. Set the release dateThe release date is usually the end of the current term, or an earlier expected transfer date.
3. Receive the new I-20After the release date, UC issues a new I-20.
4. Report on timeThe student must report to UC within 15 days of the program start date listed on the new I-20.

ICE also requires the student to begin classes within 5 months of the last day of classes at the previous school or at the start of the next available term, whichever is earlier. Students are advised to submit the release request to the community college only after choosing a UC campus. For F-1 enrollment rules, see F-1 Student Rules.

Latest Status of the 2026 Duration of Status Rule

This section explains the progress of the 2026 rule on the F-1 period of stay. Duration of status is abbreviated D/S.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a rule that would replace D/S for F-1 students with a fixed period of admission. The rule was scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026. On September 14, 2026, a federal district court stayed the rule nationwide. The current D/S system continues to apply while the litigation proceeds, and the government is expected to appeal. Some college web pages may still describe the rule according to the original effective date, so students should follow the latest notices from their international student office.