I-20 Form

2. Do not enter the U.S. without a visa!
Citizens of certain countries are allowed to enter the U.S. without visas. Do not do this! If you enter without a visa, you will be permitted to stay for only 90 days. You will not be given more time or permitted to change to student status. Visas are never required for students who are Canadians, British citizens resident in Canada, American Indians resident in Canada, or residents of Pacific island nations that were once U. S. trust territories. Students from all other countries must have visas, including the “visa waiver” countries.

During your flight to the U. S. you will be asked to complete a form called “Departure Record” or “I-94″ for short. The form you complete should be white. If the flight attendant gives you a form that is green, explain that it is the wrong one and that you must have a white one.

3. If you are in the U.S. as an F-1 student, do not travel with an I-20 from any other school!
You must attend the school issuing the Form I-20 you used to enter the U. S. If you are transferring from another U. S. school, you will lose your legal status if you travel on your old school’s I-20 and do not return to that school. Talk to us before you travel and be sure to reenter with a Black Hawk College I-20.

What is a Form I-20 and Why Do You Need One?
The Form I-20 is a U. S. government form, but can be issued only by a specially-appointed school official. The form is not issued by the government; it is issued to the government by the school. It states that the student whose name is on the form has been accepted for a full-course of study after applying to the school and submitting all required academic documentation. It also states that the school has seen documents proving that you have enough money to live and study in the U. S. without working illegally or suffering from poverty. Without an I-20, it is not possible to obtain a student visa or to keep lawful F-1 status when transferring from one school to another in the U. S. Transfer students do not have to receive our I-20 before coming to this school and attending classes. Though it is best to qualify for the I-20 as soon as possible, you will not need the form until the second week of classes, unless you wish to travel outside the U. S. before classes begin.

Students who are outside the U. S. should not worry about their visas at this time. Since you cannot get a visa without the I-20, your priority must be to provide us with the financial documentation we require before we will issue the form.

We are very strict about proof of financial ability. Too little money causes pain and distress for students. We insist that students and their families look closely at the cost of living and studying in the U. S. and make careful plans to be sure the student’s needs are met. The figures we list for various expenses are the lowest possible. Do not assume that they are generous or a formality! Having less money available than the sum we indicate could put a student in serious jeopardy.

We also want to be sure that the requirements of the most demanding U. S. consuls are met so our students’ visas will not be denied for financial reasons.

Getting Your I-20 From Black Hawk College
There are a number of strict rules for issuance of a Form I-20 by Black Hawk College. Read and follow them very carefully. They are listed below.

Rules of Issuance of a Form I-20 by Black Hawk College
On the following pages are the rules for issuance of a Form I-20 by Black Hawk College. Read and follow the rules very carefully.

If we say “no” to the papers you send, do not despair. Many students must submit papers two, three, or more times before giving us acceptable papers. If you follow the rules carefully, we will be able to say “yes” on your first try and you could be here sooner from abroad.

There Are Several Rules to Follow to Get an I-20

1. In order to issue the Form I-20, we must have proof that the applicant has the financial means to live and study in the United States. Any amount of money promised by either the student or a sponsor must be documented. That means, you must present papers that show that the amount in question is available. These papers can consist of (but are not limited to) bank statements, showing holdings in the account over a period of at least six months; proof of income; a copy of last year’s tax report; copies of documents showing ownership of real estate; other documents showing the student’s or sponsor’s ability to pay. If you receive grants or scholarships from a government, a non-governmental organization, or an educational institution, we require a certified copy of the grant or scholarship letter.If you provide a bank statement, it must be an original and signed and stamped/sealed by a bank official. Proof of a sponsor’s income should be on the employer’s letterhead or, if the sponsor is a self-employed businessperson, estimated by a bank or private accountant. In either case, the document must carry the signature of an authorized official of the company or bank. The income of a company is not the income of the owner of the business and will not be accepted as proof of income. You must provide an official statement of the salary paid to the owner/sponsor.
2. We will not accept letters from banks or anyone else saying that a sponsor has “enough” money to support a student. Only this office can decide how much is enough. When a sponsor wishes to keep his bank balance or income private, we will accept official documents saying that the savings or income is “more than” an amount that is clearly sufficient.
3. Each sponsor must submit an affidavit stating exactly how much money is to be provided. All questions on affidavit forms must be answered. Affidavits must be signed by the sponsor in the presence of a notary public, the notary public must sign, and the official seal of the notary public must be on the affidavit. Affidavits that have been changed in any way will be rejected. There are notaries public at all U. S. embassies and consulates. In the U. S., many neighborhood pharmacists are notaries, as are most lawyers and accountants. There are notaries in all countries, though the names for them may be different. They are officials licensed by the national or regional government to take sworn statements for courts of law or to witness contracts and property deeds.
4. Do not submit old documents. Both the U. S. government and Black Hawk College require recent documents (no more than six months old).
5. Do not send faxes or copies. Except for tax documents, leases, and deeds, all papers must be originals. Copies are rejected and returned. Originals will be attached to I-20s or DS-2019s issued for visa applications and returned to the student.
6. Students can sponsor themselves, either partly or in full. No affidavits are needed for the student’s own money. Recent bank statements in the student’s name must be provided, and statements from at least a year earlier to show us that the money was not borrowed and recently deposited. Remember, however, that the law requires financial support for your entire program in addition to readily available cash for the first year. Unless you have enough cash to support yourself and your studies in the U. S. for your entire program, your cash will soon be used up. You will probably need a sponsor with an income to show that you can finance the entire educational program.
7. Scholarships and other grants or stipends may be used to qualify for the Form I-20 and must be used to qualify for the form DS-2019.  We must have an award letter from the private or government scholarship board stating how much money is to be given and for how many years.

   Please Mail All Forms and Supporting Evidence to:
   Black Hawk College
   Coordinator, International Student Program
   6600 34th Avenue
   Moline, IL 61265-5899 USA
   309-796-5186
   
   Deadlines
   For entry in the Fall Semester (mid-August): April 1st
   For entry in the Spring Semester (early January): October 1st
   For entry in the Summer term (early June): February 1st

8. Free room and board is worth a substantial part of the dollar amount to support a student for a year. When a family member or friend near the school gives a student a free place to live and/or free meals, the student needs far less in cash from other sponsors. Affidavits of free room and board must be sent with a copy of the property deed or rental lease.

Please Mail All Forms and Supporting Evidence to:
Coordinator, International Student & Scholar Program
Black Hawk College
6600 34th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265-5899 U.S.A.
309-796-5186

A Note About Financial Documents
Applicants are often hesitant to submit original financial documents to a college, because they know that they will need these originals for their visa interview at the US Embassy.

It may help you to know the following:
Once the I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, all original financial documents (except the Affidavit of Sponsor) are returned to the applicant with the form. A copy of the Affidavit of Sponsor is returned to the applicant as well, and the “Remarks” section of the I-20 states that the original Affidavit of Sponsor of [sponsor’s name] is on file at Black Hawk College.

Question: Can I issue an I-20 or DS-2019 without original financial documents?
Answer: No.

Question: Can I accept photocopied or faxed financial documents?
Answer: No.

Question: Can I accept someone else’s statement saying that the sponsor or student has enough money?
Answer: No.

The individual issuing the Form I-20 or DS-2019 is bound by US law to examine the financial evidence the student provides when applying for the I-20 or DS-2019. This responsibility cannot be delegated to anyone else.

In some countries, an official will only certify (notarize) a document when the applicant has proven the contents of the document to be true. A student who wishes to have an Affidavit of Sponsor certified may have to prove to the certifying official that the funds are actually available. This student then perhaps assumes that since such proof was made, the original Affidavit of Sponsor with photocopies of the support documents will be sufficient to receive an I-20. This is incorrect. Regardless of who else has examined the evidence the student offered, the person issuing the I-20 or DS-2019 must examine that evidence herself/himself in order to issue the form.

In other words, unless I have a full set of original financial documents from an applicant in hand, I cannot issue an I-20 or DS-2019.

I hope that this information is helpful as you prepare your documentation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.