Creating Your I-20

All F-1 students that study in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”

After you have been admitted to Elmhurst University and made your tuition prepayment, you will be able to request an I-20 through the Next Steps checklist in your admission portal. All documents will need to be submitted via the request form in the portal; please do not email documents to our office.

Sign and date your I-20 upon receipt and keep it safe—you will need it throughout the international student lifecycle.

Document Checklist

Before an I-20 can be issued, you must submit the following:

• Bank statements: Evidence of adequate funding to meet the estimated tuition and living expenses for your first year of study (please refer to the Declaration of Finances & Affidavit of Support form for exact amounts). Please submit bank statements, issued within the last six months, listed in the form of savings, or another bank account from which funds can easily be withdrawn.
• Translations must accompany any affidavits or bank statements issued in a language other than English.
• Affidavit of Support: You must complete an EU Declaration of Finances & Affidavit of Support form with your sponsor(s). The top portion is for the student to complete; the bottom portion is for any sponsors to complete.
• Copy of the identification page in your passport.
• Tuition Deposit

If you are currently attending a U.S. school on an F1 visa and are applying for a Transfer I-20, please submit the following additional items:

• Elmhurst University SEVIS Transfer Release Form: Please complete the top section of the transfer release form, and have the bottom section completed by the International Student Advisor at your current school. (Scroll down to the “Forms” heading to download this form.)
• Copy of pages 1 and 2 of your current school’s I-20 form.
• Copy of your most recent I-94: Print a copy of your online electronic I-94.

If you are currently in the U.S. on a visa other than F1 and wish to change your visa while in the U.S. without traveling back to your country, please submit the following additional items:

• Copy of your current visa.
• Copy of your most recent I-94: Print a copy of your online electronic I-94.

If you are bringing dependents (spouse and/or children), please submit the following additional documents:

• Copy of dependent’s biographical page from passport.
• Proof of relationship:
  • If the dependent is your spouse (husband or wife), you must submit a copy of your marriage certificate with an official English language translation if applicable.
  • If the dependent is your child, you must submit the child’s birth certificate with an official English language translation if applicable.
• Additional funds for dependent expenses:
  • $4,000 for each additional dependent.