NOTE: Please allow 15 business days for all e-form processing.
Programs and Offices for Northeastern’s International Community.
International student hub.
Welcome to the International Student Hub — a place to learn about and connect with Northeastern's International community!
- Office of Global Services
- Global Student Success
- Global Pathways
- Graduate Programs
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Bachelor’s Completion
- Pre-College
Students Studying in The United States Requesting Your I-20 (F-1)
All admitted students who will be studying with an F-1 visa need an I-20 form in order to move forward with the visa process.
What is an I-20?
An I-20 is a U.S. immigration document issued by a university to certify that an F-1 student has met admission requirements and has proof of sufficient financial resources for his/her studies. An I-20 is required to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Newly admitted international students that have paid a deposit should request an I-20. The Office of Global Services (OGS) encourages you to submit your initial I-20 request as soon as possible because the visa process takes time.
Who is an Initial student?
New international students coming from outside the U.S. that are seeking F-1 visa status.
Who is a Transfer Student?
If a student currently has an Active Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS) record with another SEVP-certified institution in the U.S., they may be eligible to transfer their SEVIS record to Northeastern University. T ransfer students must:
- Request to have their SEVIS record transferred out from their current institution to Northeastern University
- Apply for a Transfer I-20 from Northeastern University
Please see the Requesting your Transfer-In I-20 page for more information.
Who is a Change of Status student?
If you are currently in the U.S. in a non-immigrant status (B-1/B-2, F-1, F-2, H-1b or H-4) and would like to change to a different non-immigrant status (F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2), you must apply for a Change of Status I-20. Once you’ve received the Change of Status I-20 there are two options:
- Option 1: You may travel outside of the U.S., apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy with all required materials, and re-enter the U.S. in the new status. This option is often referred to as Consular Processing.
- Option 2: You may apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change your status without leaving the U.S. by completing Form I-539 Application to extend/change your non-immigrant status. This process can take between 6 and 9 months and it is recommended you do not travel while your application is in process.
Please note: If your change of status application is approved by USCIS (option 2), your new F/J status will be active; however, you will not receive a corresponding visa in your passport that reflects the new status . As a result, you will need to apply for a new visa stamp at an embassy/consulate outside of the U.S. in order to re-enter the U.S. in F/J status.
To learn more about change of status and see which option is best for you, please schedule an appointment with an advisor at the Office of Global Services (OGS) by calling +1-617-373-2310.
Video: Change to F-1 Student Status
Video: Change to F-1 Student Status within the U.S.
TRAVELING WITH A PENDING CHANGE OF STATUS
We don’t recommend traveling outside of the U.S. while your application with USCIS is still pending. If you can’t avoid traveling, please consult with OGS beforehand as you may need to reach out to USCIS to withdraw your application prior to traveling and submit a new I-20 request with OGS.
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT) AND OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
In order to be eligible for both CPT and OPT, you must have maintained full time enrollment with appropriate on-ground presence for at least one academic year. One academic year is defined as two semesters or three quarters. It may be possible for you to use your time in another status towards meeting the one academic year.
If you are a change of status student and have questions about CPT/OPT eligibility, please call OGS to schedule an appointment with an advisor by calling +1-617-373-2310.
What is a Change of Degree Level?
If you are a current, continuing student at Northeastern and you will be starting a new program at Northeastern, you must submit a Change of Degree Level e-form request to myOGS prior to starting the new program .
Please see the Guidelines on Maintaining Status page for more information.
Suggested Deadlines to Submit Your I-20 Request
Ogs recommends that you submit your completed i-20 request e-form by the following dates to allow time for visa processing. the suggested deadlines are a guide and do not guarantee you will receive the visa in time for your program., winter 2025 quarter and spring 2025 semester (january 6, 2025 start date).
- November 18 , 2024 : Initial I-20 request Graduate Certificate, M.S. and PhD. For students outside of the U.S.
- December 16, 2024 : Transfer I-20 request or international students already in the U.S.
Spring CPS Quarter 2025 (April 7, 2025 start date)
- February 1 7 , 202 5 : Initial I-20 request Graduate Certificate, M.S. and PhD. For students outside of the U.S.
- March 17 , 202 5 : Transfer I-20 request or international students already in the U.S.
Campus Changes Prior to Arrival in the U.S.
Please note that the I-20 you receive from OGS is created specifically for the campus that you indicated you will be studying. To avoid any issues or delays with your F-1 visa application, OGS encourages students to commit to their campus before requesting their I-20.
All campus changes must be approved by the admissions department prior to requesting an I-20.
- If you have already been issued an I-20 and have been approved to change campuses, your I-20 will be cancelled, and you will be issued a new I-20 with a different SEVIS ID. If you have already paid the I-901 fee with your previous SEVIS record, you may request to transfer the payment to the new SEVIS record.
- If your visa application has already been approved and you wish to transfer to another Northeastern campus, your previous I-20 will be cancelled and we advise you to re-apply for the F-1 visa.
It may be possible to request a change of campus when you are a current student. Please speak to your Academic Advisor if you wish to pursue this option.
How to prepare and submit an online request:
After confirming your enrollment, you will be able to submit an electronic i-20 request through myogs..
1 Confirm your Enrollment
You are required to confirm your enrollment by following the instructions on your official decision letter, which may include arranging to pay (e.g. by credit card) an enrollment deposit. This transaction is required of all admitted students before they initiate the I-20 process.
2 Required documents for the I-20 request e-form. They must be in digital format of PDF or JPEG.
- Copy of the identity page of your valid passport
- Financial documents meeting your academic program’s estimate of expenses
- If you are submitting financial documents that are not in U.S. Dollars, please provide a currency conversion from a currency conversion calculator and upload it to the e-form.
- Sponsor letter or affidavit of support (only required when your sponsor is a non-blood relative)
3 Access the I-20 request e-form.
Click here to submit your I-20 request.
Related Articles:
Financial requirements, frequently asked questions, when is the i-20 request deadline for my initial i-20.
Please refer to the suggested deadlines listed on the Requesting your I-20 page.
How long does it take for the Initial I-20 to be issued?
The process of issuing the I-20 can take approximately 15 business days to complete. Please be aware that during the peak season, it may take longer. If there are missing parts of the application, OGS will contact you to correct and resubmit your request.
How do I access myOGS?
After your admission to Northeastern, the admissions team from the college or school you have been admitted to will send you a link to claim your Student Hub account. Once you claim your Student Hub account, your myOGS account will be created within 24-48 hours and you will be able to access the links to make a request within the portal.
Why am I unable to access the I-20 request?
You are required to confirm your enrollment first by following the instructions on your official decision letter, which may include arranging to pay (e.g. by credit card) an enrollment deposit. This transaction is required of all admitted students before they can initiate the I-20 process.
Most students can login to their application account/official decision letter using one of the following links:
- College of Professional Studies programs application link .
- D’Amore-McKim School of Business programs application link .
- Most other graduate programs application link .
If you have questions about confirming your enrollment, please contact the admissions department for your program or college.
If you are still unable to access the I-20 request after confirming your enrollment, please contact OGS at through the OGS Service Portal or by calling +1.617.373.2310
How much money do I need to show for I-20 issuance?
You need to show that you can cover the expenses for the first academic year including but not limited to, tuition, fees, health insurance coverage, and living expenses. Please refer to the I-20 instruction information for the exact total amount for your program
I have a financial document but I am not sure if it’s acceptable for I-20 issuance. What should I do?
Please refer to the “Guidelines for Demonstrating Financial Support” on the I-20 Instructions.
I am an incoming PhD student that received Stipended Graduate Assistantships (SGA) from my academic department with an amount that can also cover my spouse. Can I show my SGA letter as a financial document for both of our I-20s?
Yes, you can provide your SGA letter as a financial document.
I will be coming with my spouse/child to the U.S. When should I request their I-20 and how much extra do I need to show for their I-20s?
If you are planning to arrive together, you should request both/all of the I-20s at the same time.
You will need to show $10,000 in additional funds for your spouse and $6,000 for your child.
How will I receive my I-20?
OGS will email an electronically signed, password-protected PDF version of your I-20 to your Northeastern email. We strongly recommend opening your I-20 document immediately to avoid any last-minute problems with the document or access to the document. If you have any questions regarding your I-20 or are unable to open the PDF, please contact OGS as soon as possible during business hours.
You may download your I-20 to your phone or computer, or print your I-20. If you are printing your I-20, please use a high quality, colored printer. You must also sign the document on page one. If you will be using this I-20 to enter the U.S., you should carry a printed copy of the I-20 with you as well as the electronic version.
When can I enter the U.S.?
You can enter as early as 30 days prior to your program start date; you are required to arrive before the program start date. If you expect any further delays in your arrival, please contact OGS office for further instructions. These dates can be confirmed by locating the earliest admission date and program start date on your I-20.
My initial I-20 does not have a travel signature and I will be entering the U.S. for the first time. Will I be able to enter the U.S.?
You do not need to have a travel signature when you enter the U.S. for the first time on your Initial I-20.
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