Passport, I-20, and I-94 Information
A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the
identity and nationality of the traveler. A valid passport is required to enter
and leave most foreign countries.
Your passport must be valid at all times. Keep your passport and other important
documents in a safe place, such as a bank safe-deposit box. Report a lost or
stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report
before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your
country's consulate in the U.S. While in the United States, always carry a photocopy of the passport's identity page and photocopies of the other
documents listed below.
Most students seeking admission to the United States must have a passport that
is valid for at least six months. Passport validity periods vary from country to country,
and range from less than a year to several years. Contact your local government office responsible for
issuing passports to determine what procedures are required for obtaining a
passport.
F-1 Students must maintain valid passports
throughout their stay in the
United States. A passport may only be renewed, revalidated or reissued by the
foreign government authority that issued it. A student who needs to renew a
passport should consult his or her embassy or consulate in the U.S. to determine
what procedures are required. Apply as far in advance as allowed by the home
government in order to ensure a timely extension.
If you have a new passport and
your valid visa is still in your old passport, you must use both passports.
The
Department of State website states that "unless previously canceled, a visa
is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S.
visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired
passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and
admission to the United States."
Top of Page
The I-20 form is one of the most important documents that you
must submit to the U.S. embassy when you apply for a student (F-1) visa. It
proves you’ve been accepted to a school in the U.S.
Your I-20 must be valid at all times.
To be eligible to receive an I-20 you
must apply for full-time admission to Cascadia Community College and be accepted
to study here. After we receive
all your completed materials for admission, we will evaluate the documents.
If you are admitted, we will create the I-20
and send it you. If you
choose to have your I-20 couriered to you via DHL, you will need to submit an
additional US$50 with your US$50 application fee for a total of US$100.
The I-94 is a small
white card you will receive when you enter the USA. They are typically
given out on the airplane and when you enter one half is usually stapled into
your passport after it is stamped. Except for brief visits to Canada,
Mexico or adjacent islands, you will be issued a new I-94 card each time you
enter the U.S. The I-94 card records the date and place you entered the U.S.,
your immigration status (for example, F-1 or F-2), and authorized period of stay
(usually written simply as "D/S", meaning "duration of status"
for F-1 students). A large fee is
required to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged I-94 so be sure to safeguard it.
The SEVIS fee is required of all international students and is paid to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
After you are admitted to Cascadia and receive your I-20, you can pay your SEVIS
online at www.fmjfee.com. Be sure to
print the receipt
once you have paid the fee; you must take the receipt to your visa
interview. We recommend that you pay online with a credit card.
Top of Page
Last updated on: Nov. 5, 2008
|
