Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I receive my I-20?

Students will not be issued an I-20 until they have been admitted to UTA and submitted all required financial documents. Please check your To Do List for additional items needed to issue your I-20.

Initial I-20s are issued within 7 business days after uploading the required financial documents and passport copy. (Processing time may vary during peak season from January through May. Uploading duplicate documents may cause delays in processing.)

When will I receive my transfer I-20?

Contact your current school's international office to request your SEVIS record to be sent to UTA. Your transfer I-20 will be issued AFTER the SEVIS release date you indicate when you submit your request for your SEVIS record to be sent to UTA. It is not necessary to confirm if UTA received your transfer record. Your current school will confirm the release of your transfer record to UTA.

Does UTA require a deposit to receive an I20?

No, UTA does not require a deposit to issue an I-20.

Who issues my I-20?

If you are a new student to UTA the Office of Admissions will issue the initial I-20.

If you are a currently enrolled UTA International Student in need of an updated I-20, please review the "New I-20 Request" section in the Current F-1 Student webpage. If you have additional questions or doubts, please email [email protected].

If you are currently in the U.S. on another visa type (i.e. H-1, H-4, B-1, B-2, etc.) and wish to obtain an F-1 student visa the Office of International Education will assist you. Please see Change of Status Categories.

If you are currently out of status, you will need to go through the Office of International Education to work on reinstatement of your visa. Reinstatement

If you are not sure of your status or need assistance with your visa you may schedule an immigration advising appointment with the Office of International Education.

Will UTA expedite my I-20?

No, UTA will not expedite I-20s. Due to high volume during peak season (January-May) UTA is unable to accommodate requests. Students should plan accordingly and apply early to receive their admissions decision and I-20 in a timely manner.

How will the Office of Admissions send the I-20 to me?

The Office of Admissions will issue your initial I-20 electronically via email. The I-20 will be sent to both the UTA student email address and the personal email address the Office of Admissions has on file. Please be sure to mark UTA as a “safe sender” to prevent our emails being sent to the Spam folder.

I have received an undergraduate scholarship, when can I expect to receive an updated I-20?

Scholarships are awarded in multiple rounds beginning in December through late April. Scholarship I-20s will automatically be re-issued by mid-April. There is no need to request an updated I-20. Scholarships are awarded for Fall terms only. Scholarship awards do not transfer to Summer or Spring terms.

I have received a graduate assistantship, graduate scholarship, doctoral fellowship, how can I receive an updated I-20?

Contact your academic advisor to submit the Graduate Funding Form.
Graduate Advisor Directory

Alternatively, you may upload a copy of your funding/award letter through the Financial & Supporting Document Upload form.

My major/program is different on my I-20.

The major listed on your I-20 may look different from your UTA major because the U.S. government uses a standardized system called CIP codes to classify all academic programs. These codes group similar majors under broad categories to keep things consistent for immigration and work eligibility purposes. For your I-20, UTA is required to use the major name as listed in the SEVIS official list of majors. This is standard practice and does not affect your academic path or visa eligibility.

I want to change my major, will I receive a new I-20?

Undergraduate
Undergraduate students who wish to change their major may do so by submitting an Undergraduate Change of Major form. However, a new I-20 will not be issued. Students may request an updated I-20 from the Office of International Education AFTER arriving on campus and meeting with academic advising.

Graduate
Graduate students cannot simply change their major. Students must submit a Graduate Update Form to apply for a new program. Note that your current admission (if applicable) will be revoked, and you may be required to submit an update processing fee after our internal team reviews the application. When the update application is complete, it will be sent to the academic department for a new admission decision.

Upon admission to your new program a new I-20 will be issued.

I received a No I-20 letter, what do I do?

If you have received a No I-20 letter, typically this letter is sent to students who are currently on OPT or are currently in the U.S. on another visa type. Please read the letter carefully and return the COMPLETED form to the email address from which it was sent.

I received an I-20 with Second Language Learner listed as my primary major.

If you received an I-20 with Second Language Learner listed as your primary major, you were admitted under the Gateways to English Success Program (GESP). GESP is an intensive English program for international graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate program, but did not meet English language proficiency testing requirements.

A new I-20 with the Second Language Learner major removed will be issued by the Office of International Education upon successful completion of the GESP program.

Alternatively, students can submit qualifying English language proficiency test scores that meet UTA’s and department admissions criteria prior to enrollment in classes. Upon receipt of qualifying scores, the Office of Admissions will issue an updated I-20 with the Second Language Learner major removed.

Who should I list as my DSO for the DS-160 form?

To complete the DS-160, you will need the SEVIS number from your I-20. The SEVIS number can be found on the top left-hand corner of the I-20 form or upper right-hand corner of the DS-2019.

The University of Texas at Arlington’s school code (for F-1 applications) is DAL214F00806000.

The University of Texas at Arlington’s program number (for J-1 applications) is P-1-05968.

School official name and contact information is:
John Perry
c/o Office of International Education, UTA, P.O. Box 19028
1022 UTA Blvd, Arlington, TX 76019
(+1) 817-272-2355

Can I request an emergency visa appointment letter?

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) does not issue letters for the purpose of expediting or requesting emergency visa appointments. Visa appointment scheduling and decisions regarding emergency requests fall solely under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

We recommend that you follow the official guidance provided by the U.S. Department of State and consult the specific embassy or consulate website for procedures related to emergency appointment requests.

If you have received your I-20 and your SEVIS record is active, you should have the necessary documentation to proceed with your visa application.

When can international students legally arrive in the United States?

Entry to the U.S. as a new student is allowed no earlier than 30 days from the program start date on your I-20.

I transferred into UTA, and the Form Issue Reason on my I-20 is stated as “Transfer Pending”.

When students are issued a transfer I-20 by the Office of Admissions the initial Form Issue Reason will be listed as “Transfer Pending”. Your SEVIS record has been successfully transferred from your previous institution to UTA.

This is a normal status during the transfer process and doesn't indicate any issues. You can still use this "transfer pending" I-20 for travel and re-entry into the U.S., and to renew your F-1 visa.

I cannot arrive by the program start date listed on my I-20. How can I arrive late?

Please access new student info for information on how to request a late arrival letter from the Office of International Education.

I-20 Information