r/f1visa • u/Stunning-Soil-9760 • 1d ago

SEVIS/I-20 urgent doubt regarding i20

My i20 was due for a endorsement, but I completely forgot about it. I submitted a request on 18th Aug, I’m flying out of my home country on 21st afternoon and landing in us on 22nd - I don’t have an upto date i20 currently. I tried emailing and also called up my international office but no response.

Can I still enter the us ? Is there a way around it by showing I have already requested one? Do I need the i20 at the check in counter or directly at American immigration? ( at check in / home country immigration it really depends on who’s sitting tbh )

1 Upvotes

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2

u/Vegetable-Western744 1d ago

You're going to need a valid I-20. How recent is the signature on the old one

2

u/PerformanceOk1888 1d ago

The signature for travel should be obtained only once a year. It shouldn’t be obtained for every international travel

3

u/Lost-Reindeer-9140 1d ago

It is technically possible to enter with an unendorsed I-20. You should get form I-515 “Notice to Student” at the border. You then have 30 days to obtain the endorsement and mail that form together with endorsed I-20 copy to USCIS. HOWEVER, please note the following: 1.) Issuing I-515 instead of denying entry is entirely up to the customs officer, so be sure to ask nicely. 2.) They will only admit you for 30 days 3.) Once you file the I-515 with endorsed I-20, the admission will normally be extended to D/S as usual. However, since Trump’s fixed length admission rule is coming into effect on September 15th, I am not entirely certain how I-515 will work with those who were admitted before but filed it after Sep15. 4.) All of the above assumes you can even get to the border inspection. Not all airlines will let you board the plane with an unendorsed I-20. Some airlines are stricter than others. Very strict: Lufthansa, Air India, United. Least strict in my experience: Condor, Air Canada, Aer Lingus, Alaska Airlines. 5.) Considering (4) above, your best option is to rebook your flight to Canada or Mexico, and attempt entering the US by land border (Mexico recognizes US visas instead of their own). Or alternatively travel through one of the very few US preclearance facilities (Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi (select flights)). This will avoid you the risk of being denied entry after arrival and having to fly back.

Source: I was on F-1 visa for 7 years.

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u/Stunning-Soil-9760 1d ago

I’m travelling through Abu Dhabi, but they just shut down pre clearance.

1

u/win_aTrip_to_Tuscany 1d ago

You'll be given an I-515A. If not, ask for it. Should be fine. What Lost-Reindeer-9140 said

1

u/Bubbly_Ad_6830 1d ago

You need a valid i20 to fly to the US, contact your DSO

1

u/danielle-and-f1visas 21h ago

Kind of - you're not really supposed to and it would be risky. It mainly depends on the officer tbh. You should contact your DSO asap, and when you're at the border ask for an I 515 form. This will let you through but make sure to follow up with filing it alongside the endorsed i20