Getting a New I-20/DS-2019

Please review the steps below before completing the EForm:

1. Apply for Readmission to the University: If you are an undergraduate student apply for readmission through the Undergraduate Education office. There is a fee.
2. Gather the Required Documents to request a new I-20/DS-2019
   • You must provide financial documentation to cover the minimum funding required for tuition, fees and living expenses. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
   • Your Readmission letter from Undergraduate Education
   • Transfer information if you're currently studying at another SEVP certified school in the U.S
3. If you are currently studying at another school in the U.S. or have been away from UAlbany for less than 5 months, please stop here and contact an ISSS advisor before proceeding
4. Request an I-20/DS-2019 to return:
   • Login to AccessISSS with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.
5. If you will be returning to UAlbany using a new SEVIS ID number, you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for the new SEVIS ID number. 
6. Apply for a New F-1 or J-1 Visa- If your US entry visa in your passport is expired you will need a new visa. In general, students applying for a new visa are required to have: passport valid for at least 6 months into the future; new I-20/DS-2019; proof of I-901 fee payment; documentation of past I-20s/DS-2019s and visa; transcript; official letter of readmission from Undergraduate Education; proof of finances; proof of ties to home country.  If your visa is not yet expired please contact [email protected] for case-by-case advice.
7. Check in with ISSS- After you return to Albany you are required to submit a New Student Arrival Reporting EForm. Remember that you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before your program start date on your I-20 or DS-2019.
    

1. Obtain Permission from Academic Department(s) to Return: PhD students returning from an approved Leave of Absence should contact The Graduate School ([email protected]) and your academic department about your return from a leave. If you are a master's student please contact your department to determine whether or not your program is still active. As part of the I-20/DS-2019 request process ISSS requests that you upload the email from your department approving your return.
2. Gather the Required Documents to request a new I-20/DS-2019
   • You are required to provide financial documentation to cover the minimum funding required for tuition, fees and living expenses. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
   • Transfer information if you're currently studying at another SEVP certified school in the U.S.
3. If you are currently studying at another institution in the U.S. or have been away from UAlbany for less than 5 months, please stop here and contact an ISSS advisor before proceeding.
4. Request an I-20/DS-2019 to return:
   • Login to AccessISSS online system with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.
5. If you will be returning to UAlbany using a new SEVIS ID number, you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee for the new SEVIS ID number. 
6. Apply for a New F-1 or J-1 Visa- If your US entry visa in your passport is expired you will need a new visa. In general, students applying for a new visa are required to have: passport valid for at least 6 months into the future; new I-20/DS-2019; proof of I-901 fee payment; documentation of past I-20s/DS-2019s and visa; transcript; official letter of readmission from Undergraduate Education; proof of finances; proof of ties to home country.  If your visa is not yet expired please contact [email protected] for case-by-case advice.
7. Check in with ISSS- After you return to Albany you are required to submit a New Student Arrival Reporting EForm. Remember that you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before your program start date on your I-20 or DS-2019.

1. Review our Change of Status overview. Change of status requests can be very complicated so you should speak to an ISSS advisor before proceeding. Depending on your case the ISSS advisor may also advise you to seek legal advice from an immigration attorney.
2. Please note that once you are in F-1 or J-1 status you will not be eligible for in-state tuition and will be charged a SEVIS fee for each term registered.
3. Gather the Required Documents to request an I-20/DS-2019
   • You will be asked to upload financial documentation to cover the minimum funding required for tuition, fees and living expenses.. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
   • You should decide whether you will be changing status through travel and re-entry on an initial document or through a USCIS change of status before applying for the I-20/DS-2019.  This will impact the type of document we issue.
4. Request an I-20/DS-2019:
   • Login to AccessISSS online system with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.
5. Further instructions may be provided based on your specific case.

Students may request a F-2 I-20 or J-2 DS-2019 for their spouse or their child(ren) under the age of 21. You will be asked to upload a scan of the spouse and/or child(ren)'s passport pages.

The F-2/J-2's status will be entirely dependent on the F-1/J-1 maintaining status. Once you obtain a F-2 I-20 or J-2 DS-2019, you can move forward with scheduling a F-2 or J-2 visa appointment for your spouse and/or child(ren).

1. Gather the required documents
   • For each dependent you are required to show an additional proof of finances of $4,000 USD. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
   • A copy of your dependent(s)' passport page will also be requested.
2. Request an I-20/DS-2019:
   • Login to AccessISSS with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.

This option is only  for undergraduate students who are already admitted to a combined BA/MA program. Undergraduate students who have been admitted to a new master's or PhD program should contact Graduate Admissions at [email protected] for a new I-20.

You should apply for a new I-20 reflecting the graduate level study once you will be entering a semester for which the majority of your coursework will be graduate level (500+ level coursework).

1. Gather Required Documents:
   • You will be asked to upload financial documentation to cover the minimum funding required for tuition, fees and living expenses. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
2. Request an I-20/DS-2019:
   • Login to AccessISSS with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.

If you are a current UAlbany student who is a sponsored student (i.e. Fulbright student, LASPAU student, etc...) and would like to transfer your SEVIS sponsorship to UAlbany, you should complete this form.

You must talk with the DSO/RO at your current school/organization and ask them to transfer your SEVIS number to UAlbany. They can transfer it as follows:

• I-20s can be transferred to University at Albany, State Univ. of NY, Campus Code BUF214F10162000
• DS-2019s can be transferred to University at Albany, State University of New York, Program Number P-1-04843

1. Gather the Required Documents:
   • You will be asked to upload financial documentation to cover the minimum funding required for tuition, fees and living expenses. This may be a funding letter from the department or other external source, a personal bank statement, the bank statement of a family or friend with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources. You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
2. Request an I-20/DS-2019:
   • Login to AccessISSS with your UAlbany NetID (ex: AA123456) and password.
   • Watch this recording to help you navigate to the EForm menu.
   • Select the "New I-20/DS-2019 for Returning or Change of Status Students" from the EForm menu.
   • This EForm will ask you to upload supporting documents. If you need assistance, please review the File Upload Instructions.
   • All updates related to your EForm will be communicated over email. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.