How To Get an LSU Form I-20/DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility

Before International Services (IS) can issue an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for a prospective Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge campus) student, there are various steps that need to occur first, whether done by the student, the admissions office or the academic department (for graduate-level students). 

STEP 1: The student must apply for admission to LSU.  Undergraduate students can apply online by clicking here; Graduate students can apply online by clicking here. (Note: In addition to being admitted by the Graduate School, graduate students must first be accepted by an academic department.)

STEP 2: The student is admitted to LSU by the admissions office.  Please note: The student’s admission information in the LSU system must show that the student is officially admitted by the admissions office before International Services can process any non-immigrant documents.  (This is in accordance with U.S. Immigration regulations.)  The student will receive an e-mail notification from International Services after he/she has been admitted.  Students are expected to respond to this e-mail with the information requested by IS.

STEP 3:  International Services is required by U.S. Immigration to verify the support and availability of funds to cover the student’s expenses for at least one academic year.  (For a list of current list of estimated expenses for international students, click here.)  The student needs to submit an Affidavit of Support form and proof of funding (in English).  An Affidavit of Support form can be accessed by clicking here.

STEP 4:  International Services produces the student’s I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for an F-1 student visa application.  In some cases, IS also produces the student’s DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for a J-1 exchange visitor visa application (for example, a bilateral exchange between LSU and overseas universities).  Please visit http://www.oip.lsu.edu/iso/immigration%20forms.htm for more information regarding the differences in the I-20 and DS-2019. A student must present the original I-20/DS-2019 for the visa application. (Please note: This step is different for those who are in F-1 student status and are studying at another U.S. school or have OPT authorization on another school’s I-20.  See below for information regarding F-1 Students Transferring from Other U.S. Schools.)

STEP 5: Depending on the student’s situation or response to the e-mail sent by International Services, the I-20/DS-2019 will be sent to the student by regular airmail or express mail.

F-1 Students Transferring from Other U.S. Schools

If an international student is currently in F-1 student status and is attending an institution in the U.S. or has OPT authorization on another school’s I-20, that student is considered to be a SEVIS immigration transfer.  This student already has established an F-1 record in the U.S. government’s SEVIS database which must be transferred to LSU-Baton Rouge before an LSU I-20 can be processed.

STEP 1: The student must apply for admission to LSU.  Undergraduate students can apply online by clicking here. Graduate students can apply online by clicking here. (Note: In addition to being admitted by the Graduate School, graduate students must first be accepted by an academic department.)

STEP 2: The student is admitted to LSU by the admissions office.  Please note: The student’s admission information in the LSU system must show that the student is officially admitted by the admissions office before International Services (IS) can process any non-immigrant documents.  (This is in accordance with U.S. Immigration regulations.)  The student will receive an e-mail notification from International Services after he/she has been admitted.  Students are expected to respond to this e-mail with the information requested by IS.

STEP 3:  International Services is required by U.S. Immigration to verify the support and availability of funds to cover the student’s expenses for at least one academic year.  (For a list of current list of estimated expenses for international students, click here.)  The student needs to submit an Affidavit of Support form and proof of funding (in English).  An Affidavit of Support form can be accessed by clicking here.

STEP 4: The student is sent the SEVIS Transfer-In Form.  This form must be completed and returned to IS at LSU-Baton Rouge, and the student’s SEVIS record must be released electronically by the student’s current/previous school.  For more information regarding the SEVIS transfer process, click here.

STEP 5: International Services produces the student’s LSU I-20 Certificate of Eligibility.  Depending on the student’s response to the e-mail sent by International Services, the I-20 will either be mailed to the student or placed at our office’s front desk for pickup.

This page was last updated , September 1, 2011