I-20: Update, Extend and Travel

All U.S. educational institutions are required to send international student information to United States Citizenship & Immigration Services [USCIS] through a computer system called the Student/Exchange Visitor Information System [SEVIS]. The Office of the International Student Coordinators sends information through SEVIS for each F-1 and M-1 student (and their dependents) carrying a Montgomery College form I-20.

Each semester, the International Student Coordinators are required  to confirm your enrollment through SEVIS. To be sure that we are sending accurate information, we ask that you confirm your biographical and academic information with the College.  

1. Log in to MyMC to verify your address, phone number, non-MC e-mail address, program of study, etc. 
2. Read Update Your Information for instructions on making changes or corrections to your student record information.
3. Submit a Change of Major, Program of Study, Curriculum form to the Registrar's Office on your home campus to change your program of study/major. (F-1 students must be seeking a degree, not only a certificate.)  **You may wish to see an Academic Counselor for assistance.
4. If you are not sure whether or not you are registered Full Time also check "My Schedule OR Register/Add Drop Classes" to see that you are currently enrolled in at least 12 "Billing Hours."

Automatic Revalidation can allow current F-1 students to re-enter the US without a valid US F-1 Visa.  Read below for the requirements and see the lists of countries students may travel to.

Important to note, you will need a new signature from your international coordinator for every new entry to the U.S. I-20 Travel Signature and Instructions

Automatic Revalidation is NOT available:

1. For travel to one's home country/country of citizenship,
2. If you APPLY for a new U.S. visa while in that country
3. If you stay over 30 days in the country.
4. If you have done two or more changes of status within the U.S.
5. If your country does not have current full diplomatic relation with U.S.

For details, please visit State Department Automatic Revalidation websitenew window.

We recommend students print and carry (with their I-20 signed for Travel) one of the descriptions from a government site for their own reference and to help a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer understand what they are referring to if there are questions.  

For ELAP and ESL students:  
If you are completing your ELAP courses and program, please see Change of Level on I-20 for MC ELAP students (PDF, ) to do a “Change of Level” rather than an extension.  You only need to Extend your I-20 if you believe you will not complete ELAP this semester or may not pass all your ELAP classes.

If you are finishing ESL, please contact  Annette.Greene@montgomerycollege.edu.  You may need to take the ESL Accuplacer early to know if you need to Extend your ESL program or Change Level to ELAP on your I-20. 
 
For Degree-Level Students:  
If you PLAN TO CONTINUE here at Montgomery College after your “Program End Date”, you must EXTEND your I-20. 

We must have:

1. A copy of the approved graduation application you received from the Graduation Coordinator on your campus OR a letter, form (PDF, ) , or other advising sheet emailed by an Academic Counselor (or Department Advisor) to our office showing your expected graduation date for your degree program.  Keep working with your current counselor if you have already discussed graduation requirements. Make an appointment in Starfish (for a full hour/two 30 minute appointments together if possible). If you do not have a counselor, choose a full-time counselor by checking the “General Overview” found under each counselor’s name, to see if they are full-time or part-time. For any questions about seeing a counselor for this process, contact the Counseling Center on your home campus.  
   
   AND
   
   
2. If you need Two or More Semesters to complete your program we will need to update your financial support information.
   
   Due to the Covid 19 situation, we know it may be difficult to get financial documents at this time. If you are having difficulty, please contact your International Student Coordinator.
   
   When you have your financial support information, you can contact us by emailing I20questions@montgomerycollege.edunew window to ask us how to submit your documents. To know what financial documents you need, please see "Evidence Of Financial Support." (if your sponsor has not changed, you do not need a new "Sponsor Obligations Form")

PLEASE NOTE: Whatever degree and time period you and your counselor decide is what you are expected to do.  If you want to change the classes or your degree focus you MUST contact our office.  We cannot extend for additional time because you choose to take classes other than what is needed for your degree.

If you need your I-20 signed to travel for summer or winter, you must complete this process at least two weeks before leaving.

1. STEP 1: Register full time for FALL / SPRING classes. 
2. STEP 2:  Make sure you will be full time when you return.
   • Travel during classes will require permission In Writing (email is OK) from the instructor of any class of which you will miss more than one meeting or if you will miss an exam.
   • Travel between semesters will require you either: PAY for FALL / SPRING semester in full OR Sign up and pay for the TIP Payment Plan on MyMC (Including the $35 fee and at least 20 25% of your tuition)
3. STEP 3: Email us a scan of your I-20 that you received most recently (original please, not a copy).  
4. STEP 4: Fill in the "I-20 Travel Signature Request" form (PDF, ) and email it to us.  
5. STEP 5: Use your signed I-20, your valid passport, and your valid F-1 visa to re-enter the United States

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

• Not returning for FALL / SPRING: we cannot sign your I-20
• Transferring: use the new school's I-20
• Not going to school: make an appointment
• Do not have/cannot find your I-20: See your International Coordinator for a Re-Print.  Bring police or security report if passport was lost or believed stolen. 
• Passport Expired:
  • Contact your Embassy in Washington D.C. (You may end up carrying two passports if you get a new one and your visa is in the old one)
  • Students with passports expiring in less than 6 months should consider extending the passport before travel. Countries on Countries That Extend Passport Validity for an Additional Six Months After Expiration (PDF, ) list may be exempt.
• Some students without a Valid F-1 Visa may be able to utilize Automatic Visa Revalidation. 

To re-new (or "re-validate") the F-1 visa stamp in your passport - you will need:

1. an Official Transcript and
2. a new set of original financial documents to take to the US Consulatenew window (Wait Time for Consulate Appointmentnew window)
   (You MAY need a support letter explaining your transcript (please e-mail your coordinator at least one week before your appointment)
3. We recommend the passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned entry date to the US.  Students on
4. Countries That Extend Passport Validity for an Additional Six Months After Expiration (PDF, ) list may be exempt but should check with the US Consulate.

To obtain your first F-1 visa stamp (if you changed status in the US), you will need:

1. your Change of Status approval notice, and
2. Official Transcripts, and
3. a new set of original financial documents to take to the US Consulatenew window (Wait Time for Consulate Appointmentnew window)
   (You MAY need a support letter explaining your transcript (please e-mail your coordinator at least one week before your appointment)
4. We recommend the passport be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned entry date to the US.  Students on
5. Countries That Extend Passport Validity for an Additional Six Months After Expiration (PDF, ) list may be exempt but should check with the US Consulate.

LATE I-20 Signature process: A SIGNED I-20 is needed to ENTER to the United States from another country. You do not need it to leave. If you CANNOT get your I-20 signed before departing for the United States you must do the following:

1. Register Full Time (12 or more Billing Hours) for the next term.
2. Pay all tuition due OR sign up for the TIP payment plan (see e-cashier on MyMC)
3. Send a copy of your I-20 and a copy of your payment receipt or TIP plan and email I20questions@montgomerycollege.edunew window for a signature.
4. An International Coordinator will send you a digital version of your current I-20 with their Travel Endorsement signature on it.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

*If there is a problem with your status, we CANNOT sign your I-20.

*You need additional documents to apply for an F-1 visa stamp.