Newly admitted students who are not citizens or residents of the U.S. seeking F-1 (Student) Visa status must request a George Mason University Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant F-1 Student Status) and apply for an F-1 via at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate BEFORE traveling to the U.S. to begin their degree program.
In Spring 2016 George Mason University switched to a paperless system: the online application Self-Service Center. New graduate students must submit all required I-20 request documents through the online application Self-Service Center and should NOT submit paper documents to OIPS.
Table of Contents
On this page, you will find the following information:
- I-20 Issuance Timeline
- I-20 Processing Times
- Required Documents
- Step by Step Guide
Important
This information is for graduate students!
If you are an undergraduate student and you would like to request an I-20, please contact the Office of Admissions (world@gmu.edu).
If you are a Mason Korea student and you would like to request an I-20, please click here to proceed.
I-20 Issuance Timeline
| SPRING 2021 Semester | Date |
|---|---|
| First day to issue I-20 for Spring 2021 admits | Oct. 1, 2020 |
| Final day to issue I-20 (sent outside the U.S. by first class or international express mail paid by students, to accommodate visa processing time) | Dec. 18, 2020 |
| MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (international transfer students in the U.S. and change of academic level students) | Dec. 1, 2020 – Jan. 26, 2021 |
| MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (for international students with initial entry into the U.S.) | Dec. 12, 2020 – Jan. 26, 2021 |
| DEFERRAL REQUEST deadline to defer your admission and/or I-20 start date to another semester | Jan. 26, 2021 |
| Final day to issue I-20 (international transfer students currently in the U.S.) | Feb. 1, 2021 |
| FALL 2021 Semester | Date |
|---|---|
| First day to issue I-20 for Fall 2021 admits | Feb. 17, 2021 |
| Final day to issue I-20 (sent outside the U.S. by first class or international express mail paid by students, to accommodate visa processing time) | July 30, 2021 |
| MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (international transfer students in the U.S. and change of academic level students) | July 1, 2021 – Sept. 1, 2021 |
| MANDATORY SEVIS check-in with OIPS (for international students with initial entry into the U.S.) | July 19, 2021 – Sept. 1, 2021 |
| DEFERRAL REQUEST deadline to defer your admission and/or I-20 start date to another semester | Aug. 23, 2021 |
| Final day to issue I-20 (international transfer students currently in the U.S.) | Sept. 6, 2021 |
Processing Times
Once you have been admitted AND you have submitted all required I-20 request documents via the online application Self-Service Center, it will take up to 10 business days during peak times to process your I-20.
- Peak processing time for Fall 2018 admits: March, April, May and June
- Peak processing time for Spring 2019 admits: October and November
IMPORTANT: OIPS cannot expedite any I-20 processing requests due to high volume. We operate on a first come, first serve basis. You will be notified via email when your I-20 request has been processed.
Required Documents
If you are a new graduate student, you must submit the following documents:
- Copy of your passport
- Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) (if you receive funding assistance from Mason or Government sponsorship you must also complete this form)
- Proof of funding
TIP: Review the Certificate of Financial Responsibility sample before you complete the form.
If you are a graduate transfer student (transferring from a U.S. education institution to George Mason University), you must submit the following documents:
- Copy of your passport
- Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) (if you receive funding assistance from Mason or Government sponsorship you must also complete this form)
- Proof of funding
- Transfer In form (transfer students only)*
- Copies of pages 1, 2 and 3 of previous I-20s (transfer students only). If you have dependents, please also submit a copy of their I-20s.
- Copy of visa page. If you have dependents, please also submit a copy of their visa page.
- Copy of arrival stamp/I-94 available online at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
*You can find the Transfer In form in the OIPS Self-Service Center. Enter the key word "Transfer In" in the search box at the top of the table. The form and a checklist will appear. Download the form and follow the instructions.
TIP: Review the Certificate of Financial Responsibility sample before you complete the form.
Graduate Application Step by Step Guide
