Getting Your I-20 or DS-2019

Undergraduate Students: Access your acceptance letter and pay the acceptance fees through MyPennState.
Graduate Students:  After final review by the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, you will receive formal notification of your admission. Questions concerning your admission or denial should be directed to your intended program/plan of study.
EA International Exchange Students: You will be contacted by an International Student Adviser directly via email.  Please refer to the EA International Exchange Students webpage.
Non-Degree-Seeking: Please refer to our Non-Degree Study webpage.

Students receive instructions and a link to our secure online system called iStart. You cannot access iStart until we send you the instructions.

iStart will guide you through a series of electronic forms to be completed. The forms include biographical and immigration-related information and instructions for uploading required documentation such as visas, passports, bank statements and/or certification of financial support. 

All international students need to complete the New Student Visa Documentation Process in iStart.
International students who are not requesting an I-20/DS-2019 do not need to provide any financial information.
The process to request an I-20 for F-1 visa or a DS-2019 for J-1 visa is the same.
Undergraduates cannot access iStart until our office receives notification that you have paid any acceptance fees. 

Your document request cannot be reviewed until all required forms are submitted in iStart.

Pre-Arrival advisers will then review your I-20/DS-2019 request. The review process can take approximately 3 weeks during peak season from May to July.

You may be asked to submit additional information or documentation to complete the issuance of your document.

When your I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, you will receive an email from international@psu.edu.
If you did not request a document, but clearance to study on your current visa, you will receive an email from international@psu.edu.

If you are transferring your SEVIS record from another U.S. school, you will receive an email with instructions from international@psu.edu with SEVIS transfer information, including the SEVIS School Code for your campus. SEVIS school codes are not available on our website.