International Student and Scholar Services

8000 Utopia Parkway

Marillac Hall, Room 210
Queens, NY 11439
Tel 718-990-6083
Fax 718-990-2070
iss@stjohns.edu
www.stjohns.edu/issso
Schedule an appointment:
www.stjohns.edu/isssoappt

Instructions for the

I-20 APPLICATION
What is a Form I-20, and why do you need one?
• A Form I-20 is a US government form that St. John’s University uses to certify that you are
eligible for F-1 student status. This means that you (1) are or expect to be a “bona fide” student;
(2) meet our admission requirements; (3) will pursue a full course of study; and (4) have proven
that you have enough money to study and live in the United States without working illegally or
suffering from poverty.
• You need a Form I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa or status, or to keep lawful F-1 status
when transferring or changing schools in the United States.

Does everybody need a Form I-20?

No, some international students do not need an I-20. J-1 students need a Form DS-2019 and should ask us
for that application. F-2 dependents who want to study full time must obtain an I-20 and apply for a change
of status to F-1 student. If you maintain another nonimmigrant status in the United States, you do not have
to have an I-20 and may attend school full or part time if the law allows you to do so. Dependent children in
E, H, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, R, or S status need to change status after their 21st birthday or if they marry.

Here are the rules for getting your Form I-20.

1. You must be a “bona fide” student accepted to a full-time program of study.
2. You must prove to us that you can support the costs of living and studying in the United States for your
program of study.
3. Carefully review St. John’s University’s “Estimated Annual Financial Requirements” for International
Students on page 5 and calculate your annual costs. This gives the amount that you must prove you can
support for the initial year of study.
4. These requirements are not negotiable. They represent an average budget that does not include luxuries
of any kind. We strongly recommend that you budget at least 10 percent more, if possible. Too little
money can cause pain and distress. We insist that students and their families look closely at the costs of
living and studying in the United States and make careful plans to be sure your needs will be met.

How do I submit my I-20 application?

All forms should be uploaded directly into your student portal. If you have not previously logged into your
student portal, follow the instructions on the login screen regarding how to create an account:
• Undergraduate students can access their student portal at apply.stjohns.edu/apply.
• Graduate students can access their student portal at grad.stjohns.edu/apply.

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Sources of Financial Support
Your financial support can come from any combination of the following sources in
the United States or abroad:
Funds from “sponsors” (e.g., parents, relatives, friends, and organizations):
You may have as many sponsors as you need. Sponsors may provide you with support in the form of money and/
or room and board. Free room and board is when you live with someone and do not have to pay for your room
or food.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION #1

We highly recommend that at least part of your financial support come from your home country. This is
important for getting your student visa.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION #2
A sponsor should promise only as much money as he or she is able to provide. Some sponsors believe that
promising more money will make it easier to get your I-20. A common reason for visa denial is that the visa
officer is not convinced the sponsor can afford to give you what he or she is promising.

Personal funds that come from your own resources:

Unless you have enough money for your entire program of study, or can prove other sources of personal income,
you need a sponsor with a sufficient income to support you. University funds such as a scholarship, assistantship,
or fellowship may not cover the entire program of study or all expenses, so you may need added support to meet
your minimum annual costs.

Documentary Evidence Requirements

Complete the application for the Form I-20 and submit it with copies of all necessary evidence of financial
capability directly to the International Student and Scholar Services Office. Do not send original documents.
We strongly recommend that you do this at the same time you apply to the University. That way, once you
are accepted, your I-20 can be issued quickly.

All documents you provide must be

• less than two months old.
• in English. We cannot review documents that are not in English.
• photocopies or faxes, not originals. You will need originals of all the documents you have sent us
to take to the American Embassy when we send you your I-20.

Evidence Required

Sponsors of cash support:

• Affidavit of annual cash support (found on page 10 of this application form). This form
may be photocopied for each sponsor. All questions must be answered. The affidavit must be
signed by your sponsor, not typed.
• Proof of income (not required, but suggested)

Individual Sponsor (submit any of the following):

• Employer’s letter on letterhead stationery, indicating salary
• Income tax returns or receipts, along with two current pay stubs
• Documentation of investments
• If self-employed, income estimate by a bank or private accountant

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION #3
A company’s income is not the income of the owner of the business, and will not be accepted as proof of income.
You must provide an official statement of the salary paid to the owner/sponsor. If a company will sponsor you,
you must submit the company’s most recent profit and loss statement.

Bank statement in the name of the sponsor only:

Information must include the current balance and type of currency.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION #4

If a bank statement is in the name of more than one person, each individual must submit an affidavit of support.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION #5

We cannot accept statements that do not specify balances.

Sponsors of free room and board

Must submit the following documents:
• Affidavit of free room and board (found on page 12 of this application form)
• Photocopy of lease, deed, rent receipts, phone bill, and electric bill

WARNING!
Do not enter the United States with a B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visa.
If you use a B visa to enter the United States, you are saying “I’m here as a visitor” ONLY. Since you have contacted
St. John’s about study, this would be seen as a “fraudulent entry,” and you could be refused permission to stay longer
than six months or to extend or change your status. Do not listen to people who say it is easy to enter the country as
a visitor and change your status. It is not true. B visitors are prohibited by US law from pursuing a full course of study
prior to obtaining a change to F-1 status.

Do not enter the United States without a visa (unless you are Canadian).
Never enter the United States without a visa, even if you come from a country whose residents normally show only
a round-trip ticket to enter the country as visitors. Remember, you want to enter as a student. If you enter without
a visa, you will only be allowed to stay for 90 days. You will not be given more time or allowed to change to
student status.

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Annual Financial Requirements
for International Students
2022–23

ESTIMATED TUITION AND SCHOOL FEES

Undergraduate
Tuition is for 12–18 undergraduate credits for each of the fall and spring semesters. Summer school tuition
is not included. Fees include the cost of St. John’s University health insurance and University and activity
fees. Purchase of St. John’s health insurance is mandatory for all F-1 and J-1 students.

Pharmacy majors’ tuition is approximately 13 percent higher in the third, fourth, and fifth years of study. Business
majors’ tuition is approximately five percent higher in the third and fourth years of study. Art majors should estimate
that they will need an additional $3,000 annually for supplies.

Note: Undergraduate school fees and insurance are estimated at $3,660, rates subject to increase.

Graduate
Tuition is for nine credits for each of the fall and spring semesters. Summer school tuition is not included. Fees
include mandatory health insurance and University fees.

Note: Graduate school fees/insurance are estimated at $3,370. In addition, there is a one-time initial fee for the
following schools:
Graduate Fee Amount
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences $300
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins
College of Professional Studies $300
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences $300
St. John’s School of Law (J.D.) $750

LIVING COSTS
Average living costs for a nine-month year are estimated in the next page table. This is a modest, “no extras” budget.
It does not include such items as telephone calls, for example. It is highly recommended that you bring at least 10
percent more. This estimate does not include the three summer months. If you plan to stay in the United States for
the summer, estimated living costs will be $7,000 for those three months.

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ESTIMATED ANNUAL COSTS (Tuition, Fees, and Insurance)

UNDERGRADUATE Queens and Manhattan Campuses $50,885

Biotechnology $31,095
Business $29,835
Clinical Psychology $34,515
Doctorate of Physical Therapy $29,565
Law (J.D.) $71,715
Law (LLM) $68,715
GRADUATE
Library Science $31,185
Pharmacy $33,345
Public Health $29,565
School Psychology $31,185
Speech Pathology $31,185
All Other $29,565

PLEASE NOTE Undergraduate business tuition increases in years three and four:
Queens campus: $52,863

Pharm.D. tuition increases in years three to six:

Queens campus: $57,589

Use this table to calculate your Estimated Annual Costs.

TUITION, FEES, AND INSURANCE

(See table above)
+

LIVING COSTS NOTES

Housing and Utilities
Housing and Utilities $11,750 are based on the average cost
Food $7,040 of a shared room in a
private home.
Personal Items and Clothing $1,790
Transportation $990 Transportation
Books and Supplies $720 This includes local transportation

Your Total Living Costs

$22,290 + only. Travel to and from your
country, or the costs of owning
a car, are additional expenses.

Art Majors
DEPENDENT(s) COST(s) Art majors must prove they can
support the additional cost of
Spouse $12,000 _______________ + art supplies, estimated
Child $6,000 _______________ + at $3,000 annually.
Spouse Medical Insurance $4,229 _______________ + Medical and Repatriation
Child Medical Insurance $1,531 _______________ + Insurance
(per child) This mandatory charge is included
in the fees indicated under the
TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL COSTS = tuition and fees section, rates
subject to increase.

Expect annual increases of approximately five to seven percent in expenses.

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Application for Form I-20 DATE: ___ / ___ / ______
month/day/year

Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status

REASON FOR I-20 REQUEST

Initial Program Change of Educational Change Reinstatement
Transfer*
Studies Extension Level / Program* of Status to F-1 Status

Students who transfer to St. John’s University from another school and students who change their educational
level/program at St. John’s must get their new I-20 by the immigration deadline. Please contact us immediately
for advisement.

Have you been notified of your admission to St. John’s University? Yes Academic Major
Please note that your Form I-20 cannot be issued until you are accepted. No ______________________

Degree Associate Master’s Semester Fall 20_____ Spring 20_____

Program of Enrollment
Bachelor’s Doctoral (Expected) Winter 20_____ Summer 20_____

PART I: PERSONAL INFORMATION–Attach a copy of your passport page showing name.

Name
1 as in passport
Male Female
Family Name Given Name Second Given or Middle Name Gender (check one)

Home Country
2 Mailing Address
Number and Street City, State Country Zip/Postal Code

3 Telephone Fax Email

Number Number Address

Date City Country

4 of Birth ____ / ____ / ________ of Birth of Birth
Month - Day - Year City Country

5 Country (ies) Country

of Citizenship of Residence

Address in
6 the US (if known)
Number and Street City, State Country ZIP/Postal Code

Please complete the following information about your spouse and/or child
Marital Status Married Unmarried (children) who will accompany you to the United States.
Attach copy of the passport page for each name.

7 ____ / ____ / ________

Name (Family/First/Middle) Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year) Country of Birth Relationship to You

____ / ____ / ________

Name (Family/First/Middle) Date of Birth (Month/Day/Year) Country of Birth Relationship to You

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PART II: ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN THE US?
If you currently are in the United States or if you have a valid I-20 from another school in the United States, complete this
section. If not, go on to Part III.

F-1 Student Status Yes No Other Immigration Status (If applicable, specify type)
Before we issue your Form I-20, we want to advise you. Please make an
__________
1 appointment to see an international student advisor.

SEVIS # I-94 Admission # I-94 Expires on ___ / ___ / _______

2 University that issued most recent Form I-20

Are you currently studying at a US Yes Current

3 institution or college? US School
No

Yes Tell us where you would like to receive your I-20 in Part III.
Do you plan to travel outside the
4 United States before school starts?
No If you are F-1, you will receive school transfer or other instructions. If you
hold another status, we will issue your I-20 after we have met with you.

PART III: WHERE DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR I-20?

Your Form I-20 will be sent by delivery service. It will be sent to the name and address you indicate below. Print your
name, address, and phone number in English, exactly as it should appear on the envelope.

NOTE: We cannot send your I-20 by delivery service to a PO Box.

Please type in CAPITAL LETTERS only (Example: ADRIANA ANDRETTI - VIA CONDOTTI 23, ROMA - ITALIA 001133)

Name: ______________________
Number/Street: ______________________ Apt. #: ________

MAIL
City: ______________________
State/Province: ______________________
Country: ______________________
Zip/Postal Code: ______________________
Telephone: ______________________

OR
HOLD FOR
PICK UP Name: ______________________
Telephone: ______________________
Email: ______________________

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PART III: YOUR STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
Do not complete this part unless you have carefully read all instructions!

What are your estimated annual costs from the workbox on page 5?
(Total Estimated Annual Costs) $ ______________

HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT YOURSELF FOR EVERY YEAR OF YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDY?
Please check your means of support below and indicate how much will be provided or available to you every year.

Guaranteed Projected Projected Projected

Support Support Support Support
SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
(Amount in US Dollars)
1st YEAR 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year

Personal Funds
The amount available to me from my own resources $________ $________ $________ $________

Funds from St. John’s University

Renewable every year | Type: __________________________ $________ $________ $________ $________

Funds from a Sponsor(s) | To be given to me every year.

1) Sponsor | Name ____________________________________ $________ $________ $________ $________
2) Sponsor | Name ____________________________________ $________ $________ $________ $________
3) Sponsor | Name ____________________________________ $________ $________ $________ $________

Free Room and Board

From a local US sponsor with whom I will live. $________ $________ $________ $________
(Valued at $16,390)

TOTAL AMOUNT available to me every year of study: $ ________ ________ ________ ________

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE ENCLOSED TO PROVE MY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

My Personal Documents Funds from this school

Bank statement Scholarship letter

Graduate assistantship contract

Cash sponsor’s documents
Affidavit of support
Free room-and-board sponsor’s documents (attach both):
Bank statement Affidavit of support Lease, deed, rent receipts, copy of utility bill
(that is, proof of residence)
Proof of income

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Sponsor’s Affidavit of
Annual Cash Support and
Proof of Financial Capability

What does this affidavit mean?

By completing this affidavit, you swear to the US government that you will provide this student with a specific
amount of money from your own financial resources for every year he or she is going to study at St. John’s
University and live in the United States. You also prove with the documents you attach that you can afford the
support you promise.
Before signing this affidavit, you must understand that you are making a financial commitment to the student
that should not be broken. Sponsors who fail to provide the promised support force students to drop out of
school and cause pain and suffering. Do not expect the student to be able to help support the costs through
employment. Employment is strictly controlled by US Citizenship and Immigration Services and is very limited.

How to complete this form:

• Fill out this form completely in English.
• Attach the documentary evidence of support explained below.
• Sign the affidavit.

Prove that you are financially capable of providing this cash support for every year of the student’s program
by attaching all the following documents. Documents must be photocopies or faxes, current (i.e., less than two
months old), and in English.
• Bank statement (required) in your name, which states the date the account was opened, current
balance in US dollars, average deposits, and average balances. We cannot accept statements that do not
specify balances, unless it is stated to be a minimum of six figures in US dollars. If another person’s name
appears on your bank statement, that person must complete a separate affidavit or submit a notarized
statement permitting those funds to be considered as financial support for the student.
• Proof of income (recommended, not required). This must be a letter on your employer’s business
stationery; income tax returns, or receipts along with two current pay stubs; or estimated by a bank or
private accountant if you are self-employed. The income of a company will not be accepted as proof of
income. You must provide an official statement of the salary paid to you or it must appear on tax returns.

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THIS IS MY SWORN PROMISE OF CASH SUPPORT

I, _____________________________________ promise that I can and will give no less than $ _______________
My name US dollars

in cash for every year of the student’s program of study at St. John’s University to

_________________________________________. My relationship to the student is ________________________.

Parent, spouse, brother/sister, friend
Full name of student

My address is
Number/Street: ______________________ Apt. #: ________
City: ______________________
State/Province: ______________________
Country: ______________________
Zip/Postal Code: ______________________
Telephone: ____________ Fax: ___________ Email: ________________

The following persons are fully or partially dependent upon me for their support:
(Do not include the student named above.)

Name Relationship to me Age

______________________ ______________________ ______________________

______________________ ______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________ ______________________
______________________ ______________________ ______________________

Name of my employer: _________________________________________

Annual salary: ________________________ (USD)
Other income: ________________________ (USD)

My bank statements are attached. Yes No

I swear that the information I provide above is true and correct.

_______________________________________________ _______________
Signature of Sponsor (MUST SIGN) Date

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Sponsor’s Affidavit of
Free Room and Board and
Proof of Financial Capability

What does this affidavit mean?

By completing this affidavit, you swear to the US government that you will provide this student with a
specific amount of money from your own financial resources for every year he or she is going to study
at St. John’s University and live in the United States. You also prove with the documents you attach that
you can afford the support you promise.
Before signing this affidavit, you must understand that you are making a financial commitment to
the student that should not be broken. Sponsors who fail to provide the promised support force
students to drop out of school and cause pain and suffering. Do not expect the student to be able to
help support the costs through employment. Employment is strictly controlled by US Citizenship and
Immigration Services and is very limited.

How to complete this form:

• Fill out this form completely in English.
• Attach the documentary evidence of support explained below.
• Sign the affidavit.

If all of these documents are not attached, your support will not be considered. Documents must be
photocopies or faxes, current (i.e., less than two months old), and in English.
• Proof of income (suggested but not required). This must be a letter on your employer’s
business stationery, income tax returns, or receipts along with two current pay stubs, or
estimated by a bank or private accountant if you are self-employed. The income of a company
will not be accepted as proof of income. You must provide an official statement of the salary
paid to you or it must appear on tax returns.
• Bank statement (suggested but not required) in your name, which states the date the
account was opened, current balance in US dollars, average deposits, and average balances.
We cannot accept statements that do not specify balances, unless it is stated to be a minimum
of six figures in US dollars. If another person’s name appears on your bank statement, that
person must complete a separate affidavit or submit a notarized statement permitting those
funds to be considered as financial support for the student.

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THIS IS MY SWORN PROMISE OF FREE ROOM AND BOARD.

I, ______________________________________ promise that for each year of his or her program of study,
My name

__________________________________________ will live free of any charge with me in my home at

Full name of student

Number/Street: ______________________ Apt. #: ________

City: ______________________
State/Province: ______________________
Country: ______________________
Zip/Postal Code: ______________________

Telephone: ____________ Fax: ___________ Email: _________________

I Own Rent this property

If currently in the United States, does the student already live with you ? Yes No

I will not require any type of service to be performed in exchange for this benefit.

My relationship to the student is ________________________________

Parent, spouse, brother/sister, friend

My photocopy of lease, deed, rent receipts, Yes No

phone bill, and electric bill is attached.

I swear that the information I provide above is true and correct.

_______________________________________________ ______________
Signature of Sponsor (MUST SIGN) Date

M1-13576/OMI
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