fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
25th Jun 2019

US immigration reaffirms that I-20s should not be sent to agents

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a policy statement on 4 June 2019 to clarify that US institutions may only issue Form I-20s directly to students, or, in the case of minors, to the student’s parent or guardian. More to the point, ICE cautions that I-20s cannot be sent to recruiters – that is, to education agents. The Form I-20 is issued by the admitting institution or school in the US, and must be presented by the international student when he/she applies for a US study visa. Without the I-20, in other words, the student cannot obtain a visa. As reported by ICE, the 4 June guidance statement arises from recent questions as to “whether recruiters may receive the Form I-20 directly from a school’s designated school official (DSO) and control the distribution to the prospective student.” ICE’s position on this is clear, and the 4 June statement is apparently meant to reinforce long-standing US government policy in this regard. The department points out that the practice of sending I-20s directly to the student is consistently reflected in the manuals, fact sheets, and other information resources it has produced in support of the US Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). “These resources,” notes the ICE statement, “state that recruiters cannot be given Forms I-20.” citing one background note for students that says, “A recruiter has no proper role in handling your Form I-20. A recruiter does not issue a Form I-20, nor should the recruiter hold onto your Form I-20 for any reason.” On that point, US immigration authorities say that the policy is in place for reasons of privacy, security, and fraud prevention. The statement notes in particular that SEVP officials are “aware of instances where recruiters, having obtained a student’s Form I-20, subsequently demanded additional payments before providing it back to the student in advance of a meeting with the consulate for a visa or traveling to the United States.” There is no additional detail provided for this claim, however, nor any indication as to how widespread ICE believes any such issues may be. Visa processing in the US remains an area of significant concern for international students aspiring to study in the United States, as well as for the American institutions and schools that aim to host them. A recent survey of US colleges found that concerns around visa delays or denials topped the list of factors that, in the eyes of educators, had the greatest influence on the attractiveness of the US as a study destination. For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • United States: Government enforcement action on schools, universities, and international students intensifies Read More
  • UK commission calls for a more strategic and sustainable approach to international student recruitment Read More
  • Study shows that international educators and students want to lessen carbon footprint but that barriers remain Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

United States: Government enforcement action on schools, universities, and international students intensifies The Trump administration is intensifying its scrutiny of US higher education institutions and international students. As of April...
Read more
UK commission calls for a more strategic and sustainable approach to international student recruitment The United Kingdom’s most recent international education strategy was released in 2019. It set a target of attracting...
Read more
Ireland: Non-EU international students will be most affected by a new, increased threshold for available funds The Irish government has announced increases in the minimum funds requirements for foreign students. The changes will come...
Read more
SEVIS data reveals decline in international enrolments in the US in 2024/25 The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Fall 2024 Snapshot reported a 3% increase in foreign enrolments in US...
Read more
International student policy in the spotlight during Australian election Australia will hold its next federal election on 3 May 2025. The vote looks to be hotly contested,...
Read more
US tariffs trigger global economic disruption and new concerns for international educators If in 2024, we looked back over the past 25 years, most of us would have identified three...
Read more
US signals new scrutiny of student visas amid reports of softening demand from foreign students Student surveys conducted earlier this quarter highlight an overall positive disposition among international students towards studying in the...
Read more
Taiwan is close to reaching its pre-pandemic benchmark for international enrolment Taiwan is steadily increasing the number of international students it hosts in its colleges and universities. In 2024,...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links