I-20 Requirements

Required Documents for an I-20 

To receive or transfer an I-20, international applicants who require an F-1 or J-1 visa must:

1. Be admitted unconditionally to a degree-granting graduate program at UL Lafayette.  
2. Provide official transcripts and proof of degree(s) directly from each institution.  
3. Upload financial documentation showing proof of financial responsibility.  
4. Upload a copy of passport (or current visa).  
5. Submit satisfactory proof of immunization compliance.  

Admission

While we cannot provide an I-20 until you have been admitted (without any conditions) to one of our master’s or doctoral programs, we recommend that you do not wait until you are admitted to provide required documents. Waiting until you have been admitted can significantly delay issuance or transfer of an I-20. 

Official Transcripts and Proof of Degree

The Graduate School must receive final official transcripts and proof of degree(s) directly from each institution before an I-20 will be issued or transferred. Review our transcript requirements. 

Financial Documentation

Your financial documentation must be combined and uploaded to the application portal as one PDF. 

Complete the International Confidential Financial Information Form to certify that you have enough funds for all tuition, fees, and personal expenses for at least one year of study at UL Lafayette. 

• Use the International Graduate Student Cost Estimate to determine your estimated total financial responsibility. 

• Include supporting documentation that proves you have enough funds for a year of graduate study. Most often, this means providing a copy of a certified bank statement in your name showing the total amount available in U.S. dollars. If the account represented on the bank statement is in the name of another person, then a notarized affidavit of support from that person is also required. 

• If you received an assistantship or fellowship to pay for your tuition and living expenses, list the amount under “University Funds.” If you receive funding that does not cover the total expenses for one year of graduate studies, then you must provide documentation for the remaining amount.  The graduate program (or individual faculty member) will provide the Graduate School with confirmation of funding. 

Faculty members and graduate programs do not have access to your financial documents, and they make admission and funding decisions based on merit alone. Assistantships and fellowships are awarded competitively to the most academically qualified students. 

Passport (or current visa)

To ensure proper issuance of the I-20, you must upload a copy of your passport (from your home country) or your current visa to the application portal as a PDF. This information is not shared with faculty members or the graduate program to which you are applying. 

Immunization Compliance

Prior to issuance of the I-20 and scheduling of classes, Student Health Services must approve the proof of immunization compliance form. Complete the Official University Immunization Form and upload it as a PDF to the application portal. This information is not shared with faculty members or the graduate program to which you are applying. 

I-20 Deadlines 

The following deadlines have been set to ensure that new students have the necessary time to schedule VISA appointments and arrive at UL Lafayette. 

An initial I-20 will not be issued if required documents have not been received and approved (and admission has not been granted) by these dates. 

Transfer I-20s will continue to be considered and, as approved, issued after these dates. 

I-20s are rarely issued for a first term of study in the summer semester. Full-time enrollment is required for international students on an F-1 visa, and most graduate programs have limited course offerings during the summer.  Most graduate programs welcome new graduate students in the Fall semester. Learn more about individual program application deadlines and start dates. 

You will be notified by email when the I-20 has been issued.