Request an Initial I-20 for an F-1 Student

We are excited for you to start your education at Marymount University! All international students who do not have another valid immigration status that allows them to study in the U.S. or would like to change their current visa status to F-1 are required to obtain a Form 1-20 to receive an F-1 student visa, which will allow them to study and stay legally in the United States during the duration of their studies.

If you are a student with an active F-1 student visa and you currently hold a Form I-20 from another U.S. institution, you must arrange for the transfer of your SEVIS record to Marymount and obtain a Form I-20 from Marymount. Please read about the transfer process here.


Follow These Steps for an Initial I-20

  1. Confirm that you will be attending Marymount and pay the $500 deposit.
  2. Three to five days after students pay the deposit, they will receive an email with a link to access the ISSS portal, where they will be able to initiate the I-20 request. 
  3. Students should generate their MU account prior to logging into this portal.
  4. Once in the ISSS portal, students will be prompted with a series of questions needed for immigration, and will be asked to upload the following documents:

Students who are bringing dependents

F-1 students can only bring a spouse and/or their own children as dependents. If you have dependents accompanying you, please have their passports and official translations of marriage and/or birth certificates for each member, to be uploaded in the ISSS portal at the time you are completing the I-20 request.

In addition to the amounts above, students with dependents should demonstrate additional funding of $7,500 to support a spouse and $5,000 per child.

I-20 Processing Time

Upon receiving all completed documents, the processing time for an I-20 typically takes 5 to 10 business days. If your documentation is incomplete, you will be contacted by a staff member.

If you have further questions or need assistance using the portal, please contact International Student and Scholar Services at isss@marymount.edu or call at 703-526-6922

To learn how to apply for a Visa as an F-1 Student, click here.