Getting Your I-20: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Please follow the instructions below in order to receive your I-20, which is the first step in your student visa process.

Spring Intake

Final Application Deadline: October 15
Final Overseas I-20 Request** Deadline: November 1

**I-20 Request Form and all required valid documents submitted.

Fall Intake

Final Overseas Application Deadline: April 15
Final Overseas I-20 Request** Deadline: May 15

**I-20 Request Form and all required valid documents submitted.

If applying for a new F-1 student visa, an international student living overseas needs to submit an I-20 request before the deadline above to allow enough time for the visa application process.

Please keep track of the visa appointment wait times in your area. You must arrive at NKU in time for immigration check-in and International Orientation, both held in the week before classes begin.

Please see the I-20 request process in detail below.

Steps to Getting Your I-20

Step 1: Receive Admission to NKU

Before you can begin this process, you must first receive admission to NKU. Please review the admissions process for international undergraduates, international graduates, or the American English Language Program. After reviewing, email us at isss@nku.edu if you have any questions.

Step 2: Confirm your Intent to Enroll

Once you decide to accept your admission to NKU, you should confirm your decision with the Intent to Enroll Form at nku.edu/intlnext. Undergraduate students are also required to pay the $150 international enrollment confirmation fee.

Step 3: Show Financial Support

In order to receive an I-20 from NKU, which you will show to the consulate to obtain your visa, you must submit the NKU ISSS I-20 Request Form.

As part of your NKU I-20 request, you must demonstrate that you have the financial support to pay the 9 month cost of attendance for your program at NKU. Use the link above for current costs of attendance for NKU undergraduate, graduate, and English language training programs.

You will need to submit the following as part of the NKU I-20 Request Form:

Current, bank statement from your sponsor, signed and stamped by the bank, or current Financial Guarantee from an NKU-known government sponsor.
NKU Financial Certification Form, which must be completed by the student and student's sponsor together. You should read our Financial Certification Guide for guidance on completing the form.

Step 4: Register for Document Shipping

NKU International Student and Scholar Services typically uses SASS-SmartShip for document shipping coordination.

Only after receiving notice from NKU ISSS that your I-20 has been been issued, follow the directions below to arrange for express shipping:

Once registered, please log in (on the Student Tab) and select Northern Kentucky University International Student and Scholar Services from the drop down menu to create your pending shipment. Students who have paid NKU's International Undergraduate Confirmation Fee should not proceed with payment; NKU ISSS will make the payment for the shipping for these students.

Important: The delivery information, including address and phone number, must belong to the student so that the documents can be transmitted directly to the person named on the I-20. Entering delivery information for an agency or preparatory academy will prevent us from being able to ship the documents.

Our office will receive notice of a shipment created for your documents. Please allow 1-3 business days for your shipment to be prepared. If you completed payment more than 4 business days ago and have received no notice of shipment, please contact isss@nku.edu to check if there is a delay.

After your documents have been shipped, you can monitor your shipment on your Home Page by clicking on your tracking number. International shipments are typically delivered within 3-5 business days, depending on the country. Shipments within the United States typically arrive within two business days.

If you need any assistance with your shipment, please email SASS@airconceptsusa.com for customer support.

Once you have received your I-20, be sure to see Applying For Your Visa for instructions on how to continue the process of getting your F-1 student visa!

Getting Your I-20

Spring Intake

Fall Intake

Steps to Getting Your I-20

International Student & Scholar Services