There has been an important change in the process for international students entering the United States. As of August 10, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer provides admission stamps at a United States port of entry on a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” or Form DS-2019, “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,” for prospective and returning F, M and J nonimmigrants. CBP will continue, however to stamp passports and Forms I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” stamped upon arrival at a port of entry.

While an admission stamp on a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is not an indicator of lawful status or academic program duration, some students may temporarily encounter issues when applying for a driver’s license or Social Security number. If a state benefit-granting agency rejects an unstamped Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, applicants may make an appointment with USCIS online through InfoPass and take the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 to the local USCIS office for an official to stamp the form. This transitional step will end on Nov. 21, 2012.

F, M and J nonimmigrants who encounter issues with their state or federal benefit applications can contact the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at 703-603-3400 or SEVP@ice.dhs.gov.

Additional information is available on the CBP website.

UPDATE

As of August 29, 2012, the Social Security Administration (SSA) accepts Forms I-20 without admission stamps. You can find more information on the SSA website.