Verify the actual school and campus, then compare the issued Form I-20 with your identity and study plan. A school advertisement and a correct school-issued student record are different pieces of evidence.
Use the official SEVP school search
DHS's School Search identifies SEVP-certified schools and the F-1 or M-1 categories they are certified to enrol. Its school results distinguish campuses. The Form I-20 is the school-issued Certificate of Eligibility used in the student process; questions about it should be directed to the school's designated school official. Read DHS Study in the States: School Search.
For the document itself, compare the official Form I-20 and its instructions with the record supplied by the school.
Your working sheet
The following is an editorial organisation tool, not an official application checklist. Copy the rows that help and fill them with your own verified records.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| School | Find the institution and actual campus through the official search |
| I-20 | Compare name course programme dates and funding information with the genuine records |
| DSO enquiry | Write a field-specific correction question to the designated school official |
A practical example
Suppose an offer describes one campus while the immigration record points to another. The student should ask the DSO which record is correct before using it for the next stage. A similarly named school in a different city is not an automatic match.
Before the next step
Use the current DHS school information and the institution's verified contact. Follow the actual Form I-20 instructions for signing and later use. Admission, SEVP certification, a student visa and permission at entry should remain separate tasks in the moving plan.
Continue with the guide library or save the next task in the moving planner. Official requirements can change; the source above was checked on 17 October 2026.