The I-20 (or Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) is a document issued by Berklee to show that you have enrolled in the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive for a full-time course of study, and that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your educational and living expenses. The I-20 gives you permission to apply for an F-1 student visa. You will ultimately need your I-20 along with your F-1 student visa and passport to enter the US.
Prerequisites
If you have completed your initial registration for the Aspire: Five-Week at apply.berklee.edu, including payment of the registration fee, you are eligible to request an I-20 from Berklee College of Music.
You do not need to have paid tuition and/or housing in full to request an I-20, but you will need to show financial documentation of your ability to cover these costs as part of the process.
Timing Your Request
We release the Summer Programs I-20 Request Packet annually in late January or early February and begin reviewing requests shortly thereafter. Students are encouraged to send the required documents as early as possible to ensure that there is enough time to apply for a student visa.
How to Submit Your I-20 Request
You must complete all required pages, as well as submit a copy of the biographical page of your passport and funding documentation. You should send all of your documents in a single email to summerinternational@berklee.edu.
Upon submission, your request will be reviewed and, if approved, we will proceed with creating your I-20 form. Should any edits be required, we will inform you and ask you to make the necessary corrections and re-submit your documentation.
Common Errors in the I-20 Request
Review the list below to ensure that you avoid these common errors.
- Missing passport copy and/or financial documentation
- Missing Statement of Financial Support from each sponsor
- Financial documents and forms inconsistent
- Bank statement/letter does not meet requirements outlined in the I-20 Request Packet
- Name and Student ID fields not completed
- Signature fields blank or not signed by the appropriate individual
After Your I-20 Request is Approved
Once your request is approved, you can generally expect to receive your I-20 via email within five business days. Note that the US government has strict regulations that dictate to whom we can release the I-20 form, so it is our policy to send it directly to the student and not include other family members or stakeholders.