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. Our 2024 I-20 Request Packet is currently available. 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 submit all of your documents via the Aspire: Five-Week I-20 Request Submission Form.
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.