Replacement Requests

F-1 students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization must ensure that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives their OPT application within 30 days of the date the OPT I-20 is issued as well as within the student's eligibility window. OPT applications received by USCIS beyond the 30 days from the date the OPT I-20 was issued will be automatically denied by USCIS.

If you miss this 30-day deadline, are within your OPT eligibility window and would still like to apply for OPT, then you must request a replacement I-20 from ISEO before submitting your OPT application to USCIS.

Submit a "Replacement I-20/DS-2019 Request" in iPortal.

• Choose the "I am not on approved OPT" option.
• Choose the "I am requesting a new OPT I-20 because I did not send my OPT Application for USCIS to receive within 30 days of original issuance" replacement reason.
• Your new I-20 will be issued within 5 business days.
• A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.
• Sign your new I-20/DS-2019 when you receive it and keep a copy for your own records.

If you arrive at the U.S. port of entry without all of your required documents or with unsigned or missing documents, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer has the discretion to issue you a form I-515A, which allows you temporary entry into the U.S. for 30 days.

If you are issued a form I-515A, then you must request a replacement I-20 or DS-2019 from ISEO upon arrival to UC San Diego, and submit this new document to USCIS based on the instructions on the form I-515A.

Submit the "Replacement I-20/DS-2019 Request" in iPortal.

• Your new I-20/DS-2019 will be issued within 5 business days.
• A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.
• Sign your new I-20/DS-2019 when you receive it and keep a copy for your own records.

If your past I-20 or DS-2019 forms have been lost, stolen or damaged, you can request unsigned copies of particular forms that may be stored in ISEO's electronic archives. These copies cannot be backsigned and must be watermarked as copies.

ISEO provides copies of these forms as a courtesy to our students. We cannot guarantee availability of past forms requested by the student and we are not liable for forms that are no longer available.

Submit the "Copy of Past I-20/DS-2019 Request" on iPortal.

• Your document will be issued within 10 business days.
• A notification email will be sent to you when your document is ready.
• You will be able to retrieve an electronic copy of your document directly in your iPortal request. No hard copies will be provided.

If you cannot access iPortal, please direct your request to ISEO via the contact form.