I20 was enclosed in an envelope, but I removed it. Problem?

[Aoedogg]

Hey everyone,

I am due to arrive in LA next week. I received my F1 visa many months ago. When I received it, the I-20 was enclosed in an envelope stapled to my passport. However, I removed the I-20 from this (I needed it to prove my income).

I was doing some prep reading this week and I read that you should not open this envelope (the customs officer will do so). I had not read this anywhere before so, and it was not indicated on the envelope.

I still have the original I-20 and all the required information.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Should I be worried?

[fuzzylogician]

Indeed I've heard it said that if the I-20 is stapled to your passport then you should not remove it. When you enter the US for the first time the immigration officer will remove it and process it. I think in the past it was customary to staple the I-20 to the passport for all F-1 visa recipients; apparently, however, they stopped doing that in some embassies (including where I got my visa) some time ago. At that time people were worried that they'd get turned back because of this, but it turned out to be just fine (including in my case). Bottom line, you've already removed the I-20 from the passport and there is no undoing that. I wouldn't worry too much, any other time after the first entry the I-20 won't be stapled to the passport anyway and immigration officers deal with that just fine. Of course you sill need the original I-20 (every time you enter the US between now and when you leave your program!) - stapled or not. As long as you have it, I think you'll be ok.

[AbaNader]

This is the first time I'm hearing this and I've been an international student for many many years. Your I-20 is separate from your passport. The embassy probably stapled it for their own convenience. Generally, nothing NEEDS to be stapled into your passport but its a good idea to keep the I-94 departure record (this is a form you will get at arrival) stapled into your passport. Infact, the I-94 (at least the part that you get to keep) has a "staple here" place.

Just make sure you know the real strict rules and don't sweat the small stuff. Its not a big deal.