Check a recruiter's handling of a Form I-20
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- From the agency file and the issuance record, list who received the Form I-20, whether a recruiter is holding it, and whether the file shows a commission paid to a designated school official for recruitment. Do not decide that the arrangement is permitted, and do not write a demand for the form.
- What the lawyer must review
- You decide whether the issuance complies. SEVP policy guidance of 4 June 2019, citing 8 CFR 214.3(k) as its primary regulation, says that for privacy, security, and fraud prevention the Form I-20 must be issued directly by a designated school official at an SEVP-certified school to the nonimmigrant student, the student's dependents, or, for a minor, the parent or guardian. A recruiter is not given the form. The regulation text itself was not opened, so it is not restated beyond what the guidance says. Study in the States, kindergarten to grade 12, last updated 27 April 2026, says a prospective student does not need a recruiter, the official issues the Form I-20 directly to the student, a recruiter has no role in issuing or handling the form and cannot hold it, and designated school officials cannot receive compensation from commissions for the recruitment of foreign students. The student page on commission-based recruiters, last updated 25 May 2023, says a student does not need a recruiter to obtain a student visa, a recruiter has no proper role in handling the Form I-20, the official issues it directly to the student, and the application address should be the student's own address. It also says a recruiter must not make or supply the documents used for the visa, and must not tell the student what to say at the visa interview.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Consider narrowly defined preparation support after confirming the tool’s capability and permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Confirm that the actual tool, feature and processing terms permit use of this information, including access, retention, training and disclosure conditions.
- Verify the applicable jurisdiction and the version of each relevant law, rule or instrument in force at the material time.
- Confirm the output against the client’s instructions and the complete relevant source material, including omissions or contradictions.
- Resolve exceptions and record the responsible lawyer’s approval of the exact output and intended use.
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