SEVP has issued guidance in regards to 3^rd party release for I-20s on June 4^th, 2019 and provided an update on January 7^th with exemptions to this policy.

They stated the following:

Per the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s policy guidance titled, “Form I-20 Issuance and School Use of Recruiters,” released on June 4, 2019, designated school officials (DSOs) must issue the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Students,” directly to the F-1 student, parent or legal guardian. At no time should the Form I-20 be issued to a third party.

SEVP will only grant exemptions from this policy in specific instances where circumstances prevent direct issuance. Examples include:

• Students who are in countries where U.S. courier services do not operate.
• Students who are in areas with inadequate infrastructure or services that make deliveries generally difficult or would be unsecured.

To request an exemption from this policy, DSOs should contact the SEVP Response Center in writing with the individual student’s name and the circumstances warranting an exemption.

SEVP will not grant exemption requests submitted by any other individual or entity.

ISSSO will thus not allow for any 3^rd party release of any I-20s with the exceptions of a parent or legal guardian.

There will be four ways that you can have an I-20 sent to you.

• Authorize a parent or legal guardian to pick up your I-20 with a 3^rd party release
• Send an envelope to ISSSO that has another self-addressed and paid envelope inside that we can use to send back your I-20
• Send a shipping label by email to ISSSO for either USPS, FedEx, UPS, or DHL
• Have a friend drop off an envelope addressed to you for us to to send your I-20