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Remember, new F-1 and J-1 students may not enter the U.S. more
than 30 days
before the report date on the I-20 or DS-2019 form (August 19, 2019). Transfer students may arrive earlier.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
As you prepare to depart your home country, make sure you pack the following items in your carry-on bag:
- Your passport, valid for at least
SIX MONTHS
beyond the date of your expected stay;
- Your Form I-20 if you are F-1 student or your Form DS-2019 if you are a J-1 student.
- Evidence of financial resources;
- Letter of admission;
- Receipt for paying the SEVIS fee;
- Phone number for International Student and Scholar Services: +001 301-314-7740.
If you have a driver's license in your home country and are interested in obtaining a driver's license in the US, you should bring your home country license.
ARRIVAL IN THE US & CUSTOMS
At the port-of-entry, an immigration officer will look over your documents and ask you several questions about your stay in the US.
If you have more than one visa, be sure to
open your passport to the visa you will use for study
when presenting it to the Customs officer.
The officer will electronically enter the visa status you are admitted with (F-1, J-1) and how long your stay in the US is valid. If you arrive by plane, you may access this information by finding your arrival record at
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
using your passport and travel information. You will also receive an entry stamp in your passport.
Exception
: If you arrive by land, s/he will staple a paper I-94 card into your passport.
Your entry stamp in the passport should say "F-1, D/S" if you are an F-1 student or "J-1, D/S" if you are a J-1 student
. If you entered by land, the paper I-94 should have the same notation. Please check carefully to make sure that this is correctly noted.
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