Entry into the United States
Before you leave home, be certain that your passport and all immigration documents are readily accessible. DO NOT PACK THESE IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE! If your financial documents were not enclosed in an envelope by the visa officer, be sure these are also available.
to%20ExpectWhat to Expect at Customs and Immigration
If you are traveling to the United States by plane, you will be given a form to complete shortly before you land. If you are entering by land, the form will be given to you at the border. This multi-part form is called an Arrival/Departure Record and is also known as an I-94. On it, you must provide the following information: your name (record it EXACTLY as it appears in your passport), your date of birth, your intended destination in the United States, your reason for coming to this country and a variety of other details. The number on the Form I-94 will be recorded in SEVIS when you are permitted to enter the United States and becomes your "admission" number and an identification number on your immigration records. You also will be asked to complete a customs declaration and may, at actual entry, be asked to open your suitcases for inspection and to pay customs taxes. When you arrive in this country, you must present the immigration officer with your passport, visa documents and the completed Form I-94. The official will review your documentation and may ask questions about your plans. He/she will probably enter your name and other personal details in a computer and check for any data that may exist from other trips here.
You should be aware that the immigration officer has the right to refuse to permit you to enter the country and that there is no appeal of this decision. While this rarely happens, it can. It occurs when there is doubt about the validity of documents or purpose in coming to the United States, when someone attempts entry with an inappropriate visa status or when immigration records indicate that an individual has had immigration problems or criminal convictions during a previous trip to this country.
In most cases, entry is uneventful and relatively simple. An entry stamp will be placed in your passport, part of the form I-94 will be stapled in your passport and the Form I-20/DS-2019 will be returned to you. PLEASE BE CERTAIN THAT THESE THREE THINGS TAKE PLACE. IF THEY DO NOT, IMMEDIATELY BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER. Each time you depart the United States (except for trips to Canada/Mexico), the I-94 will be collected and your date of departure recorded.
Please note that your "visa" is useful only for entry to the United States. It has nothing to do with how long you can remain here and, if it expires during your stay, this will not be a problem if you have maintained status.
should%20IWhen should I arrive?
If you will be living off campus, we suggest you arrive a few weeks before the start of the semester in order to get acclimated, search for an apartment, explore on campus job opportunities, submit required documents, talk with faculty and other graduate students before registering for courses, etc. If you will be living on campus, arriving one week early will provide you with more than enough time to adjust (be sure you check when you can move into on-campus housing and plan accordingly). You should plan to arrive at the University on a weekday during business hours.