Arrive in the United States

When your flight lands in the United States, you will proceed through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection at the airport. This is your official point of entry into the country. A CBP officer will review your passport, visa stamp, and supporting documents. They may ask questions about your program, school, intended activities, and how long you plan to stay.

Keep all immigration documents in your carry-on bag — never in checked luggage. You need immediate access to: your passport with visa stamp, Form I-20 or DS-2019 (signed by your DSO/RO), I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, university acceptance letter, and financial documentation. Having these organized and accessible demonstrates preparation.

The CBP officer will admit you in your visa classification (F-1, J-1, or M-1) and create an electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. F-1 students are typically admitted for "D/S" (Duration of Status), meaning there is no fixed departure date — you are authorized to remain as long as you maintain valid student status. J-1 and M-1 holders are admitted through the end date on their DS-2019 or I-20 plus a 30-day grace period.

International students may enter the United States up to 30 days before their program start date (as listed on the I-20 or DS-2019). Arriving earlier than 30 days before the start date is not permitted on a student visa.

Within 24 hours of arriving in the United States, go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov and retrieve your electronic I-94 record. Enter your name (exactly as it appears on your passport) and passport information to access the record. The I-94 confirms three critical pieces of information: your admission date, your admission class (visa category), and your authorized period of stay.

Errors on the I-94 happen more often than students expect, and they can cause serious downstream problems. An incorrect admission class (e.g., showing B-2 instead of F-1) would mean you are not in student status. An incorrect name spelling can cause problems with Social Security, employment verification, and future immigration applications. An incorrect "Admit Until" date (for J-1 or M-1 holders) could show an earlier departure requirement than your actual program end date.

If you find any errors, report them to your ISSO immediately. Your DSO can help you file a correction request with CBP. The sooner an error is caught, the easier it is to fix. Weeks or months later, corrections become significantly more difficult and may require formal requests through DHS Traveler Compliance.

Your first week in the United States involves several critical administrative tasks that establish your legal presence, activate your student status, and set up the practical infrastructure you need to succeed. The checklist below covers the essential tasks in roughly the order they should be completed.

Some tasks have dependencies: you need your I-94 before checking in with your ISSO, you typically need your ISSO check-in before registering for classes, and you need to wait at least 10 days after arrival before applying for a Social Security Number (to allow government systems to sync). Plan accordingly.

These tasks may feel overwhelming during your first days in a new country. Most schools provide extensive orientation programming and peer mentors specifically to help international students navigate this period. Take advantage of these resources — they exist because every international student faces the same initial administrative burden.

F-1 students are admitted for "Duration of Status" (D/S), which is fundamentally different from a fixed departure date. D/S means you are authorized to remain in the United States for the entire length of your academic program, plus any authorized post-completion OPT, plus a 60-day grace period after your program or OPT ends. There is no specific calendar date by which you must leave.

This is both a benefit and a responsibility. The benefit is that you do not need to extend your stay or worry about a visa expiration date while you are in valid status. The responsibility is that "valid status" is defined by active compliance with student visa rules: maintaining full-time enrollment, making normal progress toward your degree, not working without authorization, reporting address changes within 10 days, and keeping your SEVIS record active.

If you fall out of status (through unauthorized employment, dropping below full-time enrollment without DSO approval, or other violations), your D/S period ends immediately — there is no grace period. Reinstatement is possible but requires filing Form I-539 with USCIS and demonstrating that the violation was beyond your control or would result in extreme hardship.

J-1 and M-1 students do not receive D/S. Their authorized stay is defined by the program end dates on their DS-2019 or I-20, plus a 30-day grace period. Extensions beyond those dates require advance approval.

It may seem premature to think about post-graduation immigration during your first week in the United States. But the most consequential decision for your post-graduation trajectory — verifying your STEM CIP code — should happen in your first week. If your I-20 lists the wrong CIP code, getting it corrected early is straightforward. Discovering the error two years later, when you are applying for STEM OPT, creates a crisis.

Beyond the CIP code, your first semester is the right time to begin understanding the landscape. Visit your ISSO's workshops on OPT timing and employment rules. Introduce yourself to career services and ask about their experience helping international students. Connect with international student alumni in your field through LinkedIn or campus alumni networks.

The students who have the smoothest post-graduation transitions are those who understood the system from their first semester — not those who started researching OPT three months before graduation. Every semester you spend informed is a semester you can use strategically: building research for EB-1A evidence, choosing STEM-relevant coursework, networking with H-1B-sponsoring employers, or gaining CPT experience that strengthens your resume.