Port of Entry Guide for International Students
In general, a port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported
When to Arrive
You may enter the U.S. in initial F-1 or J-1 status (meaning you are a new international student, not a SEVIS transfer student) up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20 or DS-2019. While you may be aware of students successfully entering the U.S. more than 30 days in advance, we urge you not to attempt this. The inspectors at U.S. ports of entry have the authority to refuse you entry to the U.S., which means you would not be able to leave the airport and would have to return to your home country at your own expense.
If you find it necessary to visit the U.S. between now and your earliest possible F-1 or J-1 entry date, you may do so with a tourist visa or under the Visa Waiver Program, depending on your home country. This allows you to visit, then return home, and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status within the proper time frame. Please note that if you plan to enter under the Visa Waiver Program, you will be required to register and obtain travel clearance through the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before boarding a carrier bound for the United States.
Start and Entry Dates
The start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 is based on the requirements of your academic unit; all students beginning that program have the same start date. Start dates take into account required orientation and other preparatory programs that all students must attend. Start dates cannot be customized for the circumstances of individual students.
Finding Your Program Start Date and the Earliest Date You Can Enter the U.S.
F-1: If you received an I-20, your start date can be found on page one:
J-1: If you received a DS-2019, your start date can be found under #3 on page one:
If you are a new student, you can enter the U.S. 30 days or fewer before this date. To figure out the earliest date you can enter the country, please use this online date calculator. Please note: valid SEVIS transfer students are not subject to the 30-day rule.
The first day of classes for most programs is Monday, September 28th, 2015.
Port of Entry Inspection
The next step in the visa-related process will be entering the U.S. which involves an inspection at the port of entry. Most often, this is the airport where you first land in the U.S., but it could also be a sea port or a land port of entry, depending on your mode of travel.
Regardless of where you enter the U.S., be prepared to provide the following documents at the port of entry to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. NOTE: CBP instpection takes place before you collect your luggage, so you must have these documents on your person. Do not put your travel documents in your checked luggage.
> Passport
> Visa stamp (if applicable)
> SEVIS Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
> SEVIS fee receipt
> Supporting financial documentation
Admission Stamp & Electronic I-94
When you are at the port of entry the officer will place an admission stamp in your passport and then write the visa status you are being given (F-1 or J-1) and the expiration date. For students in F-1 or J-1 status the expiration is noted with "D/S" which stands for 'duration of status'. If your stamp shows the incorrect status or a specific date instead of D/S, RETURN to the inspection area and request your stamp be corrected. In the event this is not possible, please contact OIA the next business day. When you enter the country, an electronic record of your admission, known as the I-94, will also be created. You can retrieve a copy of this record by visiting this page: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/.
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