MinerAlert
MinerAlert
New students may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the I-20 Program Start Date (typically the first day of classes). Students must arrive by the first day of classes, or they risk being denied entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
When entering the U.S. for the first time in F-1 status, be prepared with all the documents you used at your visa interview. CBP officers typically ask for your passport, F-1 visa, and I-20, but they may also request evidence of SEVIS fee payment, financial resources, or your admission letter.
Be sure to enter the U.S. in F-1 status and present your I-20. If you enter in any other status, you will need to leave the U.S. and re-enter in F-1 status before you can begin studying.
Students with an I-20 that states “Initial Attendance,” “Transfer Requested,” or “Change of Education Level” must report their arrival to OIP no later than the first day of classes, and within 15 days of entering the U.S. Most students will do this by completing the Immigration Intake form in the Admissions Checklist on . This first I-20 from ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ may only be used for initial entry, and only before classes begin. After OIP processes the arrival check-in, the student will receive a new I-20 marked “Continued Attendance.”
After your initial entry in F-1 status, you must have a valid signature in the Travel Endorsement section on page 2 of your I-20 each time you re-enter the U.S. A signature is valid if it less than 12 months old. Some CBP officers may subject you to additional questioning if your signature was dated more than six months prior, especially if you are a Border Commuter. Also, students on OPT must receive a new signature every six months. While the I-20 explicitly states that the signature is valid for up to one year, students may request a new signature every six months to avoid problems traveling.
To request a new signature on your I-20, submit the "Travel Signature Request" in the "Letters/Signature Requests" tab through . You will receive an email to confirm once your e-form is submitted, and another email to confirm when your request has been approved. Once you receive the email that your request has been approved, you should bring your current I-20 into the OIP office in order to receive the signature. To avoid processing delays, please wait until you receive the approval email to come into the office, and only come in during the hours designated in the approval email. (If your I-20 is damaged, please submit the "I-20 Replacement Request" through the "F-1 Student Services" tab instead. We will print a new I-20 with a new travel signature for you.)
Do not wait until the last minute to request a Travel Signature. We recommend submitting the request at least 1-2 weeks before you plan to leave the U.S. to provide plenty of time for OIP processing, and so you can make plans to visit the office. We recommend that you regularly request a new travel signature, even if you do not have travel plans, so that you avoid any last-minute requests for emergent travel plans.
Most temporary (nonimmigrant) visitors must present a valid, unexpired U.S. visa in order to be admitted by CBP at each entry into the U.S. In some cases, individuals who meet all other admissions requirements may be admitted with an expired visa through a provision called . For more information, see Applying for a Visa. UPDATE PAGE