Welcome new and returning students!

 

In anticipation of your trip to the University of Connecticut, ISSS would like to provide some information on what you can expect during your trip and upon your arrival in the United States.  While many students have traveled to the U.S. before, for some of you this may be your first trip.  You may want to carry this email as a reference during your travels. The following information may help to ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip!

 

 

PRE-ARRIVAL

Before you leave for your trip, be sure that you have the following on your person (in your carry-on bag, NOT checked luggage):

1. Passport

2. Visa

3. I-20 (F-1 visa) or DS-2019 (J-1 visa) **RETURNING STUDENTS: Be sure you have a travel signature**

4. Proof of SEVIS I-901 payment (receipt printed at time of payment)

5. Proof of funding

6. Admission letter (new students) OR enrollment verification (returning students)

7. Address of where you will stay (if you do not have an address yet, you may use the ISSS address)

8. Contact information for ISSS at UConn (email address, phone)

9. Travel plans from the port of entry to the UConn area

**Put copies of all your documents in your checked luggage

 

As you near the U.S., you will be given a customs declaration form.

 

On the customs declaration form, you must provide information found in your passport as well as your U.S. address. Again, if you do not have a U.S. address, you may use the ISSS office.  Be sure to print clearly!

Also on the form, you must declare the amount of money you are bringing with you IF it is $10,000 or more. Be sure to tell the truth!  There is no penalty for bringing this much money but it MUST be declared.

You must also include on the form the total value of any goods that you are bringing into the US.  You don’t have to be specific, you can use general terms (i.e. clothing, books, gifts). You can estimate the value of the items. You do not have to pay a duty fee on totals less than $1,000.

 

ARRIVAL

Upon arrival in the U.S., you will go through immigration and customs at your port of entry. Have your passport, visa, I-20, I-901 receipt, proof of funding, and admission letter ready to present to the officer at the immigration window.

The officer will look over your documents and may ask you questions about your plans.

Upon admitting you to the U.S., the officer will stamp your passport with an entry stamp.  

IMPORTANT: Inspect the entry stamp immediately. It must have the following information on it:  “F-1, D/S” or “J-1, D/S”, depending on your visa type. If it does NOT say this or if it says something else, you should have it fixed before you leave. The notation “F-1, D/S” or “J-1, D/S” indicates your status in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student who may stay for the duration of your status.

 

***It is possible that the first officer who you meet will not be able to verify your identity. If this happens, you may get sent to secondary inspection. Don’t panic! This is routine and the officer may simply need to verify your status or information with our office. It is a good idea to carry our phone number in case this happens.   

 

After clearing the immigration area, you will pick up your checked baggage and give your customs declaration form to an officer on your way out.

 

 

Welcome to the U.S.!  Be sure to check in with ISSS!

 

 

CHECK-IN:

All new students are required to check in at ISSS upon arrival or during the designated date/times listed below. Returning students only need to bring copies of any updated documents to our office (e.g. I-94, visa renewals and passport renewals.)

There are two steps to checking in:

 

1. Attend mandatory orientation session.  

*New Graduate degree students, Storrs campus: Orientation will be held on August 19 at 8:30am. You must register in advance at http://global.uconn.edu/graduate-student-orientation/

 

*New Undergraduate degree students, Storrs campus: http://orientation.uconn.edu/programs/international_program.html

 

                *Exchange Students (here for one semester or academic year): Exchange student check-in will be on Friday, August 25th. You will receive more information at Orientation. The UConn exchange coordinator has provided you with information about your Orientation schedule.

 

*Regional Campus students: If your program is at the downtown Hartford (GBLC), Stamford, Avery Point, or Law School campuses, ISSS will attend your campus academic orientation program to provide you with information on how to meet the check in requirement and participate in your program’s Orientation.   If your program is at the Greater Hartford, Waterbury, Torrington o, ISSS will contact you directly on how to meet the check in and orientation requirement at your campus.

 

2. Provide your immigration documents to ISSS. You will need to provide the following:

- Passport

- I-20 or DS-2019

- A printout of your online admission record 

 

To print out a copy of your online admission record, go to this website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html  and select the “Get I-94 Information” tab. You will be asked to enter information found in your passport. You may also find detailed instructions at the link by selecting the “I-94 FAQ” tab.

 

Please note:  you must appear in person to provide these check in documents. You may check in with ISSS during the following times, beginning on August 4:

 

Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am – 12pm

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm – 4pm

http://global.uconn.edu/check-in-times-for-international-students/ 

***STORRS CAMPUS CHECK-IN MUST BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST 25***

 

Check-In Schedule for Newly Arrived J-1 Scholars: You MUST check in at ISSS within 3 days of your arrival to the U.S.;

Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO KEEP IN MIND

Please remember that international students may drive in the U.S. with a foreign driver’s license used together with an official International Driver’s Permit obtained in the home country. If you have a driver’s license from your home country, it is highly recommended that you obtain the International Driver’s Permit before your arrival. If you do not have the International Driver’s Permit, you will be required to go through the regular process described below in order to legally drive in Connecticut and the U.S.

The process to obtain a Connecticut State driver’s license is long and requires students to first apply for a learner’s permit for 90 days, during which time you can only drive with an experienced, licensed Connecticut driver. In addition, international students must have a CT driver’s license or CT State ID in order to register a car you have purchased. You are required to register a car in order to drive it. Therefore, if you are planning to purchase a car, you should not do this until you have obtained your CT driver’s license, or CT State ID. For further information please see: www.isss.uconn.edu > Driving in CT. In addition, the CT Department of Motor Vehicles requires you to have a SSN or obtain a denial letter from Social Security Administration before you may apply for a driver’s license.

 

 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

 

 

International Student & Scholar Services(ISSS)

Office of Global Affairs

University of Connecticut

2011 Hillside Road, Unit 1083

Storrs, CT 06269-1083

phone-(860) 486-3855

fax-(860)486-5800

 

 

ISSS Summer Office Hours (5/12/2014-8/15/2014):

Monday-Friday  9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00-4:00pm EST (12:00-1:00pm EST closed)

 

* To schedule an appointment with an ISSS advisor please visit www.advapp.uconn.edu and select ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services).