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 to 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 airport 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 to 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 (see instructions below).

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.)

All new AND returning students must print an I-94 online arrival record after arriving in the U.S. 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.

NEW STUDENT CHECK IN:

There are several steps for checking in. All must be completed after arrival to meet the ISSS/government check in requirement:

1.       Update your “Current Local” address and local telephone number (if you have one) in Student Admin. You must update the address, even if you are staying somewhere temporarily. For the telephone number, please input only a 10 digit, U.S. number, and designate this number as your primary number. See http://go.uconn.edu.  

2.       Complete the ISSS Online Check In form: http://isss.uconn.edu/check-in/ and follow the instructions given. You will need to have electronic/scanned copies of your passport ID page, visa stamp, signed Form I-20, I-94, and the entry stamp in your passport at the time you check in to upload into the check-in form.   

**Students who have filed an application with the government to change status: Please do not check in until your change of status has been approved and you have received your approval notice.

3.       Attend an ISSS Orientation session:   

*New Graduate degree students, Storrs campus: Orientation will begin August 24, with mandatory orientation on August 25^th at 9:00 am (check in starts at 8:00 am, please arrive early). You must register and pay the orientation fee in advance at http://isss.uconn.edu/orientation-information-for-storrs-campus-international-graduate-students/

*New Undergraduate degree students, Storrs campus:  ISSS will present at undergraduate orientation on August 28^th at 8:45 a.m., ITE Building, Room C80.  http://orientation.uconn.edu/international-program/

 *Exchange Students (here for one semester or academic year): Exchange students will attend the same orientation as graduate students on August 24/25. See http://isss.uconn.edu/orientation-information-for-storrs-campus-international-graduate-students/ for the schedule. Exchange students do not have to register in advance or pay for orientation (your program does this for you). Your program may be providing additional orientation sessions for the rest of the week.

    *MOU/3+2/Brazil Scientific Mobility Students:  Special program students such as 3+2 or BSMP students will attend the same orientation as graduate students on August 24/25. See http://isss.uconn.edu/orientation-information-for-storrs-campus-international-graduate-students/ for the schedule. You do not have to register in advance or pay for orientation (your program does this for you). Your program may be providing additional orientation sessions for the rest of the week.

*Regional Campus students: If you attend a UConn campus that is NOT the Storrs campus (e.g. Stamford, GBLC, Law School, Avery Point, Waterbury or Torrington campuses) your program will send you information separately about your orientation schedule, and ISSS will come to your campus as part of your orientation.    

New J-1 Visiting Scholars (Researchers or Professors): The above check in and orientation information pertains to students taking classes. Please come to ISSS in-person to complete the Check In and orientation sign up.

We look forward to meeting you soon!