An overview to traveling to the U.S. to study
Before you travel
- In planning your travel dates, know that the earliest a new student can enter the U.S. is 30 days before the program start date on the I-20 or DS-2019. Note that if you enter the U.S. earlier than that with another visa (for example, a tourist visa), you would need to later depart the U.S. and then reenter again in order to be in ‘student’ immigration status and start your studies
- Check with your school and on our Immigration News page for any U.S. policy updates impacting international travel
- Review the latest on electronic device searches at the border
- Pack your documents, passport, valid F-1/J-1 visa, and printed I-20/DS-2019, in your hand luggage.
- Collect emergency contact information for the international office at your school
At the Port of Entry
- At the Port of Entry, a CBP officer reviews your documents, asks a few questions about the purpose of your travel to the U.S., admits you into the U.S. in F-1/J-1 status, and issues an electronic I-94 (arrival record).
- An I-94 is an electronic record of your entry, and a new one is created each time you depart and re-enter the U.S. Your I-94 should be accessible by following the ‘Get Most Recent I-94’ link on the I-94 website. Review your I-94 right away and report any mistakes to your school so they can assist with requesting a correction from CBP.
- If the CBP officer has questions, you may be sent to secondary inspection — common and usually routine.
- If you enter the U.S. prior to September 15th, 2026, you will be admitted with a D/S notation on your I-94 information sheet. Confirm this with your DSO or ARO.
- If you enter the U.S. on or after September 15th, 2026, your I-94 will be issued with a date-certain end date – the shorter of the end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, or 4 years. Be sure to confirm this date with your DSO or ARO.
If questioned or delayed, stay calm and answer honestly; possible outcomes include approved entry, conditional admission (Form I-515A, 30 days to fix paperwork), or — rarely — denial.
Carry your school’s international office contact info in case CBP needs to verify details.