u.s. customs

Many students often feel nervous about going through U.S. Customs. Making sure you are prepared and are carrying the correct documents will ensure a smooth arrival.

Be sure to carry all visa and other necessary documents with you in your carry-on luggage so they are easily accessible when you go through U.S. Customs, because you will be required to show them. Required visa documents include a passport valid for at least six months after your arrival date, I-20 or DS-2019, and student visa (unless you are a Canadian citizen). It is also recommended that you carry your admissions letter, SEVIS Fee receipt, and financial support documents with you as well, just in case a U.S. Customs officer asks for them.

During your flight to the U.S. you will be given an I-94 Arrival and Departure Record to complete. Write your name exactly as it appears in your passport, visa, and I-20 or DS-2019 documents. You will be asked to present this card in addition to your other required documents to the U.S. Customs officer, and it will then most likely be stapled into your passport. The I-94 form is a small, square white card and is one of the most important visa documents that you will have in your possession. Keep track of it! You will be asked to bring it to orientation and keep it for the remainder of the time you are in the United States. If the U.S. Customs officer does not staple it into your passport, feel free to do so.

If your flight itinerary includes a stopover in a country other than your own, it is recommended that you confirm whether it is necessary to obtain a transit visa to enter the connecting airport.