Study in US: A checklist of immigration documents for international students going to America

Those foreign students who are fortunate enough to have been admitted into prestigious American universities and whose visas have been granted will be eager to get on a plane and visit the US. However, students should familiarize themselves with the documents that may be needed before departing for the United States.

BEFORE ARRIVING IN AMERICA

Make sure you have your original immigration documents with you when you arrive in the United States ( and not in check-in baggage), espcially the Passport, Visa and Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Also, it is also a good idea to make at least two sets of copies of these documents: one copy to leave with your family before you depart and one copy to give to your school officials.

ON ARRIVAL IN AMERICA

On arrival in US, the Form I-94 becomes important. At the port of entry, an automated Form I-94 record will automatically be generated for you by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. CBP will provide you with an admission stamp on your passport that is annotated with date of admission, class of admission and admitted-until date.

The Form I-94, ‘Arrival/Departure Record,’ is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document issued to nonimmigrant aliens at the time of lawful entry into the United States at an air or sea port of entry. The Form I-94 is evidence of a nonimmigrant’s term of admission and used to document legal status in the United States, including length of stay and departure. Make sure the there is no inconsistency between the information on the Form I-94 and the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records.

If CBP officers cannot verify information or require documentation, they may direct passengers to secondary inspection, allowing additional research without causing delays for other passengers. The inspector uses SEVIS to verify your status, and it’s recommended to have the designated school official’s name, phone number, and emergency number for non-business hours. CBP officer may issue Form I-515A for temporary US admission for 30 days, requiring submission of necessary documentation to SEVP. Work with your school without delay to submit the proper documentation required by the Form I-515A.

If you do not send the required documents to the SEVP Form I-515A processing team within 30 days, your nonimmigrant status will be terminated, and you must leave the United States immediately.

REPORTING TO INSTITUION

You have 30 days to enter the country before your official program start date, which is recorded in SEVIS. You must report to your school by the program start date listed on the Form I-20 you received.

Finally, as a student, you must continue maintaining the status of the visa provided to you. If the Department of State awards you an F or M student visa, it indicates that you are going to the United States to study. You should not engage in any actions that detract from that goal.