Report Your Arrival
Initial F-1 students may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their I-20. Page 1 of the I-20 includes the earliest possible date a student may enter the U.S. Initial students must use their most recent I-20 for travel to the U.S.
When you arrive in the U.S., you must report to the ISSO. This is a Department of Homeland Security Requirement. We call this “New Student Check-In.” There are three steps. You should complete all three by the start of classes.
- Update Galaxy with new U.S. address and U.S. phone number. You must report in the UTD Galaxy portal within 10 days of obtaining your new address. Your new address will then be reported to DHS by the ISSO. Address information can be updated in the “Profile” section.
- If you will first be staying at a temporary residence (hotel, Air B&B, etc), you may report your temporary address in Galaxy first, and then update the information later once you have moved into your long-term residence.
- You do not need to report your U.S. phone number within 10 days but provide your U.S. phone number as soon as possible for immigration reporting and contact information requirements.
- Attend the Maintaining F-1 Status Workshop. You have the option to attend an in-person or virtual workshop. You will need to take a quiz at the end of the session for your attendance to be counted. Please see below for available dates and registration details.*
- NOTE: The F-1 Status Workshop is not the same as International Student Orientation. The ISSO’s F-1 Status Workshop is separate from Intercultural Program’s International Student Orientation; both are required for new international students.
- Submit immigration documents in iComet (after completing both workshop and address update). After you have attended a F-1 Status Workshop and reported your U.S. address, you will submit a copy of your signed Form I-20, your valid F-1 Visa, and your Form I-94.
- Log into iComet, then click on Check-In on the left-hand side
- Click on New Student Check-In, and complete the Immigration Document Verification eForm.
Register for Maintaining F-1 Status Workshop
You must pre-register for the F-1 Status Workshop, whether you attend in-person or virtually. Please register with your UTD email. Once you register, a confirmation email will be sent to your UTD account with instructions for attendance. All times listed are in U.S. Central time.
- Summer 2024 F-1 Status Workshops (Virtual, Microsoft Teams)
Submit Immigration Documents
In the “Immigration Document Verification” eForm, you will submit the following documents.
Form I-20
Your UT Dallas Form I-20 is not valid until you sign page one. Submit a signed copy to the ISSO. Electronic signatures are not acceptable. You will maintain a valid, up-to-date Form I-20 throughout your stay in the U.S.
F-1 Visa
A valid, unexpired visa is required to travel to the U.S. Submit a copy of the visa page in your passport.
Form I-94
The I-94 is issued through the port of entry in the U.S. Depending on where you enter the U.S. you will be given a white card or told to obtain your I-94 information online. Either version is valid.
- Card – If you receive a white card, submit a copy of the front and back to the ISSO.
- Electronic – If you receive a stamp in your passport but no card, obtain your I-94 information online.* Submit a copy of the information you access online to the ISSO. (See How to Submit Documents.).
*To request your I-94 online, you will be asked to complete a short form online. It will request passport information and arrival date. If you get an error message, try again using a different format of your name. For example, enter it as it appears in your passport, then as it appears on the U.S. visa. Print a copy of the I-94 for your records. You will need this for many uses, such as driver’s license and Social Security card applications. Be sure all the information is in English.
If the online information is incorrect or cannot be found, a visitor can obtain a new I-94 at the local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deferred Inspection office.
