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Entering the US

You’re ready for travel! Your bags are packed, your flight is booked, and you have a visa stamp in your passport. Here’s what you need to do when entering the United States as an F-1 or J-1 student

Note: Be sure to schedule your arrival no sooner than 30 days before the program start date on your I-20 or DS-2019.

  1. Gather your required documents for entry to the US
    • Valid passport
    • Valid entry visa stamp (Canadian and Bermudan students excepted)
    • I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
    • SEVIS fee receipt
    • Letter of Acceptance to DePauw University
    • Proof of Financial Support. (These are all the documents that you shared with DePauw as proof of funding/financial ability. They may include bank statements or other confirmation of funding.)
  2. Arrive to the US: And Meet with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
    • The first US official you will meet when you arrive to the US is the CBP Officer
    • They will review your documents and will make the final decision about letting you into the US, deciding how long you can stay based on your documentation
    • They will ask you questions about the reason for your travel to and stay in the US, where and what you will be studying, and may check your bags, as well
    • A Secondary Inspection may be required if you do not have all of your document or if they cannot verify your information
  3. Get Your Passport Stamp (and check it)
    • The CBP Officer will admit you to the US and then stamp your passport. The stamp should include:
      • Date and location of arrival
      • Immigration status
      • Expiration of your stay in status
    • Your stamp should show F-1 or J-1 status as well as “D/S” which stands for “duration of status”. Duration of Status means that you’re able to stay until your program end date, as listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 (as well as a grace period).
    • If there is an error in this passport stamp, let the CBP officer know.
    • If the Officer does not stamp your passport, we recommend that you request it.

Information about I-94 / Form I-515

The I-94 is a record of your admission into the US through a “port of entry” and your departure from the US from a “port of departure.” 

The electronic Form I-94 is the most common record DePauw international students receive, as they typically arrive by air. (Land arrivals often get a paper I-94 stapled into their passport.) 

 Students will need to submit a copy of their I-94 to ISA shortly after arrival, through the International Student Portal. We use this record to confirm your arrival to the US and officially register you in the SEVIS system, where F-1 and J-1 records are kept. 

I-94 records will identify the individual’s name, birth date, country of citizenship, immigration class of admission, and an “admitted until” date. 

If you arrive without the proper documentation, the CBP Officer may still decide to admit you temporarily. When they do that, they will issue you a Form I-515A, which gives you admission for only 30 days. If this happens, please contact ISA immediately to let us know. We will then assist you in submitting the correct documentation to extend your stay beyond 30 days.

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