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ARRIVAL INFORMATION / SPECIAL REGISTRATION
Before leaving your country
• Confirm that your passport is still valid for entry into the United States. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay.
• Check to see that your visa accurately reflects your correct visa classification and still valid for entry into the United States.
• When you receive your nonimmigrant visa (F-1/J-1) at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the consular officer will seal your immigration documents in an envelope and attach it to your passport. You should not open this envelope! The Customs and Border Protection Officer at the U.S. port of entry will open the envelope when you arrive to the United States.
When you travel
Carry some specific documents on your person. They are the following:
• Passport, visa, attached envelope of immigration documents;
• SEVIS Form I-20 (for F visa), or DS-2019 (for J visa);
• Evidence of financial resources.
Also it is advisable to have:
• Name and contact information for Designated School Official or Responsible Officer at your intended school or program.
• A pen.
Do not check these documents in your baggage! If your baggage is lost or delayed, you will not be able to show the documents to the Customs and Border Protection Officer and, as a result, may not be able to enter the United States.
If you are traveling by airplane
The flight attendants on board will distribute CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms and I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Forms for immigration, before you land at your initial point of entry in the United States. Complete these forms while you are on the aircraft and submit them to the appropriate Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your arrival.
If you do not understand a form, ask the flight attendant for assistance.
If you are entering through a land or designated sea port
You will be provided the CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms and I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Forms at the port of entry.If you do not understand a form, ask the Customs and Border Protection Officer for assistance.
Upon arrival at the port of entry
Proceed to the terminal area for arriving passengers for inspection at one of the Department of Homeland Security stations. You will need to present to the Customs and Border Protection Officer: passport, SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019, Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record, and CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form.
You are likely to be asked to provide information on your purpose for entering the United States and your final destination. An appropriate response is "to attend [name of school] in [name of city, state]."
It is important that you tell the Customs and Border Protection Officer that you will be a student (if you have an F-1 visa) or exchange visitor (if you have a J-1 visa)
Once your inspection is complete
The inspecting officer will:
• Stamp your SEVIS Form for duration of status ("D/S") for F and J visa holders
• Stamp the I-94 indicating the visa status (F-1, J-1), the period of stay ("D/S"), and staple it in the passport.
Secondary inspection requirements
If your information cannot be automatically verified by the inspector or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as "secondary inspection" . Secondary inspection allows Inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information.
In the case your admission/participation needs to be verified, we strongly advise that you have the name and phone number of the foreign student advisor (FSA) at your school or the person responsible for your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
FSAs in the Office of International Programs are:
Dr. David Ayers 330-972-6493
Sara Randrianasolo 330-972-6740
Becky Gold 330-972-8391
Genrietta Starik 330-972-6296
Failure to provide proper documentation and to comply with entry/exit procedures is cause to refuse the student or exchange visitor admission into the United States.
Temporary Admission
In limited circumstances, if a student or exchange visitor is mostly, but not fully in compliance, he/she may be issued a Form I-515A "Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor". This form authorizes temporary(30days) admission into the United States and requires the student or exchange visitor to take immediate action to submit proper documentation according to directions given on this form. Noncompliance with the directions can result in denied entry.
Entry-exit registration system US-VISIT
On January 5, 2004, US-VISIT, a comprehensive entry-exit registration system was implemented at all international airports throughout the United States, and designated seaports servicing cruise ships.
This program involves obtaining a scan of two index fingerprints and a digital photograph of an arriving visitor regardless of race, national origin, and religion. It applies to nonimmigrant visa holding aliens.
For more information on US-VISIT program see
http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit
Special Registration
Some visitors will require additional scrutiny and will have to provide additional information under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, or NSEERS. Anyone could be subject to additional scrutiny and should follow the directions of the Customs and Border Protection Officer if additional information regarding itinerary, length of stay, or other security questions is required. A packet of information will be available at the port of entry explaining the registration procedure.
Students in F1/J1 visa status, subject to NSEERS, must notify school within 10 days of any changes in address and employment. They also must use specially designated airports when leaving the USA and report thier departure to an immigration officer.
For more information on Special Registration (NSEERS) see http://www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm
Following admission into the United States
You need to report to the Office of International Programs as soon as possible to validate your intended participation in the program and register for courses. You will need to bring your immigration documents (passport, I-20/DS-2019, I-94) so we can complete your file and inform the Department of Homeland Security on your arrival to The University. The Office is open from Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm (to 4:30 pm during Summer).
For greater detail on procedures for traveling and arriving in the United States, visit: http://educationusa.state.gov/predeparture/travel/customs.htm
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