Arrival Segment: Immigration & Travel Office of International Programs & Services (IPS) Last update May 2018 Note: many slides have hyperlinks! Click them to visit the webpage.
Check your Primary Campus Make sure you are enrolled on the campus that you want to be your primary campus Armstrong Campus Statesboro Campus These arrival segments are for students whose primary campus will be Armstrong
Immigration Checklist Tasks you need to complete to receive your student visa: 1. Receive your I-20 in the mail Make sure your name and birthdate are correct 2. Schedule a meeting with the U.S. embassy/consular office near you to apply for a visa 3. Pay SEVIS 901 fee 4. Attend the visa meeting 5. Send all of your final documents to International Admissions 11935 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 31419 USA
U.S. Immigration Agencies DHS Department of Homeland Security USCIS United States Citizenship & Immigration Services Administers immigration services and benefits ICE Immigration Enforcement & Customs Investigates immigration violations CBP Customs & Border Protection Enforces U.S. laws along international borders SEVIS Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Reporting database
The Form I-20 * Now that you have been admitted, you will receive a document called an I-20 in the mail Make sure the information is correct: your name, date of birth, etc. This is a legal document that proves that you have been admitted to a U.S. college and permits you to apply for a student visa You will need this I-20 in order to schedule a visa appointment, enter the country, and study in the U.S. Make copies of your I-20, keep it with your passport, and do not lose it! Never throw away any I-20s you receive; you may need them for future immigration purposes *The DS-2019 for students on J-1 visa is used for the same purpose!
Visa Appointment You may only receive a student visa up to 120 days before your program start date, so make your visa appointment around this time frame Find out if you must pay the visa application fee beforehand You must pay the SEVIS 901 fee beforehand Take with you Your letter of admittance, I-20, and financial documents Your passport DS-160 (Non-immigrant Visa Application Form) confirmation page The letter of admittance must be from the same school as the one on your I-20 You may only enter the U.S. up to 30 days before your program start date Note: Canadians and Bermudans do not need a visa to enter the U.S.; they do not need to make a visa appointment
The Visa Interview The interview questions are meant to evaluate your own knowledge and abilities Check out this list for tips 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa You should do research about Savannah and Georgia on factual and tourist websites (Wikipedia, VisitSavannah.com, TripAdvisor.com, etc.) to get an idea of the area Look over the university's programs at various Armstrong websites: Student Life, Housing, International Education, your academic department, news updates, etc. Also look at the Armstrong arrival segments you've been receiving to learn more about the city and the university
You Received Your Visa! Now you need to make preparations to come to the U.S. and Armstrong. Remember F-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States in F-1 or M-1 status earlier than 30 days before your start date. Checklist Book your flight Fill out the Arrival Notification form Fill out Third Party Payment form (if applicable) Apply for housing & a meal plan Register for SOAR (orientation) Review health insurance options Pay your tuition and fees (if applicable) See the Arrival Handbook for more details!
Arrival Procedures for Students Check out this helpful video of what to know before your trip and when you arrive: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/videogallery/video-library/know-you-visit Questions about what you can bring in the airport? Check this website: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/securityscreening/whatcanibring
More Tips for Travel Bring in your carry on bag Passport I-20 or DS-2019 from Armstrong Acceptance letter from Georgia Southern Letter from Dr. Mertz about consolidation Receipt Notice of SEVIS fee payment Evidence of financial resources Arrival Packet While traveling While traveling, do not carry items for anyone that you do not know Do not leave your belongings unattended at any time In U.S. airports Be prepared to take your shoes off to go through the security checkpoint You may not take drinks through the security checkpoint
Customs & Border Patrol If you are stopped by Customs and Border Patrol agents Remain calm and cooperative Make sure to tell the border agent you are a student Show them all of your documents listed above They may call us at 912.344.3128 (office) during business hours or 912.655.9748 after business hours or on the weekend. They may email kkaram@georgiasouthern.edu We cannot make them grant you entry to the U.S. However, usually when they verify with a traveler is in fact a new student they let them in If you are given a form I-515 do not throw it away. Bring it with you when you check in at OIE
Questions? Concerns? Sara C. Nobles International Advisor snobles@georgiasouthern.edu (+1) 912.344.3128