Traveling to the U.S.

With regard to travel information in general, please read the Department of State website http://www.state.gov/travel/ as well as information about travel on OVIS' website: https://ovis-intl.dartmouth.edu/immigration/f-1-students/travel. 

You will be requesting admission to the U.S. in F-1 student status. It is vital that you do not enter the U.S. in the visa waiver program.

1. Form I-20 – sent by email to your Dartmouth College email address – printed, and signed and dated in ink, by the student;
2. Passport valid for at least six months into the future – always renew passports in a timely manner
3. Valid F-1 visa stamp in passport. Note, students from Canada and Bermuda do not need a visa stamp
4. SEVIS fee payment receipt, see explanation below;
5. Evidence of your admission to Dartmouth College;
6. Proof of financial support – the same documentation sent to OVIS to obtain Form I-20;

During the inspection, the officer will 

• Ask to see the passport and Form I-20. He or she may or may not ask for the other documents, but you must be prepared to produce them. Do not pack your passport or Form I-20 in your checked luggage. You will need those documents for inspection at the U.S. port of entry.
• Review your documents.
• Create an online entry record called an "I-94 record of arrival." You should look up the I-94 record soon after entering the U.S.

Do not leave the airport without your passport and Form I-20

• Students with a new initial I-20:  Students who receive a new initial I-20 can enter the U.S. no earlier than thirty (30) days before the Program Start Date listed on the Form I-20.
• For students who are transferring their I-20 from a previous school: Students who receive a Transfer Pending I-20 are not limited to entering the U.S. up to thirty (30) days in advance of their academic program start date.  However, once you enter the U.S. with a Dartmouth I-20 for transfer, you must not leave the U.S. again until you have completed your SEVIS check-in and have obtained a travel signature.
• Athletes who intend to transit through the U.S., e.g. who are en route to an activity such as a team event outside the U.S., should NOT use the Dartmouth I-20 to enter the U.S. until they are ready to come directly to Dartmouth and complete their SEVIS check-in. Contact keriann.k.niles@dartmouth.edu for questions and planning.
• All students must enter the U.S. on or before the program start date on the Form I-20: Students who attempt to enter after the program start date may be sent back to the country they just left. Students who are unable to enter the U.S. by the program start date on the Form I-20 should contact us immediately so that their Form I-20 can be amended and emailed again, if time allows.

Proper admission to the U.S. is recorded on an electronic record called the I-94. The Customs and Border Protection Officer will create the I-94 record, but it will be your responsibility to look up your I-94 record after arrival (select "Get Most Recent I-94." OVIS will inspect your documents at SEVIS check-in to make sure your I-94 is correct and shows you were admitted in F-1 status. 

• After every arrival in the U.S., all students must print the I-94 form to ensure proper admission: "F-1, D/S".  Students will need this form for SEVIS check-in with OVIS as it will confirm proper admission for study in the U.S.