Entering The U.S.
When you arrive at the airport in the U.S., your luggage will be inspected, as will your passport and your Form I-20 or DS-2019. The following documents should be carried with you in person and never left with your checked baggage: your passport, Form I-20 or DS-2019, copies of your financial support documentation, your admission letter, Rollins contact phone numbers, and the pamphlet which contains travel instructions.
As part of the regular inspection, an officer from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will stamp your I-20 or DS-2019 and return it to you. You will also receive an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, part of which will be stapled into your passport and part will be kept by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer (you usually fill out this form on the plane).  This card is very important because it notes the date you entered the U.S., your immigration status (F-1 or J-1), and how long you are allowed to stay in the U.S. The I-94 card of an F-1 and J-1 student should be marked “D/S” meaning “duration of status”. Your Form I-20 or DS-2019 should be stamped with this same information. Review the documents carefully to make sure that they are stamped correctly.
|
