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F-1 Orientation and Arriving


F-1 Orientation

Dates for Spring 2024 

January 8th - January 12th


The F-1 student orientation is MANDATORY for all new F-1 students. At orientation, we will go over important F-1 regulations as well as resources at the University of Memphis. Failure to attend the orientation (Aug 21st to 23rd) may result in delay of SEVIS registration and impact your F-1 record negatively. See below for a brief agenda and activities that we prepare for you. 

January 8th (Mon) -  Mandatory. Students will be given a time ticket to arrive at a particular time during  9am - 12pm.

  • TB Testing

January 9th (Tue) - Mandatory 1pm-4pm

  • ISS/F-1 information
  • Campus Partners presentations

January 10th (Wed) - Mandatory 1pm-4pm

  • ISS/F-1 information
  • Campus Partners presentations
  • TB Testing and Reading

January 11th (Thu) - Walk-in hours 1pm-4pm.

  • SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
  • Campus tours available for students to sign up

January 12th (Fri) - Walk-in hours 1pm-4pm.

  • Resources Fair
  • SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
  • TB Reading

Airport Pick Up

For new F-1 students, if you want to request airport pick up, please fill out this FORM.

Late Arrival Information

For your success as a new F-1 international student, you are required to be physically present for mandatory international student orientation (see the orientation information above). We understand that some students may be experiencing delays in securing a visa appointment.  If you are not able to arrive before Janaury 8th, you may still continue to attend the Spring 2024 semester ONLY IF ALL of the following conditions are met:

  • Successfully receive a written confirmation from your UofM academic advisor guaranteeing full-time enrollment to meet the F-1 enrollment requirements when you arrive.
  • Forward a copy of the confirmation to theworld@memphis.edu before January 8th, 2024. 
  • Carry the written confirmation from your academic advisor when entering the US, as you may be asked by the CBP officers at the port of entry to present proof that the university is accepting your late arrival.
  • Arrive in Memphis on or before January 16, 2024. If you are not able to arrive before January 16th, please see the deferral process below. 

Please use the following links to identify your academic advisor based on your education level.

  • Undergraduate: Click HERE.
  • Graduate: Click HERE.

Arriving Late and Maintaining Status

We want you to be well informed of the risks associated with late arrival.

  • If you arrive late, you are at your own risk of not having enough classes to meet the F-1 requirements.
  • Failure to enroll in the required number of credit hours to meet the F-1 requirement may cause you to be out of F-1 status, which requires that you return to your home country immediately.
  • We want you to be successful academically and maintain the F-1 status. If you are not able to obtain a late arrival permission from your academic department, you should defer your admission to 2024 Fall.

Online class registration for 2024 Spring will close on January 19th.

Deferral Process

If you are not able to arrive before January 16th, 2024, you will need to defer to the next semester. Here are the steps of the deferral:

Graduate

  1. Click HERE.
  2. Go down to where it says “Change Your Starting Semester”.
  3. Your previous I-20 application will not be valid. You must submit a new I-20 application for the new semester HERE.

Undergraduate

  1. Please submit a new undergraduate admissions office HERE if you want to apply for a future term.
  2. Your previous I-20 application will not be valid. You must submit a new I-20 application for the new semester HERE.