F-1 Orientation and Arriving
Fall 2024
SEVIS Check-in
F-1 students are allowed to arrive in the US as early as 30 days prior to the Program Start Date on the initial I-20. Upon arrival, all initial F-1 students are required to complete the SEVIS check-in process so that the ISS staff can register your F-1 records in SEVIS. It will turn your F-1 status from initial to ACTIVE. Failure to complete this process may jeopardize your F-1 status.
Instructions to complete the SEVIS Check-in
Step One: Arrive in the US
Step Two: Fill out the SEVIS Check-in Form HERE
Step Three: Attend the Mandatory F-1 orientation
For students with Graduate Assistantship only
You must complete the above three steps. In addition, you can visit the International Center during the F-1 GA check-in period: July 22 - August 16 (Monday to Friday) 2pm-4pm for more information about getting the support letter to apply for the Social
Security Number.
F-1 Orientation
August 19 - August 23, 2024
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
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.
August 19 (Monday)
9am-12pm/ International Center Room 115
- SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
- TB testing
- Campus tour
August 20 (Tuesday) Mandatory
1pm-4pm/ Rose Theatre
- ISS/F-1 information
- Campus partners presentations
August 21 (Wednesday) Mandatory
1pm-4pm/ Psychology Auditorium
- ISS/F-1 information
- Campus partners presentations
- TB testing and reading (10am-12pm)
August 22 (Thursday)
1pm-4pm/ International Center
- SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
August 23 (Friday)
1pm-4pm/ Rose Theatre
- Resources fair
- TB reading
Airport Pick Up
For new F-1 students, if you want to request airport pick up, please fill out this FORM. Pickup services are scheduled from Sunday, July 28, 2024 to Sunday, August 18, 2024 between 7am to 11pm.
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 August 19, you may still continue to attend the 2024 Fall semester ONLY IF ALL of the following conditions are met:
Undergraduate Students
- You have registered for at least 12 credit hours to meet the F-1 enrollment requirement. (only one online class will be counted toward this requirement.) You can contact your academic advisor for course registration by email at acc@memphis.edu.
- Email your late arrival reason and expected arrival date to theworld@memphis.edu before August 19, 2024.
- Depending on your arrival date and whether you have registered to meet the F-1 enrollment requirement, you may be given a written confirmation of late arrival. Carry the written confirmation 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 before August 26, 2024. If you are not able to arrive before August 26, please see the deferral process below.
Graduate Students
- Successfully receive a written confirmation from your UofM academic advisor guaranteeing full-time enrollment to meet the F-1 enrollment requirements when you arrive. Please use the following links to identify your academic advisor: HERE.
- Forward a copy of the confirmation to theworld@memphis.edu before August 19, 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 before August 26, 2024. If you are not able to arrive before August 26, please see the deferral process below.
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 requirements may cause you to be out of F-1 status, which may require 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 2025 Spring.
- Late registration may result in additional fees. Please see the fee calendar for 2024 Fall HERE.
Last day of online class registration for 2024 Fall: August 26, 2024. Late fee will apply and you may not be able to register for class after this date.
Deferral Process
If you are not able to arrive before August 26, 2024, you will need to defer to the next semester. Here are the steps of the deferral:
Graduate
- Click HERE.
- Go down to where it says “Change Your Starting Semester”.
- Your previous I-20 application will not be valid. You must submit a new I-20 application for the new semester HERE.