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F-1 Orientation and Arriving

Spring 2025 

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: January 2 - 10 (Monday to Friday) 2pm-4pm for more information about getting the support letter to apply for the Social Security Number. 

F-1 Orientation

January 13 - 17, 2025

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. 

January 13 (Monday)
9am-12pm/ International Center Room 115

  • TB testing
  • Campus tour

January 14 (Tuesday) Mandatory
1pm-4pm/ Rose Theatre

  • ISS/F-1 information
  • Campus partners presentations

January 15 (Wednesday) Mandatory
1pm-4pm/ Rose Theatre

  • ISS/F-1 information
  • Campus partners presentations
  • TB testing and reading (10am-12pm)

January 17 (Friday) 
1pm-4pm/ International Center 

  • 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 Thursday, January 2, 2025 to Sunday, January 12, 2025 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 January 13, you may still continue to attend the Spring 2025 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 January 13, 2025.
  • 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 January 21, 2025. If you are not able to arrive before January 21, 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 January 13, 2025.
  • 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 January 21, 2025. If you are not able to arrive before January 21, 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 Fall 2025.
  • Late registration may result in additional fees. Please see the Spring 2025 fee calendar HERE. 

Last day of online class registration for Spring 2025: January 27, 2025. Late fee will apply and you may not be able to register for class after this date.

Deferral Process

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 application 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.