INFORMATION FOR
Once you have received the Visa, please remember that if you have an initial I-20, you can only enter the U.S. 30 days prior to your program start date!
When you arrive in the U.S., you will be required to present your passport with valid F-1 visa, financial documents and your Form I-20 to as U.S. Immigration Inspector. Since you must show your documents before you are allowed to claim your bags, please do not pack these documents in suitcases that are checked into the baggage compartment. If you arrive by air, you will show your documents at the airport at your port of entry. If, arriving by car - please make sure to present all documentation at the border or point of entry.
Important Note
You may be interviewed twice; Once at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy when you request a visa, and then again at your port of entry to the U.S. Be prepared each time, otherwise you may be denied entry to the U.S.
The Immigration Inspector will review your papers and then stamp your passport. The I-94 can be printed in the following link: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94 It should read “F-1 – D/S,” indicating that you have an F-1 student visa and have been granted duration of status (“D/S”). Duration of status means that if you are pursuing full-time study at WP, you may legally remain in the U.S. Your I-20 should also have an annotation from the Officer indicating “F-1 – D/S”. This mark is found on the upper, right- hand corner box of the I-20 that says, “Immigration Official Use”. You should always keep both your I-94 and I-20 in your passport while at WP.
