Travel Guidelines for your Arrival
Date of Entry to the United States
Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the United States. Immigration regulations permit new F1 students to enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to but no later than the program start date printed on page one of the Chapman I-20.
Your initial I-20 will indicate the earliest admission date you can enter the U.S.:
Late Entry to the United States
Entry to the U.S. after the program start date is not guaranteed. It is at the discretion of the Port of Entry Officer at the airport as well as Chapman University. Students who cannot arrive by the program start date on the I-20 will need to cancel their admission or request to defer to a future term.
What to Expect at the U.S. Port of Entry
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the government agency that controls admission to the United States. The CBP officer makes the final decision on your admission to the U.S. in a particular status and determines how long you may stay based on your documents.
Upon arrival, you will go through an immigration inspection. You will need the following documents to get through immigration and enter the United States:
- Passport
- F-1 Visa
- I-20 Form
- SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
You should bring these documents with your personal or carry-on bag, and not in your checked-in luggage.
After you have presented these documents at the immigration inspection, you will be given a stamp in your passport noting the date and your Duration of Status. Additionally, you will be assigned an I-94 number. You can learn more on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
If you experience any problems, please contact ISS at (714) 744-2110.
