Carnegie Mellon University
Division of Enrollment Management  ›  Office of International Education  ›  Community Connections  ›  Orientation

Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration

All incoming international students in F-1/J-1 status on Carnegie Mellon University issued Form I-20/DS-2019 documents, are required to complete a Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration program with OIE upon arrival to CMU. This orientation is separate from the university's First Year Orientation and Graduate Student Orientation and is intended to welcome students to campus and have the information and resources you need in order to be successful at CMU. More detailed information is sent to incoming students a few months prior to arrival.

All new international students who will be joining us in Pittsburgh are required to attend an in-person Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration with the OIE staff. This session will include an introduction to the OIE office and services, answers to frequently asked questions, AND time to complete your required immigration check-in. 

Who should attend:

  • New spring semester admits who are physically present in Pittsburgh for the spring semester
  • Return from leave students who are physically present in Pittsburgh for the spring semester

OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration Session Dates:

Steps to complete the OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration:

Directions to come soon!

If your plans have changed or you are unable to join us in the U.S. for the spring semester, please let us (oie@andrew.cmu.edu) and your admitting department know of your new plans if you have not done so already.

All new international graduate students who will be starting at CMU in Silicon Valley and New York, are required to attend a virtual Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration. Students are expected to attend the session in-person at their respective campus.  This session will include an introduction to the OIE office and services, answers to frequently asked questions, AND complete your required immigration check-in and SEVIS registration.

Who should attend:

  • New fall admits who are physically present in the U.S. for the fall semester
  • Return from leave students who are physically present in the U.S. for the fall semester

OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration Dates:

Check back soon! OIE will provide more specific information about the Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration sessions available.

  • NY - MSCF
  • SV - iii 
  • SV - ECE

Students must complete the OIE online canvas course (link available soon) and submit the "Mandatory Immigration Check-in for New/Return from Leave Students" E-Form before attending an OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration  Session. Please watch for emails from OIE with more information!

If your plans have changed or you are unable to join us in the U.S. for the fall semester, please inform both OIE (oie@andrew.cmu.edu) and your admitting department of your updated plans, if you have not already done so.

Transfer students in the U.S. for the fall semester must complete the International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration (see above).

Steps to complete the OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration:

  1. Complete the OIE canvas course 
  2. Submit the "Mandatory Immigration Check-in for New/Return from Leave Students" E-Form in your MyOIE Portal.
  3. Register and attend the session
    • Undergraduate Student OIE Mandatory International Student Orientation and SEVIS Registration is August 17 at 2:00pm. Located in: CUC (Cohen University Center), McConomy
    • Graduate Students can attend any one of the Graduate Student sessions

If your plans have changed or you are unable to join us in the U.S. for the fall 2025 semester, please let us and your admitting department know of your new plans if you have not done so already.



The OIE Scholar Orientation is held in-person on most Thursdays in Cyert Hall and will always start at exactly 1 p.m. (ET). 

At orientation, OIE will review the required immigration information (pdf), as well as campus and local resources. Please email oie@andrew.cmu.edu to register to attend an orientation session. After you have registered, OIE will email you prior to the orientation session with meeting details. 

All J-1 visitors are required to attend the in-person OIE Scholar Orientation session. The following documents must be emailed to OIE prior to the session.

orientation

Campus-Wide Orientations: