Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-in
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 immigration check-in and orientation 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.
Undergraduate Student Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-in
International students with a fall 2023 program start date on their I-20/DS-2019 who are physically present in the U.S. are required to complete a mandatory international student welcome and immigration check-in with the Office of International Education (OIE). This includes:
- New fall 2023 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
All new international students who will be joining us in Pittsburgh are required to attend an in-person Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-In session with OIE Director Linda Gentile and the OIE staff. This session will include an introduction to the OIE office and services, answers to frequently asked questions AND complete your required immigration check-in.
- Undergraduate Students must complete the OIE online canvas course and "Mandatory Immigration Check-In for New/Return from Leave Students" e-form before attending the welcome and check-in session on August 20, 2023. The location and time of the session will be forthcoming. Please watch for an email with more information!
If your plans have changed or you are unable to join us in the U.S. for the fall 2023 semester, please let us and the Admissions Office know of your new plans if you have not done so already.
Graduate Student Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-in
International students with a fall 2023 program start date on their I-20/DS-2019 who are physically present in the U.S. are required to complete a mandatory international student welcome and immigration check-in with the Office of International Education (OIE). This includes:
- New fall 2023 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
All new international students who will be joining us in Pittsburgh are required to attend an in-person Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-In session with OIE Director Linda Gentile and the OIE staff. This session will include an introduction to the OIE office and services, answers to frequently asked questions AND complete your required immigration check-in.
- Graduate Students should plan to arrive at CMU by the start of graduate student orientation, scheduled for August 14, 2023. OIE will provide more specific information about the mandatory welcome and check-in sessions as the fall semester approaches. Students must complete the OIE online canvas course and "Mandatory Immigration Check-In for New/Return from Leave Students" e-form before attending the OIE Mandatory Immigration Check-in and Orientation 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 2023 semester, please let us and your admitting department know of your new plans if you have not done so already.
Transfer Students
Transfer students in the U.S. for the summer or fall semester must complete the International Student Orientation and Check-In session (see above).
Return from Leave of Absence (RLOA) Orientation
Students who are returning to CMU after a brief period of absence from their CMU program, must complete the International Student Orientation and Check-In (see above).
OIE will contact all RLOA International Students by emailing their Andrew email accounts the mandatory orientation session and check-in.
RLOA students must also complete the "Mandatory Immigration Check-In for New/Return from Leave Students" E-Form in their MyOIE Portal.
Visiting J-1 Scholar Orientation
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.
- Completed International Scholar Data Form (pdf)
- Photocopy of your DS-2019
- Photocopy of your passport (identification page only)
- Photocopy of J-1 visa in passport
- Photocopy of passport page with port of entry stamp if available
- I-94 record (Note: This document can only be printed after entry to the US)
- Signed J-1 Scholar Insurance Agreement (pdf)
Location and time TBD.