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ENTERING THE UNITED STATES

This information is designed for Bryant University international students.

" If you are entering the U. S. on I-20 with "initial attendance" on line 3, you cannot be admitted to U.S. sooner than 30 days before the 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, SEVIS fee payment receipt and your SEVIS Form I-20 to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) Officer at the port of entry. Since you must show your documents before you are allowed to claim your bags, do not pack these documents in suitcases that are checked in.

" The USCBP Officer will review your papers and stamp your SEVIS Form I-20 and Form I-94, "Arrival and Departure Record." (Form I-94 is a small white card that the BCBP Officer may staple into your passport.) Your I-94 should read "F-1 D/S," indicating that you are in F-1 status and have been granted duration of status (D/S). Duration of Status means that you may legally remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain your F-1 status.

US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology is a new program created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect, maintain and share information, including biometric identifiers of foreign nationals who enter the United States. This information will be stored in a database and maintained by DHS and the Department of State as part of an individual's travel record. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers will use an inkless fingerprint scanner upon your entry. You will be asked to put one and then the other index finger on a glass plate that will electronically capture two fingerprints. You also will be asked to look into a camera and your picture will be taken.

Nonimmigrant foreign nationals (including F-1 students) who are nationals or citizens of selected countries are subjected to the U.S. National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). Under NSEERS program, the fingerprints of selected entering foreign nationals will be collected at the port of entry. The DHS refers to this process as "special registration." For more information, please refer to DHS web site at www.ice.gov. If you anticipate that you may be subjected to "special registration," you should plan to spend an ample amount of time for this process.

Note for Students Currently in the U.S.

If you plan to leave the U.S. prior to enrolling at Bryant University, you MUST use Bryant University SEVIS Form I-20 to enter the U.S. You must also have a valid F-1 visa, a certificate of finance and a passport valid beyond 6 months from your expected date of entry. If you already have a valid F-1 visa, you do not have to obtain a new one, even though visa annotation on your F-1 visa stamp in your passport may indicate different name of the educational institution. Follow the directions below - Arrival at Bryant University.

Arrival at Bryant University

You are legally REQUIRED to register your immigration documents with the Intercultural Center for International Education and Multicultural Affairs (ICC) upon arrival at Bryant University. You MUST bring your passport, SEVIS Form I-20, Form I-94 and all previously issued Forms I-20 (if any) to International Student Advisor at The Center. The registration process is completed at the time of check in for Undergraduate Students during the Transitions Program called 4MILE@BRYANT. For Graduate Students, this MUST be done within the first two weeks of classes. The Center will help you with all immigration-related matters during your studies at Bryant University, however, it is YOUR responsibility to maintain your status.

If you are starting school in the fall, it is REQUIRED for Undergraduate Students to attend 4MILE@BRYANT (international and multicultural student transitions program.) During 4MILE, topics such as travel, immigration regulations, how to maintain your status, opening a bank account will be discussed. For Graduate Students, the information will be provided at the time of check in with the International Student Advisor.

Please feel free to contact the ICC with any questions. We look forward to meeting you soon and hope that your time at Bryant University will be academically and personally rewarding.