News - Davis International Center

Announcements

Special Travel Advisory for F-1/F-2 and J-1/J-2 visa holders

Due to a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy, all U.S. ports of entry (e.g., airports) are required to verify the SEVIS status of F and J visa holders prior to admission to the United States. Currently, most primary inspection sites don’t have the capability to verify that SEVIS records are active. Therefore, F and J visa holders will be likely be referred to secondary inspection at the port of entry, to verify valid SEVIS status. This will likely result in delays upon your arrival in the U.S.. Please be prepared for these delays and plan accordingly, especially if you make flight arrangements that involve connecting flights inside the United States when you return to Princeton. The DHS is currently working on implementing a system that would  allow primary immigration inspectors to access SEVIS records, but we don’t have information on when the new system will be implemented.

Please contact your advisor at Davis IC with any questions or concerns. Please make sure to check our website before making any travel plans, to make sure you have all the required documents to re-enter the U.S. after a trip abroad.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will start implementing an automated I-94 Arrival/Departure form on April 30^th, 2013

Effective April 30^th, 2013, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will start automating I-94 Arrival/Departure forms. International visitors to the U.S., including international students and scholars, will no longer fill out a paper I-94 form when arriving to the U.S. by air or sea. Once the rule is effective, it will be implemented in phases over a four-week period across all air and sea ports of entry. It is expected that the process will be fully implemented by the end of May. Students and scholars arriving to the U.S. by land will continue to fill out paper I-94 forms. The new I-94 automated system should be implemented in the New York/New Jersey area during the second week/phase of the process.

Instead of the current I-94 paper form, you will receive an admission stamp in your passport which will include your:

1. Date of entry,

2. Class of admission (F-1, J-1, H1b, etc.),

3. Port of entry,

4. Status expiration date (D/S for F-1/F-1, J-1/J-2)

Individuals wanting the I-94 printout will be directed to www.CBP.gov/I94 where they will be able to access their I-94 electronically and print one (or more) copies. This website will not be live until late April. According to the DHS, you will be able access your information online by entering your biographical information, date of entry and class of admission. This printout may be requested by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Social Security Administration, Commission of Motor Vehicles, and other agencies as evidence of your lawful admission to the U.S.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. If entering the U.S. by a land port of entry, you will not be affected by this rule. DHS will continue issuing paper I-94s at land port of entries.

2. If you don’t depart the U.S., your current paper I-94 will continue to be your proof of lawful admission into the U.S.

3. If you are issued a Form I-515A due to the lack of required documentation to enter the U.S., you will most likely still receive a paper I-94. To avoid problems at port of entry, make sure to always have the required documentation for travel.

Should you have any questions or concerns at this time, please make consult with your international student advisor.