F-1 Port of Entry Guide: Your First Arrival in the USA

At the F-1 port of entry on your first arrival in the US, you can enter no more than 30 days before the program start date on your Form I-20, and you must carry your passport, F-1 visa and signed I-20 in your hand luggage. A US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer checks your documents and your SEVIS record at the port of entry, then admits you. After you land, download your I-94 record from i94.cbp.dhs.gov, check it, and report to your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) right away.

Last checked: 19 October 2026.

F-1 port of entry key facts

The 30-day early-entry rule

Study in the States says new students may enter the US up to 30 days before the program start date in SEVIS, and must report to the school by the start date on the I-20. The regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(i), says the same: an F-1 student may be admitted up to 30 days before the report date or program start date on the I-20.

Count backwards from the date printed on your I-20, not from orientation or from when your hostel booking starts. If your program starts on 14 January, the earliest you should land is 15 December. Book the flight so the US arrival date, in US local time, is inside that window. Long flights with transits can land a day later than you expect.

If you will arrive late, even by a few days, email your DSO before you fly. Study in the States says missing the reporting deadline means you are not maintaining status, and the DSO may be able to update your record or defer your start if you contact them early.

Documents to carry in your hand luggage

Never put these in checked baggage. Study in the States asks students to keep originals with them and make at least two sets of copies: one for family at home and one for school officials.

• Passport with your F-1 visa. ICE says passports generally must be valid for six months after entry, except for nationals of countries on the exemption list. Check the list, or simply make sure yours has at least six months left.
• Original Form I-20, signed by the DSO and by you (see our Form I-20 guide for what to check). If your school emailed it, the signed printout is what you show.
• I-901 SEVIS fee payment confirmation, printed from fmjfee.com.
• Admission or acceptance letter from the university.
• Proof of financial support: the same bank, loan and sponsor documents you used for the visa.
• DSO name, email and phone number, including an after-hours or emergency number. CBP may call the school if it needs to verify you.
• Address of where you will stay in the first days.

Our packing list for Nepali students going to the USA covers clothes, medicines and the rest of your luggage.

What happens at CBP inspection

1. Join the line for visitors (non-US citizens). Follow the signs after you leave the aircraft.
2. Primary inspection. The officer checks your passport, visa and I-20 and verifies your SEVIS record in real time. In a 2018 SEVP webinar, CBP explained that officers talk with travellers to confirm the reason for the trip is consistent with the visa.
3. Answer simply and honestly. Expect basic questions such as which university you will attend, what you will study and where you will stay. Answer in your own words; do not memorise speeches.
4. Admission. If everything checks out, the officer admits you in F-1 status. At airports, the I-94 record is created electronically.
5. Baggage and customs. Collect your bags and go through customs. Any traveller may be selected for a bag check, and certain food and plant items are restricted, so declare anything you are unsure of.

Secondary inspection and Form I-515A

If the officer cannot verify your information or you are missing a document, you may be sent to secondary inspection, a separate interview room where officers have more time and systems. CBP has said this does not mean the student did something wrong. Officers may check your SEVIS record, look at your documents or call your DSO, which is why after-hours contact details matter.

Possible results:

• You are admitted once the problem is resolved.
• You get Form I-515A (“Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor”). This admits you for 30 days. You must tell your DSO immediately and send the corrected documents to SEVP within 30 days, or you lose permission to stay. ICE says an unpaid SEVIS fee is one reason this form is issued.
• You are refused admission and must leave the US.

Stay calm, be polite, and do not sign anything you do not understand. Ask the officer to explain.

How to get your I-94 online

The I-94 is your arrival record. It shows when you were admitted, your class (F-1) and how long you may stay. At airports CBP no longer hands out a paper card; it creates an electronic record and stamps your passport.

1. Go to the official site, i94.cbp.dhs.gov. Be careful of look-alike sites that charge money.
2. Choose the option to get your most recent I-94.
3. Enter your name, date of birth and passport details exactly as in your passport.
4. Check that the class of admission is F-1 and the “Admit Until Date” shows D/S (duration of status).
5. Download or print it and send a copy to your DSO if they ask.

Study in the States says that if your I-94 or passport stamp does not show D/S, contact your DSO immediately, because leaving the error uncorrected can lead to loss of status. The DSO can help you contact CBP to fix it.

Reporting to your DSO after arrival

Study in the States says to contact your school immediately after entering the US so your arrival can be recorded. Your school will tell you how to check in; this often means uploading your passport, visa, I-20 and I-94 and attending international student orientation. Your DSO then registers you in SEVIS, which moves your record from “Initial” to “Active”. Until that happens, your status is not fully confirmed, so do not skip check-in.

Our first week in the USA guide covers what comes next: SIM card, bank account, housing and classes. For the rules that keep you in status after that, see how to maintain F-1 status.

Tips for students flying from Nepal

• Check transit visa rules. ICE reminds students they may need a transit visa for countries where they change flights. Check with the airline and the transit country’s embassy before you book.
• Keep the I-20 easy to reach. Keep it in a folder with your passport so you can show it quickly whenever you are asked.
• Share your flight details with your DSO and with family in Nepal, and keep the DSO’s after-hours number on paper as well as on your phone.
• Carry enough US dollars for the first few days (transport, food, SIM card) in case your card does not work immediately.
• Arrive with documents that match. The name on your ticket, passport, visa and I-20 should be identical.

Will the I-94 still say D/S?

A DHS final rule published on 17 July 2026 would have replaced D/S with a fixed admission period based on your program length, capped at four years, and cut the departure period after studies from 60 days to 30. A federal court blocked it nationwide on 14 September 2026 and the government has appealed. While the court order stands, F-1 students continue to be admitted for duration of status. If you travel after any change, check your I-94 carefully.

Common mistakes at the port of entry

• Booking a flight that lands more than 30 days before the program start date.
• Packing the I-20 in checked luggage.
• Carrying an unsigned I-20 or an old I-20 from a different school.
• Not having the DSO’s phone number when CBP needs to call.
• Never checking the I-94 after arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How early can an F-1 student enter the US?
Up to 30 days before the program start date on your Form I-20.

What documents do I need at the US port of entry as an F-1 student?
Your passport with F-1 visa and your signed original I-20. It is also wise to carry your admission letter, proof of funds, SEVIS fee receipt and your DSO’s contact details.

What is secondary inspection for students?
A separate room where CBP officers take more time to verify your documents or SEVIS record, sometimes by calling your school. It does not mean you did anything wrong.

What is Form I-515A?
A notice that admits you for 30 days when you are missing paperwork. You must tell your DSO and send the corrected documents to SEVP within 30 days.

How do I download my I-94 as an F-1 student?
Go to i94.cbp.dhs.gov, enter your passport details, and check it shows F-1 and D/S. Contact your DSO if anything is wrong.

Related guides

• Form I-20 Explained: What Nepali F-1 Students Must Check
• STEM OPT Extension Guide: 24 Months, I-983, Fees and Rules
• F-1 SEVIS Transfer: How to Move to Another US University
• DS-160 Form Guide for F-1 Students from Nepal (2026)
• SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment from Nepal: $350 Step-by-Step Guide

Sources

• Getting to the United States – Study in the States
• Traveling as an international student – Study in the States
• What you need to know about secondary inspection – Study in the States
• What to expect at a US port of entry, SEVP and CBP webinar script (2018)
• F-1 students: check for D/S on your Form I-94 – Study in the States
• Travel – ICE SEVIS
• I-901 SEVIS fee – ICE
• Official I-94 website – CBP
• 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(i) – Legal Information Institute
• Fixed time period of admission final rule – Federal Register, 17 July 2026

Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Follow your DSO’s instructions and CBP’s directions at the airport.