Incoming International Students: When you arrive

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Michigan-Dearborn! You may use the information on this page to make your arrival as smooth as possible. We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus.

Arrive in the USA

You may enter the USA in initial F-1 or J-1 status up to 30 days ahead of your program start date. You can confirm your program start date on page one of your I-20 or DS-2019. 

When you arrive at the airport, you will have to go through an official immigration check to be admitted into the country. At this point you will present your passport and I-20 or DS-2019 to an immigration officer. Please make sure not to pack away this documentation in your luggage. You will need to have it available at the airport immigration check. The immigration officer will review your documentation and conduct a brief interview. Just focus on providing honest information about your visit to the USA as a student or scholar attending UM-Dearborn. 

Defer or Cancel Your Program

If you would like to defer your admission to another semester, please email your academic department and the OIA so that we can amend your admission letter and I-20. 

If you have decided not to attend UM-Dearborn, please let us know by sending an email to umdoia-international@umich.edu so that we can cancel your I-20.  

Get to UM-Dearborn

When you arrive at the Detroit airport (DTW), we recommend that you take a taxi to campus or wherever you will be staying. Taxis are available from the luggage pick-up area of the airport. The cost is approximately $35 from Detroit Metro Airport to UM-Dearborn. 

Please keep the address for the University or your housing address with you. Also, carry the number for Public Safety.

Check-in at OIA

All international students must complete the OIA Immigration Check-in process. This includes completion of the required Immigration Check-in eForm, and attendance at the required Immigration Check-in virtual event. You must complete the check-in process within 30 days of your program start-date. This includes all J-1 exchange visitors (paid or unpaid by the University). If your SEVIS record is not activated within 30 days of the program start-date, you will be out of status and must leave the country. You can find your program start-date on the form I-20 or DS-2019. 

Check in with the OIA by completing the Immigration Check-in eForm. Via the online form, you will have to upload the following: 

• Passport
• Visa
• I-94
• U.S. address where you are staying. Please note: The address must be for a residence. It cannot be a P.O. Box or an office address. It can be a "care of" address.

Mandatory Immigration Check-in Event: Winter 2023 

All new F-1 international students are required to attend the virtual OIA Immigration Check-in. The session will take place on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 1:00pm to 2:30 pm.

On the day of Check-In you’ll be able to access the Zoom meeting room via this link. 

All new F-1 international students must complete and submit the OIA Immigration Check-in eForm. New students will use the eForm to report their local USA address and upload required immigration documents to the OIA. When completed, the OIA will be able to “activate” your immigration record. To access OIA eForms, you must have the UM-Dearborn VPN which is available for free to all UM-Dearborn students.

The immigration check-in process is the first step in officially activating your F-1 or J-1 status in the SEVIS government database. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a web-based system for maintaining information on international nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States.

Failure to complete the mandatory immigration check-in process may result in a loss of immigration status.

During the workshop you will learn about:

• How best to maintain legal F-1 and J-1 immigration status while in the United States 
• The mandatory International Student and Scholar Health Plan you will be enrolled in upon the start of the semester

Required documentation for immigration check-in 

f you have F-2 or J-2 dependents (spouse and/or children) who traveled with you to the U.S., you must also submit their documentation:

• Original passports 
• I-20 or DS-2019 forms
• Copies of their visas
• Copies of page 1 of I-20 or DS-2019
• Copy of electronic I-94 forms 

Shuttle service

Free shuttle service is provided from local apartment communities to campus. Visit the Shuttle Service page for more information and schedules.