F-1 Orientation and Arriving
F-1 Orientation
Dates for Fall 2023
August 21st - August 26th
During 1pm - 4pm
The F-1 student orientation is MANDATORY for all new F-1 students. At orientation, we will go over important F-1 regulations
as well as resources at the University of Memphis. Failure to attend the orientation
(Aug 21st to 23rd) may result in delay of SEVIS registration and impact your F-1 record
negatively. See below for a brief agenda and activities that we prepare for you.
Aug 21st (Mon) - Mandatory. Students will be given a time ticket to arrive at a particular
time during 1pm-4pm. Students will need around 30 mins to complete the tasks.
- SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
- TB testing
Aug 22nd (Tue) - Mandatory 1pm-4pm
- ISS/F-1 information
- Campus Partners presentations
Aug 23rd (Wed) - Mandatory 1pm-4pm
- ISS/F-1 information
- Campus Partners presentations
- TB testing and reading (TBC)
Aug 24th (Thu) - Students can stop by during 1pm-4pm.
- SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
- Campus tours available for students to sign up
Aug 25th (Fri) - Students can stop by during 1pm-4pm.
- Resources Fair
- SEVIS/F-1 status Check-in
- TB reading (TBC)
Aug 26th (Sat) - Students can sign up.
City Tour available for students to sign up.
Airport Pick Up
For new F-1 students, if you want to request airport pick up, please fill out this FORM.
Late Arrival Information
For your success as a new F-1 international student, you are required to be physically present for mandatory international student orientation (see the orientation information above). We understand that some students may be experiencing delays in securing a visa appointment.
Graduate Students: If you are not able to arrive before August 21st, you may still continue to attend the Fall 2023 semester ONLY IF ALL of the following conditions are met:
- Successfully receive a written confirmation from your UofM academic advisor guaranteeing full-time enrollment to meet the F-1 enrollment requirements when you arrive. Please click HERE to identify your academic advisor based on your program.
- Forward a copy of the confirmation to theworld@memphis.edu before August 21st, 2023.
- Carry the written confirmation from your academic advisor when entering the US, as you may be asked by the CBP officers at the port of entry to present proof that the university is accepting your late arrival.
- Arrive in Memphis on or before August 28th, 2023. If you are not able to arrive before Aug 28th, please see the deferral procss below.
Undergraduate Students: If you are not able to arrive before August 21st, you are not guaranteed to be enrolled in full-time status. If you are not able to arrive before Aug 28th, please see the deferral procss below. For more information about undergraduate advising, please visit the Academic Advising Center website.
Arriving Late and Maintaining Status
We want you to be well informed of the risks associated with late arrival.
- If you arrive late, you are at your own risk of not having enough classes to meet the F-1 requirements.
- Failure to enroll in the required number of credit hours to meet the F-1 requirement may cause you to be out of F-1 status, which requires that you return to your home country immediately.
- We want you to be successful academically and maintain the F-1 status. If you are not able to obtain a late arrival permission from your academic department, you should defer your admission to 2024 Spring.
Online class registration for 2023 Fall will close on August 28th .
Deferral Process
If you are not able to arrive before August 28th, 2023, you will need to defer to the next semester. Here are the steps of the deferral:
Graduate
- Click HERE.
- Go down to where it says “Change Your Starting Semester”.
- Your previous I-20 application will not be valid. You must submit a new I-20 application for the new semester HERE.