F-1 Orientation and Arriving
Spring 2024
F-1 Orientation
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 (Jan 8th to 12th) 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.
SEVIS Check-In period: December 11-22, 2023 & January 2-5, 2024 during 2pm-4pm.
Venue: CIES
January 8th (Mon) - Mandatory 9am-4pm.
Venue: Room 115, International Center
- 9am-12pm: TB Testing
- 1pm-4pm: SEVIS Check-In
- 1pm-4pm: Campus Tour (sign-up is required.)
January 9th (Tue) - Mandatory 1pm-4pm
Venue: Psychology Auditorium, 2/F, Psychology Building
- 1pm-4pm: F-1 Regulations & Campus Partners Presentations
No SEVIS Check-In
January 10th (Wed) - Mandatory 10am-4pm
Venue: Psychology Auditorium, 2/F, Psychology Building
- 10am-12pm: TB Testing & Reading
- 1pm-4pm: International Students Information & Campus Partners Presentations
No SEVIS Check-In
January 11th (Thu) - Walk-in hours 1pm-4pm.
Venue: Room 115, International Center
- 1pm-4pm: SEVIS Check-In
January 12th (Fri) 1pm-4pm.
Venue: Room 115, International Center
- 1pm-4pm: Resources Fair
- 1pm-4pm: TB Reading (Student Lounge on 2/F in the International Center)
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. If you are not able to arrive before January 8th, you may still continue to attend the Spring 2024 semester ONLY IF ALL of the following conditions are met:
Undergraduate Students
- You have registered for at least 12 credit hours to meet the F-1 enrollment requirement. (only one online class will be counted toward this requirement.) You can contact your academic advisor for course registration by email at acc@memphis.edu.
- Email your late arrival reason and expected arrival date to theworld@memphis.edu before January 8, 2024.
- Depending on your arrival date and whether you have registered to meet the F-1 enrollment requirement, you may be given a written confirmation of late arrival. You must carry it 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 January 16, 2024. If you are not able to arrive before January 16th, please see the deferral process below.
Graduate Students
- 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 use the following links to identify your academic advisor: HERE.
- Forward a copy of the confirmation to theworld@memphis.edu before January 8, 2024.
- 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 January 16, 2024. If you are not able to arrive before January 16th, please see the deferral process below.
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 requirements may cause you to be out of F-1 status, which may require 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 Fall.
- Late registration may result in additional fees. Please see the fee calendar for 2023-2024 HERE.
Online class registration for 2024 Spring will close on January 19th.
Deferral Process
If you are not able to arrive before January 16, 2024, 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.