The first weeks after arrival set the tone for the entire semester. Mistakes that seem minor — an unchecked I-94 form, a missed check-in with your DSO — can lead to status problems that take months to resolve. The checklist below is organised chronologically: what to do on day one, in the first week, and in the first month.
Day One: Formalities That Determine Your Status
Immediately after clearing passport control, go to the CBP website and check your electronic I-94 form — the entry record that confirms your legal status and period of stay. Make sure the visa class is listed as F-1 and that the "Admit Until Date" matches the end of your programme. Since 15 September 2026, this date is fixed at entry and cannot exceed four years, even if your programme lasts longer.
If you were given Form I-515A at the airport — a notice of missing documents — you have 30 days to send the required paperwork to SEVP, with help from your DSO. Don't ignore this — without correction, your status may be cancelled.
On the same day, contact your DSO by email and let them know you have arrived. This isn't just a formality — the DSO activates your SEVIS record, and without this, your studies will not begin.
First Week: From Orientation to a Bank Account
Check-in with your DSO is a mandatory step for all new students. At the meeting, you will need your passport, visa, signed I-20, a printout of your I-94, and proof of SEVIS fee payment. The DSO will verify your documents, update your address and phone number in SEVIS, and explain the rules for maintaining status. You can't skip check-in — without it, your record remains inactive, and you will not be able to register for courses.
Orientation for international students is usually combined with check-in. There you receive your student ID — a pass to the library, dining hall, gym, and campus transport. Some universities allow you to upload a photo in advance through the portal to get your card faster.
Open a bank account in the first few days, before phone, internet, and housing bills start piling up. You will need your passport, I-20, student ID or admission letter, and proof of address. Major banks that work with international students are Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank. For the first few days, carry cash: around $300–500 covers expenses until your account is open.
You can buy a SIM card at the airport or at a carrier store. The main options are T-Mobile, AT&T, Mint Mobile, and Google Fi. Mint Mobile is cheaper, Google Fi is convenient for international travel, and T-Mobile and AT&T offer more stable coverage in rural areas. If your phone is unlocked, you only need to buy the card.
First Month: Insurance, Transport, Academic Workload
Health insurance for F-1 students is not a federal requirement, but almost all universities include it in tuition and automatically enrol the student in the SHIP plan. Check whether the policy is effective from the first day of the semester and whether it covers doctor visits, hospitalisation, and prescription medications. If you want to file a waiver for an outside policy, check with your DSO about the deadline and coverage requirements — at some institutions, the application window closes two to three weeks after classes start.
Transport depends on the city. Universities often provide a free campus shuttle that runs on a schedule and stops at dormitories and academic buildings. For trips off campus, you need either a car or public transport. Student transit passes are usually cheaper, and some cities offer discounts for students.
The academic workload at an American university isn't spread evenly: the main work falls in the middle of the semester, when essay, project, and midterm deadlines converge. Study the syllabus for each course in advance — it lists all checkpoint dates and the weight of each assignment in the final grade. Your academic advisor can help you plan your schedule and suggest which courses are best to take in the first semester.
What to Keep in Mind
Since 15 September 2026, the grace period after your programme ends has been cut from 60 to 30 days. This means that after completing your studies or OPT, you have exactly one month to leave the country or apply for a status extension. You need to plan your next steps — applying for OPT, changing programmes, departing — in advance, not in the final weeks.
Your first month in the US is not just bureaucracy. It is the time when habits, routines, and connections are established that will shape the entire semester. The sooner you deal with the formalities, the more time you have for studying and adapting.