New Student Information

Watch the Pre-Departure Orientation for F-1 students to learn more about immigration terms and documents, obtaining your student visa, important regulations, and other helpful information for your journey to the United States and New York City.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) recorded a series of pre-arrival sessions, featuring various offices across The New School. These sessions provided valuable information to support new international students as they prepare for their journey. New students can view the recording here. Please note that the recording was made in a past semester, so some details may have changed. ISSS will provide updated information to new students through Newsletters and additional programs in the months before the start of the start of the semester.

Recorded Sessions

• Office of Student Leadership and Involvement
• Office of Student Accounts
• Office of Financial Aid
• J-1 Health Insurance and J-1 Employment
• Career Readiness for International Students
• Office of Housing and Residential Education
• Office of Student Health Services
  
  

When you arrive in the United States, the first thing you must do is complete this check-in form. Beginning 30 days from your I-20 program start date, you will receive emails from ISSS asking you to complete the Arrival Confirmation Form, which contains the Check-In Form. It is crucial that you complete this form after entry to the United States, so that we can update your SEVIS record and register you for the semester. After completion of the form, you will be linked to the Online International Student Orientation Program.

If your I-94 record contains incorrect information or has not properly updated, you can correct the information by contacting the Deferred Inspection site. If you have questions or problems correcting your I-94 record, please contact an ISSS advisor.

If you are having difficulty retrieving your I-94 admission record:

• Try entering different variations of your name in the First and Last Name sections.
• Try inverting the day and month in your birth date (e.g., 9/7/2000 or September 7, 2000 would become 7/9/2000 or July 9, 2000).
• Try entering an old passport number.

If you do not complete this online check-in form, you will be in violation of your immigration status, so please complete it as soon as you arrive. If you need assistance with the form, please come to our office or email [email protected].

Orientation Week takes place the week before the new semester begins. New students will receive email instructions for registering for the university orientation. We strongly encourage you to attend the in-person orientation program, which covers several international student programs.

If you are a new student, a visiting student, or an exchange student who holds an I-20 or DS-2019 from The New School, you must complete the online F-1 or J-1 immigration workshop, instructions for which you will receive after completing the ISSS Check-In Form. F-1 and J-1 students will start receiving emails 30 days before the I-20 or DS-2019 start date with instructions for completing your ISSS Entry Confirmation Form. This form contains the ISSS Check-In Form.

International students must be enrolled full-time to be considered to be maintaining their F-1 or J-1 immigration status. Find out about the full-time enrollment requirement and maintaining F and J status.

Living in New York City is an exciting adventure but can be hard to navigate. Consult these guides and resources for information on adjusting to life in the city and at The New School.