About ISO

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Important: New US Immigration Entry procedures

Students should anticipate Secondary Inspection referrals for all entries effective immediately. Please read the email from Director and Associate Dean Danielle Guichard-Ashbrook for detailed information.

 

Dear International Students:

I have just confirmed with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that new interim border procedures for ALL international students entering the US have been put in place, effective immediately. Immigration confirms that there is no timetable as to how long these interim procedures will last, but my guess is that it will be at least through out the summer. So if your summer plans take you outside the US, you need to be prepared for extra long inspection and delays when you enter the US:

Any student entering the U.S. should be prepared to proceed to secondary inspection at a U.S. port of entry. Secondary inspection allows a Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officer to more carefully inspect your documents and search data bases that are not immediately available at the initial inspection line.

This change is in direct response to the recent Boston Bombings. Until a system can be established to ensure the validity of an I-20/DS-2019 at the initial port of entry, secondary inspection will be required.

If you plan to re-enter the U.S. this summer, you should plan the following:

  • Make sure that your US SEVIS address in WEBSIS is current and accurate. (Check the SEVIS address fields in WEBSIS (http://student.mit.edu) to be sure.)
  • Make sure that you have sufficient time between U.S. flights to accommodate a delay in secondary inspection.
  • Carry evidence of your spring 2013 spring registration and, if possible, fall 2013 pre-registration.
  • Carry all previously issued I-20s/DS-2019s in addition to your current I-20/DS-2019 with a travel signature no older than one year.
  • Carry a copy of your latest MIT transcript with you.

You may not need all these documents, but my strong advice is that you be prepared in the event you are asked for any evidence which confirms your student status. Secondary inspection also gives the CBP border official the opportunity to ask you many questions about your academic program and your personal plans. Be prepared to answer questions about your background, and your professional and personal plans. Remember that F-1 and J-1 immigration statuses are NON immigrant statuses.

In addition to the new documentation referenced above, you will need all the documents you have always needed to enter the US:

  • valid passport
  • valid F-1 or J-1 visa ( F-2 or J-2 for your dependents)
  • valid (unexpired) I-20 (see Section #5) or DS-2019 (See Section # 3) which has been endorsed for travel by the ISO within the past year (from the date you plan to re-enter the US)
  • updated evidence of funding for your program; in the event that you are asked about this. (In secondary inspection, it is more likely that you will be asked about your funding.)

Please be prepared for long delays and try to maintain a flexible travel schedule.

One more reminder: Never EVER work off campus without legal employment authorization. If you have a CPT, OPT, or AT authorized on your immigration documents, you should be prepared to answer questions about it by border officials.

On behalf of the entire ISO staff, I want to let you know that we are so very sorry that you have to contend with these new, very strict requirements. International students in the US are overwhelming compliant and law-abiding visitors to the US through out their academic programs and beyond. These are challenging times for the US as government wrestles with how to make our borders more secure, while at the same time making all of you feel welcomed and valued in the US. Please know that we in the ISO are so grateful and honored to have you here at MIT. You bring such rich diversity to MIT, making it a better, stronger, and more vibrant community for all.

Please contact me directly via email should you have any questions or concerns. I will address your concerns as soon as I can, but please understand that I expect a huge number of emails from both current and incoming students... so allow a few days for my response to you. I promise I will answer each and every email I receive.

With Best Wishes Always,
Danielle and the ISO staff

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