Welcome First-Year Students
The International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) provides immigration assistance and advice to more than 11,000 international students enrolled at Boston University each year. Have questions about your new student immigration status? Wondering about an on-campus job? The ISSO and our Advisors are here to support you and answer your questions. Our staff of dedicated professionals looks forward to hearing from you.
Also, we are keenly aware of the particular challenges that COVID-19-related travel restrictions have on our international community. Because the situation is so fluid and changing around the world, we can help you navigate these new questions and implications. Although we are working remotely during this time, we are constantly updating our COVID FAQs and still meeting with hundreds of students each week to assist them with their immigration needs.
Below are some common resources and topics you may find useful as a first-year student:
Learn About Your New Student Immigration Status
There are a few types of student visas in the U.S. The ISSO is here to educate you about your status and help guide you through all your activities throughout your academic program.
Most international students at BU are in the F-1 student category. This visa is designed to facilitate study toward a specific educational objective and determines what types of employment authorizations you may qualify for so start becoming familiar with your new category right away!
The J-1 student category is an alternate immigration option for students who receive qualifying financial sponsorship or who are participating in a formal university exchange program. The J-1 category allows for limited employment so get more details from the ISSO website.
If you are currently in the U.S. in another immigration classification, you may be eligible to enroll in either full-time or part-time coursework at BU.
Whether you have questions about your immigration status, travel, employment, the ISSO website has your questions covered and your ISSO advisor will be here to support you!
Arriving in Boston
As you arrive in Boston, you will formally apply for “admission” at the U.S. Port of Entry. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) officer will examine your immigration documents and ask you a few questions about your reason for travelling to the U.S.. Immigration regulations allow you to enter the U.S. up to, but no earlier than, 30 days prior to the program start date indicated on your I-20.
Logan International Airport is only a 20 minute cab or ride share trip to campus. Depending on when you arrive, you may need to make arrangements for a hotel for a few days until you can move into your on-campus residence. Check out more details about housing to start making your plans.
Plan to Complete ISSO Check-In After You Arrive in Boston
The ISSO staff is required to activate your student immigration record in SEVIS so you will need to complete Initial ISSO check-in within 2 weeks of that start of your new program. Look for an email from the ISSO shortly before your program begins with instructions on how you can complete check-in and upload copies of your immigration documents electronically to for check-in.
You will be able to find answers to many of your questions on our new student FAQs.
