Check In

Online Check In for F-1 and J-1 Students

If you are an F-1 or a J-1, you must check in with the OIS within 10 days of your arrival at Fordham.  Checking in with us is absolutely necessary and is the first thing you must do to maintain your legal status here in the US.  You cannot check in if you are outside the US.  If you do not check in, your F-1 or J-1 status will be in jeopardy.  Therefore, it is in your best interest to check in as soon as possible after you arrive in New York. 

If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, you must complete the check-in requirement online. 

If you are a J-1 scholar or professor, see below under Exceptions. 

Note: Do not check in if you are still outside the US.  You must have entered the US in order to check in! 

You will only be allowed to submit the check-in form once, using your Fordham email. 

In the form, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

A copy of your current F-1 or J-1 visa page

The blue stamp of your most recent entry into the United States (this is often the page adjacent to your visa)

Your I-94 record (please see the bottom of this page for more info about the I-94 and how to retrieve it)

Please scan and prepare all of the documents listed above before starting the online check-in form to ensure the quick and smooth completion of your check-in process.  All documents are required. 

All documents must be uploaded, and please do your best to combine them into ONE PDF.  We will contact you if we have any questions about your documents or your check-in form.  You will receive a confirmation with all of your responses to the form immediately from an automated function so you can review your answers. 

If you have any technical problems or difficulties with the check-in process, please email OIS at oisnewstudent@fordham.edu.  The subject line of your email must read: Family Name, First Name, Fordham ID Number, Check In Question.  For example, if your family name is Doe and your given name is John, then the subject line of your email should read:

"Doe, John, A12345678 Check In Question"

Note: If you are a F1 Transfer student and you did not leave the US before starting the semester: After you check in online, we will email you once your new I-20 is ready for pick-up. 

Exceptions

If you are a J-1 scholar or professor, you must come to the Lincoln Center office to check in; you cannot check in online. 

If you have any questions or difficulties with the check-in process for J-1 scholars, please email OIS at oisjscholar@fordham.edu.  The subject line of your email must read: Family Name, First Name, Fordham ID Number, Check In Question.  For example, if your family name is Doe and your given name is John, then the subject line of your email should read:

"Doe, John, A12345678 Check In Question"

I-94 Record

The I-94 records the date and purpose of your entry into the U.S., and the length of time that you are allowed to stay here.  As F-1 and J-1 students, you are allowed to stay here for as long as it takes for you to finish your studies.  This is called Duration of Status (D/S).  Make sure that the Admit Until Date on your I-94 says "D/S"! 

The I-94 used to be a small white card that was issued to you each time you entered the U.S., and collected each time you left.  Now, the officer at the airport records your entry electronically using your passport, so the I-94 record is now an electronic document.  You must go online to obtain your I-94, and you should print a copy for your records. 

When entering your information, make sure to enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport.  If you are not able to obtain your I-94, try all possible combinations of your name. 

If you have tried all possible combinations, but cannot obtain your I-94, please contact us. If you received a paper I-94 (small white card) upon entry, you must contact us as soon as possible. 

Notifying Us for Address Changes

It is necessary for you to inform us of any changes to your information. 

You must tell us where you are living.  Immigration regulations require us to report your US address and ensure that it is up-to-date.  Please verify/update your address at my.fordham.edu and follow these steps:

Login

Select the Student tab on the top left

Select the Student Accounts tab under My Account

Select the Personal Information tab on the top left

Select Update Addresses and Phones

Permanent Address: Current address in home country
Non-University Local Address: Current US local address
Billing: Address where you want any bills mailed to
Mailing: Address where you want all correspondence/mail from the University mailed to

If you live off-campus, you must enter a Non-University Local Address, even if you enter a mailing or billing address. 

If you do not yet know your off-campus US local address or are still looking for an apartment, please enter the address where you are currently staying, and then follow the instructions above to change your address as soon as you have found an apartment.