International Student Services (ISS) is here to provide resources to make your time at the University of Arizona as beneficial as possible. Please follow the tabs below from top to bottom to learn exactly how to transition to life at the university. We’ve provided everything you need to know – from immigration and housing details, to travel arrangements and check-in.
Once you receive your admission decision and accepted your admission in GradApp, your next step is to create your NetID, NetID+ and password. To create your NetID, NetID+ and password, use the student ID number and PIN you are provided in your Certificate of Admission in GradApp. After you create your NetID, you must wait 48 hours before logging into MyGlobal.
Review Cost of Attendance or use the Financial Guarantee Worksheet (requires Adobe Acrobat) to determine the amount of funding you will be required to show. Contact your department if you have any questions about university funding.
Upload your documents in MyGlobal to request your I-20 / DS-2019.
Passport biographical page
Funding documents (bank statements from checking or savings accounts, loan approval documents or scholarship letters)
Declaration of Support (for funding from family or friends)
University funding (you will be asked to enter the name and email for your department contact in the e-form so they can confirm your funding amount)
If you are transferring your F-1 SEVIS record from a school in the United States, you must also submit the Transfer Request e-form to provide the name and email address of the designated school official (DSO) at your current or previous school. You can find your DSO's name printed on your current I-20 under "School Attestation." The SEVIS school code for the University of Arizona is PHO214F20092000.
If your spouse or children plan to join you in the United States as your F-2 / J-2 dependents, you must submit copies of their passport biographical pages and proof of relationship such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate or passport listing the parents' names (for children).
After receiving your I-20 or DS-2019, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, then apply for your F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee but do not need to apply for a student visa.
Find the Nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa
If you are outside the U.S. and unable to enter for your starting term, please contact your academic department to discuss options for either beginning your program from home or deferring to a future term.
IMPORTANT If you are considering deferring your admission term, do not enroll until you have made a final decision for Spring 2021.
If you have an initial I-20 or DS-2019, you can enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019.
We recommend that you hand-carry the following documents to present at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the U.S. Port of Entry:
I-20 or DS-2019
Passport with valid visa (if applicable)
University of Arizona Hybrid Model & Electronic Form I-20 Issuance letter here
Entry to the U.S. is at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CBP may require you to go through Secondary Inspection and/or choose to inspect your electronic devices to further verify information. Since this may cause delays at your initial port of entry to the U.S., make sure you have enough travel time between any connecting flights.
Read more about entry to the U.S. on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website: Student Process Steps: How to Navigate the U.S. Immigration System.
Your entry to the United States is recorded by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. The I-94 records the date you entered the United States, your immigration status and the date your stay in the U.S. expires.
If you enter by air or sea, your I-94 record will be electronic. When you go through the port of entry, a CBP officer will stamp your passport. You can use the information from your passport to access your electronic I-94 record from U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. If you enter by land, CBP will stamp your passport and issue a paper I-94 in your passport.
You are required to carry evidence of your admission (entry) to the U.S. at all times. You can carry your passport with admission stamp, a print out of your electronic I-94, or your paper I-94 to satisfy this requirement.
If you will be in the United States for the Spring 2021 semester, you must complete 4 online check-in requirements by January 11:
Document Review e-form (cannot be completed until after you have entered the United States)
IMPORTANT If you do not complete the check-in requirements by the deadline, your F-1 record cannot be registered in SEVIS and you risk falling out of status for failure to report to the school. A hold will be placed on your account blocking registration changes.
Complete the Document Review e-form by January 11. The purpose of the e-form is to confirm your current location outside the U.S. so we can update your visa type in UAccess and cancel your I-20 (if issued).
IMPORTANT Without the e-form, we cannot appropriately code you in UAccess as being outside the United States, and you may be charged the International Student Fee ($200) and Student Health Insurance Plan ($1,695).
All University of Arizona students are required to have proof of 2 Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines. You may receive your immunizations in your home country, however the immunization documentation you submit to Campus Health must be translated into English with Western calendar format dates. Please review the New Student Immunization Requirements page for details about MMR vaccination criteria.
Campus Health acknowledges the current pandemic can present challenges to meeting university immunization requirements. You are encouraged to submit any immunization documents you may have. Medical Records staff will review the documents and contact you via your PatientLink portal regarding the status of your immunization hold and to establish a plan to meet any outstanding requirements.
All international students registered for at least 1 unit must purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan. You will be automatically enrolled in the health insurance plan after you register for classes. The effective date of the date for Spring 2021 is January, 1, 2021.
Download an overview of the mandatory insurance and temporary insurance ID card
If you will be in the United States before the effective date of the Student Health Insurance, we strongly recommend applying for early enrollment or purchasing private health insurance so you have coverage during the gap.
Campus Health offers 2-week and 4-week early enrollment options.
Students arriving before December 4: Apply for 4-week early enrollment coverage (December 4-31) by December 4
Students arriving on or after December 18: Apply for 2-week early enrollment coverage (December 18-31) by December 18
La Aldea Graduate Housing residents enjoy the best of both worlds: the security, convenience, and unparalleled experience of living on campus, combined with the space and amenities of apartment life! Enjoy walking to class, your research lab or the library in just minutes. Plus, major public transit routes are just outside your door
To make it easier for you, utilities are included in your monthly rent.
If you choose to live off campus, the University of Arizona has an Off-Campus Housing department which offers free services for students. On the Off-Campus Housing website, you can search for places to live, learn about apartment contracts and questions to ask your roommate.
The closest hotels to campus are the Marriott Tucson University Park and the Aloft Tucson University. With a variety of lodging and dining options, the Visit Tucson website is another good resource for finding accommodations. In general, hotels require guests to be at least 18 years old to reserve a room.
After you have registered for classes, you are eligible to apply for your student ID, or Catcard. To obtain your CatCard, you can apply online or visit the CatCard Office in the Student Union. Please be prepared with the following:
A government or state issued photograph identification such as a driver's license, state identification card, or passport
A completed and signed CatCard Terms and Conditions Form
$25
When you apply for your CatCard, you will need to provide your 8-digit student ID number to verify your status at the university. This number will not appear on the face of your CatCard, but it will be encoded electronically on your card, to be used for necessary university internal purposes only. The number will not be provided to outside entities without your prior consent.
If you are in the US and have on-campus employment, such as a student worker position or graduate assistantship, follow these steps to apply for a Social Security card and get ready to work. If you do not have on-campus employment but are receiving a cash scholarship, you may be eligible to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead.
You cannot apply for a SSN or complete the E-Verify process until at least 10 days after entering the U.S. and 2 days after your SEVIS record has been registered. Your SEVIS record cannot be registered by ISS until you complete the orientation and check-in requirements and enter your UA Street Address in UAccess. SEVIS registration may take up to one week to be completed. You will receive an email once it has been completed.
F-1 Students: Upload the International Student Employment Letter (printed on department letterhead) or Graduate International Student Award Letter to the Social Security Letter e-form.
J-1 Students: Submit the On-Campus Employment Authorization e-form.
To apply for a SSN, you must submit an application and present the following original documents at the Tucson Social Security Administration Office:
Immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019, passport, and I-94)
ISS Social Security Letter
University Employer Letter (F-1 students only)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has limited appointments available for students with employment offers. Please call 1-866-331-7693 and provide the operator with your status (F-1 or J-1) and employment start date. They will work with you to schedule an in-person appointment.
You are not required to have a Social Security number before you start work. The Payroll office will still release checks without the SSN.
Before you can begin working, your employer will use E-Verify to confirm your employment eligibility. Present your immigration documents to your on-campus employer and complete hiring paperwork upon arrival.
After your department completes the new hire process, email the UA Payroll Office to request a GLACIER account. GLACIER is an online tax compliance software system for nonresidents that determines tax residency and tax treaty benefits. If you do not create a GLACIER account, you will be taxed at the highest rate.
