Required Online Check-In

Required International Student Immigration Online Check-In

U.S immigration regulations require ALL New/Incoming International Students to complete an immigration orientation course/session and submit required documentation/information when starting their program at MIT. Therefore, all new/incoming MIT international students MUST complete the required steps for the International Students Office (ISO) to activate their U.S. immigration status in the U.S. and with MIT.

CRITICAL REMINDER: This is NOT an automatic process, so students must be proactive. Students CANNOT complete their enrollment/registration for the term until they complete the requirements below.

• Who Is Considered A “New/Incoming International Student”?
• Required Steps To Activate A U.S. Immigration Status
  • Step 1: Complete The Required ISO Immigration Orientation eCourse/Session
  • Step 2: Complete The Required Immigration Online Check-In Process
    • How To Complete The Required Online Check-In Process
    • Tips For Completing The Online Check-In Process
      • U.S. Postal Addressing Standards
      • Uploading Scanned Documents: Image Resolution
      • Obtaining The I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form
      • “Certificate of Eligibility” Immigration Document
• After Completing The Required Orientation & Online Check-In Process

WHO IS CONSIDERED A “NEW/INCOMING INTERNATIONAL STUDENT”?

• New/Incoming students to the U.S., in F or J status.
• ‘Return from Leave of Absence’ (RLOA) students, in F or J status.
• Transfer-In students (i.e., “Transfer Students” are defined as students who transferred their current SEVIS record (F or J) to MIT from another U.S. institution/school).

All New/Incoming International Students are required to 1) complete the ISO Immigration Orientation eCourse and Quiz specific to their U.S. immigration status (F-1 or J-1) before or after arrival to the U.S., and 2) complete the required immigration check-in process with the ISO after arrival to the U.S.  

STEP 1: Complete The Required ISO Immigration Orientation eCourse/Session.
Detailed information about a student’s specific immigration orientation requirements can be found on the following ISO web pages:

• Undergraduate Orientation webpage.
• Graduate Orientation webpage.
• Non-Degree Students Orientation webpage.

STEP 2: Complete The Required Immigration Online Check-In Process.

WARNING REMINDER: Students can ONLY complete the Immigration Online Check-In requirements AFTER entering the U.S.

All New/Incoming International Students are REQUIRED to submit the appropriate “Academic Term” Online Check-In e-Forms in iMIT AFTER they have entered the U.S. [Example: If a student’s program at MIT will begin in Fall 2026, then the student can ONLY submit the Fall 2026 Check-In e-Forms]. The ISO MUST then review and approve a student’s Immigration Online Check-In e-Forms, information, and immigration documentation.

IMPORTANT: When students follow the guidance below (thoroughly), the ISO can review and process their check-in e-Forms and materials quickly, without requiring additional steps from the student.

NOTE: The ISO Immigration Online Check-In e-Forms will be available approximately three (3) weeks before the start of each academic term.

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How To Complete The Required Immigration Online Check-In Process

ATTENTION: Logging into the iMIT Portal will require DUO Authentication.

Students should set up multiple DUO Authentication methods (other than text messages) before they arrive at MIT. For information/questions about DUO, please contact the MIT Information and Systems Technology (IS&T) office.

To complete the required Immigration Online Check-In process, students MUST log in to iMIT through “Full Client Services for Students” and follow the steps below.

• On the left side of the student’s iMIT Services Home Page, click ‘Upon Arrival’.
• Next, select the correct Academic Term Check-In box.
  • Example: If a student’s MIT program begins in Fall 2026, select ‘Fall 2026 Check-In’.
    • If a student’s correct academic term isn’t available, the student MUST wait until it becomes available (i.e., typically about three (3) weeks before the academic term begins).
• Click ‘Start New Request’ and complete ALL required check-in e-Forms:
  1. Student Status
  2. Student Category (i.e., the “REQUIRED New/Transfer Students” e-Form)
  3. Online Check-In Forms:
  • “1. Your Information”
  • “2. Passport Information”
  • “3. Visa Stamp Information and Upload”
  • “4. Local U.S. Address Information”
    • IMPORTANT: Students MUST enter their U.S. address in both WebSIS and iMIT using the required format. Follow the instructions and example in the “U.S. Postal Addressing Standards” section below.
  • “5. Upload Your I-94 Electronic Record/Card (After Arrival)”
  • “6. Upload Your I-20 or DS-2019 or Visa Category”
    • REMINDER: Before uploading an MIT-issued Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, the student MUST sign and date page 1 by hand.
  • “7. Your Immigration Status”
• Complete ALL required e-Forms and upload ALL required documents to finish the Immigration Online Check-In requirement.

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Tips For Completing The Online Check-In Process

Refer to the information below to ensure you submit accurate information to MIT and immigration systems.

U.S. Postal Addressing Standards

Students MUST enter their U.S. residential address correctly in WebSIS and in their Online Check-In e-Forms (e.g., the image below). If not, this is considered an error and will delay the student’s completion of their Online Check-In e-Forms and activation of their U.S. immigration status, as the student will be required to resubmit their U.S. address information with the corrected information.

• In addition to entering a U.S. residential address in the Online Check-In e-Forms, a student MUST also input their U.S. address information in WebSIS by clicking on ‘For Students’, then ‘Biographic and Emergency Records’, and then ‘Addresses and Phone Numbers’. The student will then scroll down and update their ‘SEVIS U.S.’ and ‘SEVIS International’ addresses.
  • The ‘SEVIS U.S. Address’ should be the same U.S. address entered in their Online Check-In e-Forms.
  • The ‘SEVIS International Address’ should be an address OUTSIDE the U.S.

• Students are allowed to enter a temporary local U.S. residential address in WebSIS. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires them to report ANY changes/updates to their U.S. address within ten (10) calendar days of the change.
  • Students must always keep their U.S. address up-to-date, or they could risk losing their U.S. immigration status and/or any U.S. immigration benefits (e.g., ability to remain in the U.S., study, have employment, etc.). Therefore, students should never forget to update their U.S. residential address in WebSIS with any changes.

• When entering a U.S. residential address in WebSIS and in iMIT, a student MUST follow the format below to ensure that their U.S. address can be validated in the SEVIS immigration database (see image below).
  • Street 1: Should be a student’s delivery address (e.g., 550 Memorial Drive).
  • Street 2: Should include information such as a student’s dorm name and/or room/apartment number (e.g., “Tang Hall, Room 222” or “Apt. 40”, etc.).

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Uploading Scanned Documents: Image Resolution

The photos below depict good resolutions vs. poor resolutions. Students MUST ensure the uploaded files/images they submit to iMIT are clear, the print is legible, and all files/images are under 2 MB. Students should visit the Immigration Document Glossary webpage for questions about specific immigration documents.

• If a student uploads files/images that are too large (e.g., more than 2 MB) and/or is not in the correct format (PDF, JPG, GIF, BMP, and PNG), then the student will receive an error message when trying to submit their e-Form(s) in iMIT.
• If a student submits an image with poor resolution, this is considered an error and will delay the completion of their Online Check-In e-Forms and the activation of their U.S. immigration status. The student will be required to resubmit their Online Check-In e-Forms with new files/images.

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Obtaining The I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form

Students can find specific information on how to obtain their I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form by reviewing the ISO Obtaining the Form I-94 webpage.

• Students should ONLY upload a copy of their I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form. NOT a copy of their CBP “Travel History”.
• If a student’s I-94 Record Form has an error (e.g., name spelled wrong, immigration status incorrect, etc.), they MUST follow the instructions on the ISO Obtaining the Form I-94 webpage to get their I-94 Record fixed.
  • The student MUST fix their I-94 record BEFORE uploading a copy of the record to iMIT.
    • IMPORTANT: Students can only retrieve their I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form AFTER they have entered the U.S. in F or J status. If a student is currently outside the U.S., then they DO NOT have an I-94 Arrival/Entry Record Form yet, but they MUST obtain this form once they enter the U.S.

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“Certificate of Eligibility” Immigration Document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019)

Students should visit the ISO Immigration Document Glossary webpage for more information about “Certificate of Eligibility” documents.

• Students should visit the ISO Immigration Document Glossary webpage for more information about “Certificate of Eligibility” documents.
• Students MUST submit a copy of their MIT-issued “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019).
  • ATTENTION: A student’s “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration documents are ONLY considered to be valid if the student has printed, signed, and dated the document(s) on page 1 by hand. Students are REQUIRED to do this BEFORE uploading a copy of their “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration document(s) to iMIT.
• COMPLIANCE REMINDER: Individuals in F or J status CANNOT digitally/electronically sign their “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration documents (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019).
  • Students and dependents in F status CANNOT digitally/electronically sign their Form I-20(s), per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance.
  • Students and dependents in J status CANNOT digitally/electronically sign their Form DS-2019(s), per the Department of State (DOS) guidance.

CRITICAL ALERT: Students who WILL NOT be entering the U.S. to pursue their MIT program are REQUIRED to contact their ISO Advisor BEFORE the start date listed on their MIT “Certificate of Eligibility” document (Form I-20, Form DS-2019).

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AFTER COMPLETING THE REQUIRED ONLINE CHECK-IN PROCESS

After a student completes the ISO Immigration Online Check-In process/e-Forms, an ISO team member will review the student’s information and documentation and remove any international student registration holds within 3 to 5 business days of a completed and correct submission. Errors in the check-in e-Forms will delay the student’s completion of their immigration check-in requirements and U.S. immigration status activation.

• ISO holds can ONLY be removed AFTER the ISO confirms that the student has submitted all required information and documentation to iMIT.
• Once the ISO confirms the successful submission of a student’s check-in e-Forms, the student will receive an e-mail from the ISO (to their @mit.edu email address) confirming approval of their Immigration Online Check-In e-Forms and clearance of any ISO international student holds.
• Students should review the “Tips for the Online Check-In Process” section above (thoroughly) to successfully complete their immigration check-in requirements.

Additional Questions?

For additional questions, individuals should first review the ISO New Students web pages thoroughly. They are encouraged to use the ISO search tool or consult the comprehensive FAQs on the ISO Common Questions webpage. MIT students may also contact their designated ISO Advisor directly for assistance.

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