Online Check-In

MIT’s International Student Required Online Check-In

There are a few steps that New/Incoming MIT international students (e.g. new to the U.S., return from leave of absence, and transfer-in students) are required to complete in order to activate their student immigration status in the U.S. and with MIT (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).

This is not an automatic process, so students must be proactive. Students will not be able to request an MIT ID card or complete their enrollment/registration for the term until they have completed two required action items. All new/incoming MIT international students are required to attend an ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session and complete their required Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms in iMIT.

The ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session

International Students are required to attend an ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session.

  • Students are required to attend an ISO orientation session as it matches their U.S. immigration status (F or J).
  • Students are required to register for an ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session in advance.
    • Students can register for an orientation session through their iMIT Portal account, under “Events” on their iMIT homepage.
  • Students can attend an ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session whether they are outside or inside the U.S.
  • Students MUST attend the entire session to receive credit and have the “Immigration Orientation” hold removed from their registration record.
  • Following the completion of the ISO Student Immigration Orientation Session, if a student has additional questions, they can use the search tool on the ISO website, review frequently asked questions on the ISO Knowledge Base webpage, or they may contact their ISO Advisor.

Required Online Check-In Process

Students must refer to the below information to ensure that they are submitting accurate and correct information to the iMIT/immigration systems. The ISO is required to review and approve a student’s Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms and immigration documents. Therefore, when a student follows the below guidance, it allows the ISO to review and process their check-in materials quickly and without additional steps required by the student.

  • ALL new/incoming MIT international students are required to submit the Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms. However, students can ONLY complete the Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms AFTER they have entered the U.S.
  • New/Incoming Students (e.g. new to the U.S., return from leave of absence, and transfer-in students).
    • AreREQUIRED to complete the two actions items listed above. If an incoming students WILL NOT be entering U.S. for Fall 2022 to pursue their degree program or will pursue it abroad, then they are REQUIRED to contact their ISO Advisor BEFORE September 6, 2022.

*NOTE: Logging into the iMIT Portal will require DUO Authentication. The ISO recommends that students set up multiple DUO Authentication methods (other than text message) prior to arrival. For more information, please contact MIT Information and Systems Technology.

Start Online Check-In Process

A student must login to the iMIT Portal (through Full Client Services for Students) and click on “Upon Arrival” > “Fall 2022 Check-In” > “Start New Request” > and then complete ALL the Check-In eForms listed below:

  1. Student Status
    1. Student Status eForm
  • Student Category
    • ” REQUIRED New/Transfer Students”
  • Online Check-In Forms
    • “1. Your Information”
    • “2. Passport Information”
    • “3. Visa Stamp Information and Upload”
    • “4. Local U.S. Address Information”
    • “5. Upload Your I-94 Electronic Record/Card (after arrival)”
    • “6. Upload Your I-20 or DS-2019 or Visa Category”
    • “7. Your Immigration Status”

After completing and submitting the REQUIRED Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms:

An ISO staff member will review the submitted Check-In information and clear any international holds (within 10 to 15 business days from submission).

  • However, clearance of holds will ONLY occur after the ISO has confirmed that we have received all the correct information and documentation from the student.
    • Errors in an Online Fall 2022 Check-In submission will cause an additional delay in processing. Students should review the “Tips for the Online Check-In Process” below to be successful with their Check-In eForm submission.
  • Students will ONLY receive an e-mail from the ISO (to their @mit.edu email address) confirming the approval of their iMIT Check-In eForm submission and clearance of their “International Check-In” hold.
  • Following the completion and submission of the Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms, if a student has additional questions, they can use the search tool on the ISO website, review frequently asked questions on the ISO Knowledge Base webpage, or they may contact their ISO Advisor.

** If a student has an ISO hold on their registration record, then they have not completed one or both of the required action items listed above.

Tips for the Online Check-In Process

Please refer to the information below to ensure that your accurate information is submitted to our system. Following these tips will allow the ISO to review your electronic forms more quickly and allow us to approve your submission without extra steps.

U.S. Postal Addressing Standards

A student MUST input their U.S. address information in WebSIS AND in the iMIT Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms correctly  (e.g. the below image). If not, then this is considered an error and will cause an additional delay in the processing their Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForm(s), as the student will be required to resubmit their U.S. address information with the corrected information. 

  • When entering a U.S. Address in the Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms, a student MUST input their U.S. address information in WebSIS by clicking on “for Students” > then “Biographic and Emergency Records” > then “Addresses and Phone Numbers“. The student will then scroll down and update their “SEVIS U.S.” AND “SEVIS International” addresses.
    • A student’s “SEVIS U.S. Address” should be the same U.S. Address entered into their Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForms.
    • A student’s “SEVIS International Address” should be an address that is OUTSIDE the U.S.
  • Students are allowed to enter a temporary local U.S. Address in WebSIS. However, they are required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report any changes to their U.S address within 10 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. Address in WebSIS and in iMIT when they move.
  • When entering a U.S. Address in WebSIS and in iMIT, a student MUST follow the format below to ensure that we can validate their U.S. address in the SEVIS immigration database.
    • 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).
Address Example

Uploading a Scanned Document: Image Resolution

The photos below depict good resolutions and poor resolutions. Students must ensure that the uploaded files/images they submit are clear, that the print in those files/images is legible, and that all files/images are below 2MB in size. Students should visit the ISO “Immigration Document Glossary” webpage for questions about specific immigration documents.

  • If a student uploads an image that is 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 eForm(s).
  • If a student submits an image that has poor resolution, this is considered an error and will cause an additional delay in processing as the student will be required to resubmit their Online Fall 2022 Check-In eForm(s) with a new image. 
Image Resolution Comparison
Good Resolution vs. Poor Resolution

Obtaining a Form I-94 Record

  • For more information on how to obtain a Form I-94 Record, visit the ISO “Obtaining the Form I-94”webpage.
    • Students should ONLY upload a copy of their I-94 Record – NOT a copy of their CBP “Travel History” webpage.
    • If a student’s I-94 Record has an error (e.g. name spelled wrong, immigration status wrong, etc.), then they must follow the instructions on the ISO website to get their I-94 Record fixed before uploading a copy of this document to iMIT. 
    • Students can only retrieve their I-94 Record 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 Record yet, but they must obtain this document once they enter the U.S.

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

  • For more information about a “Certificate of Eligibility”, students should visit the ISO “Immigration Document Glossary” webpage.
    • Students must submit a copy of their MIT issued “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019), which can only be validated if the student has signed their document by hand, on page 1. This must be done before they upload a copy to iMIT.
      • Students CANNOT digitally/electronically sign their “Certificate of Eligibility” immigration documents (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019).
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