MIT Undergraduate International Student Orientation Program
Compliance with U.S. immigration regulations mandates that ALL New/Incoming Undergraduate International Students complete an immigration orientation course/session and submit necessary documentation/information upon commencing their MIT program. Therefore, all new/incoming MIT international students need to complete specific steps to ensure the activation of their U.S. immigration status within the U.S. and at MIT by the International Students Office (ISO).
ATTENTION: This is NOT an automatic process; students must be proactive. Students cannot complete their enrollment/registration for the term until they have completed the requirements below.
- Who Is Considered A “New/Incoming Undergraduate International Student”?
- Required Steps To Activate A U.S. Immigration Status
WHO IS CONSIDERED A “NEW/INCOMING UNDERGRADUATE 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.
REQUIRED STEPS TO ACTIVATE A U.S. IMMIGRATION STATUS
STEP 1: Complete an ISO ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse’
ATTENTION: The ISO ‘Immigration Orientation eCourses’ are exclusively designed for F and J MIT Undergraduate and Graduate degree-seeking students. As well as MIT Non-Degree students (e.g., ASP, Special, & Exchange Students).
Students participating in the Visiting Student Program (VSP) should refer to the ISO ‘Visiting Students FAQ’ webpage for guidance on fulfilling their immigration orientation and check-in requirements.
ALL new/incoming degree-seeking Undergraduate international students are required to complete their specific immigration status (F-1 or J-1) ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse’ and attain a passing grade of 90% or higher on the corresponding (F-1 or J-1) ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse Quiz’.
- Eligible students will be “invited” to their specific immigration status (F-1 or J-1) ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse’ by email. The email invitation will be sent to the student’s @mit.edu email address from Canvas.
- If a student does not receive an email invitation to their specific immigration status (F-1 or J-1) ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse’ from Canvas and believes that they are eligible, they should first check their Junk/Spam folders. If the email invitation is still not there, the student should email iso-help@mit.edu and include their [MIT ID Number, Academic Department and Program, and future MIT program start date].
- Students can complete the ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse’ requirement before or after arrival in the U.S.
NOTE: Students should be aware that attending an ‘ISO Virtual Forum’ is optional and does not fulfill the mandatory orientation eCourse/session requirement for students
What is Covered During a Mandatory ISO ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse/Session’?
During a mandatory ISO ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse/Session’ students will learn about maintaining their legal U.S. immigration status, gain insights into their U.S. immigration documents, travel requirements and restrictions within and outside the U.S., employment guidelines and restrictions in the U.S., and other crucial information related to adapting and residing in the U.S. while studying at MIT. Additional resources will also be provided.
When completing an ISO ‘Immigration Orientation eCourse/Session’, students should have the following materials on hand during the eCourse/Session:
- Their most recently issued passport.
- Their MIT-issued Form I-20 or MIT-issued Form DS-2019.
- Their most recently issued I-94 Record, but only if the student is inside the U.S.
- NOTE: Students can only retrieve their I-94 Record after entering the U.S. in F or J status. Students can obtain their I-94 Record online from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) ‘Get Most Recent I-94’ webpage. If a student is still abroad, they do not have an I-94 Record yet. However, once they enter the U.S., they must obtain this document.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Undergraduate and Graduate students who will come to MIT and attend the MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP) must review the specific VSP webpage for their ‘Immigration Orientation’ requirements.
STEP 2: Complete the Required ‘Immigration Online Check-In’ Process
**ATTENTION: The ‘Immigration Online Check-In’ requirements can ONLY be completed once the student has entered the U.S. in their U.S. immigration status.**
All New/Incoming International Students are required to submit the appropriate “Academic Term” ‘Immigration Online Check-In’ e-Forms in iMIT AFTER their arrival to the U.S.
- For 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.
Students can find specific instructions on how to complete their ‘Immigration Online Check-In’ requirements on the ISO ‘Online Check-In’ webpage. The ISO will review and approve a student’s Immigration Online Check-In e-Forms, information, and immigration documentation. Therefore, students must follow the specific instructions and guidance listed on the ISO ‘Online Check-In’ webpage.
Additionally, all new/incoming Undergraduate international students must attend the mandatory Fall 2026 ISO International Undergraduate Student Orientation Program beginning on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
** ATTENTION: 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(s) (Form I-20, Form DS-2019) **
The full schedule of the ISO International Undergraduate Orientation Program will be posted below as soon as it is available. New/Incoming Undergraduate International Students will also receive additional notifications from their ISO Advisor confirming times and locations.
Fall 2026 ISO New Undergraduate Student Orientation Program information will be posted soon. ISO Orientation Sessions will begin after MIT FPOP, starting Saturday, August 29, 2026. Students who will not be attending FPOP may arrive to campus on Friday, August 28, 2026.
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 (located at the top of the ISO website) or consult the comprehensive FAQ section in the ISO Common Questions. MIT students may also contact their designated ISO Advisor directly for assistance.
