Pre-Arrival Information

If you will enter the US in F-1 or J-1 (U of I sponsored) status, you will receive your initial I-20 or DS-2019 from either Undergraduate Admissions or the Graduate College. Please reach out to these offices directly for further questions about your first document.

First Steps

1. If you will hold F-1 or J-1 status, please pay your SEVIS (I-901) fee once you receive your I-20 or DS-2019 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The SEVIS fee can be paid online via the I-901 Fee website. Remember to print the receipt to present at your entry visa interview.
2. Schedule an appointment for your non-immigrant entry visa with an embassy or consulate in your country. Search U.S. Embassies, etc., by country. Please bring the required documents to your entry visa interview as listed on the embassy website.
   • J-2 entry visas will only be issued or renewed by the Department of State if the J-1 entry visa has not expired.
   • While you do not need your I-20 or DS-2019 to indicate whether you are taking online courses or not, you can print this letter (PDF) to have on hand if asked for verification regarding appropriate arrival dates.
3. Prepare your documents to show at the United States Port of Entry:
   • Passport
   • Entry visa (Canadian citizens are not required to show an entry visa to enter the United States)
   • Original I-20/DS-2019 (no copies)
   • If you will hold a visa status other than F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2, please be sure to travel with the appropriate documents relevant to your status.
4. If you are already in the United States and need to change your non-immigrant status prior to the beginning of your academic program, please contact ISSS as soon as possible. This process is lengthy and could take up to 4-6 months if submitting a change of status application within the U.S. If your change of status application is not approved prior to the beginning of the semester, this could affect your ability to begin your studies or start your on-campus employment.

You must have your new SEVIS document prior to Check-In. If you have not received your SEVIS document, please contact Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions.

Immigration Information for F-1 and J-1 Students (Video)

This video covers immigration information for new F-1 and J-1 students, including an overview of your immigration documents, what to bring to campus, and what to expect at U.S. Customs and Port of Entry.

You can also watch this video via Box (no login required).

Temporary Housing

Students may choose to review this Google map to see the various locations of local hotels near the university. We recommend using the address of the Illini Union as a central campus location to use in relation with accommodation options: 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois, 61801.

All students arriving on campus 30 days prior to the start of classes may be able to stay with University Housing. Housing is available at Illinois Street Residence Hall and the cost is $40 per night for a shared room only. The charges will be applied to the student’s student account and cannot be paid for with a credit/debit card. Please review University Housing website for more information.

Students may contact the Housing office by calling (217) 333-7111 or e-mail at housing@illinois.edu, with specific questions about your accommodation.

University Housing

Undergraduate Students

An application and a contract form for a space in one of the university residence halls was enclosed with your notice of admission. You may also choose to submit a contract online after you are admitted. Please visit the University Housing website for more information.

Single Graduate Students

For information and an application to live in a room in one of the university graduate residence halls visit the University Housing website.

Students with Families

Some university apartments are available for students whose spouse or child(ren) are with them. Lease applications with the Family and Graduate Housing should be made at least six months in advance.

Contract Information

The contract for the university residence halls is a legally binding document. If you sign a housing contract and you register at the university, you must pay rent on that room for the entire academic year, even if you decide to live somewhere else. Lease applications can be found and submitted on the University Housing website. For information about rates and to access important Housing forms, please visit the University Housing Forms and Documents page.

Private Certified Housing

The university also has many Private Certified Housing options that are certified by the university for all students, including freshmen. These facilities are part of the university’s housing program.

Private Housing

If you are currently renting or looking to rent an apartment, the Office of Off-Campus Community Living (OCCL) can help! OCCL helps search for suitable housing, provides landlord complaint records, and can review your lease with you. Visit the OCCL website for more information.

Getting to Champaign-Urbana

Airplane

• The University of Illinois Willard Airport (Airport Code: CMI) serves the Champaign-Urbana area.
• Other Airport Options (the following airports are at least two hours away from Urbana-Champaign and will require you to make additional arrangements to get to campus).
  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport
  • Chicago Midway International Airport
  • Lambert – St. Louis International Airport
  • Indianapolis International Airport

Train

• AMTRAK has service between downtown Chicago and Champaign.

Bus/Shuttle

• Peoria Charter (private bus company) serves many locations, including Chicago airports (O’Hare and Midway), Downtown Chicago, and several Chicago suburbs. Both pick-up and drop-off are available from both campus and several Chicagoland locations.
• Greyhound (private bus company) has daily service between Chicago and Champaign. Pick up is available from downtown Chicago with drop-off at the Illinois Terminal in downtown Champaign.

Taxi

The average cost of a taxi is $15-20 to campus from Willard Airport or the Illinois Terminal. For assistance, please ask an employee at the airport or the terminal. Be sure to agree on the cost of your cab fare before leaving for your destination.

Local Options

After you arrive on campus, there are local transit options. For more information, visit the Public Transportation page.

Prior to arrival, students should review the immunization requirements and information about Student Health Insurance.

Immunization Requirements

Students should thoroughly review the immunization requirements found on the McKinley Health Center website.

Student Health Insurance

All registered students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan. Students are encouraged to visit the Student Health Insurance website for information about coverage dates, benefits, enrollment/change dates, and opting out. You are strongly encouraged to purchase health insurance for any accompanying family members during the Enrollment/Change Period.

What to Bring

• Original immigration documents.
• Copies of all immigration documents (keep these separate from the originals).
• Immunization records and required forms for international students. Visit the McKinley Health Center website for a complete list
• Transcripts. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions for submission instructions
• Appropriate clothing and attire for different weather. Illinois has four seasons. In the summer, it can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures can reach below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

What NOT to Bring

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Bringing or mailing food, plants, animals, and other agricultural items from your home country may seem harmless, but without knowing it, you could also bring along a dangerous stowaway – an invasive pest. To keep invasive pests out of the United States, our country has laws that prohibit or restrict the entry of many agricultural products from other countries, including meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, soil, seeds, and some plant-based handicrafts, among other items.

Information on which food or agricultural products are allowed into the U.S. can be found on the USDA’s Traveling With Food or Agricultural Products page and the Traveling From Another Country page. You can also contact APHIS by phone or email:

• Plant products, including fruits and vegetables
  • Phone: 877-770-5990
  • Email: plantproducts.permits@usda.gov
• Meats and other animal products, live animals, and animal by-products
  • Phone: 301-851-3300
  • Email: apie@usda.gov

Remember: When you travel, be sure to declare any food or agricultural products to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the airport when you arrive in the United States. Failing to declare these items could result in a costly civil penalty.