Late Arrival for International Students

We strongly recommend that all NEW students arrive by the Program Start Date on their I-20 so that they can get settled and attend important Orientation events. They should arrive no later than the Start of Classes date for their program.

See the Program of Study section of your I-20 to find out your Program Start Date and Start of Classes Date.

Undergraduate Students

Arriving Between the Program Start Date and the Start of Classes:

If you are a new undergraduate student arriving between the Program Start Date and the Start of Classes (and missing orientation), you must do the following:

Make sure you have the following documents to show the immigration officer at the airport in case you are pulled into a secondary inspection:
- I-20
- Passport with valid visa
- George Mason Admissions Letter
- List of registered classes that show full-time course load (at least 12 credits).
Send an email to world@gmu.edu to find out if you need a late arrival letter or not.
If you will arrive late and are unable to attend the mandatory international orientation, please contact oipsprog@gmu.edu to let them know you will not be there and they will send you information that was missed.

Arriving Between the Start of Classes and the Last Day to Add:

In addition to following the previous steps, if you are a new undergraduate student arriving between the Start of Classes and the Last Day to Add, you must also do the following:

Send an email to world@gmu.edu to request a letter of late arrival and a new I-20 with an updated start date.
If you are a new undergraduate student AND you will miss one or more classes due to late arrival, we strongly advise you to get written permission from each professor. Please keep these letters with your passport and I-20. You may have to show these letters at port of entry upon arrival in the U.S.

Undergraduate late arrival questions? Contact world@gmu.edu.

Graduate Students

Arriving on Campus Between the Program Start Date and the Start of Classes:

In you are a new graduate student arriving between the Program Start Date and the Start of Classes, in addition to your I-20 and F-1 visa, you should bring your list of registered classes to your visa appointment and during travel. In case you undergo a secondary inspection at the U.S. port of entry, you can show the immigration officer when your classes start.

Arriving on Campus Between the Start of Classes and the Last Day to Add:

If you are a new graduate student arriving on campus between the Start of Classes and Last Day to Add, you must request approval to arrive late. Approval to arrive late is not guaranteed.

If you have a visa interview scheduled after the Start of Classes, it is unlikely you will be able to arrive on campus by the Last Day to Add. We suggest that you consider deferring your admission and I-20 to a future semester.
If you request to defer to a future semester but will keep your visa appointment date, please contact gradi20@gmu.edu as soon as possible since it may take up to 10 business days to complete the update process. Please note that we cannot guarantee that your request for an updated I-20 will be approved in time for your visa appointment.

To request approval to arrive on campus between the Start of Classes and the Last Day to Add:

Download the F-1 International Graduate Student Late Arrival form.
Complete the Student Section and send it to your Designated Point of Contact for your school or college for verification.

Please be mindful of the following requirements:

Register for courses that allow you to meet academic and F-1 requirements. You can learn more about these requirements on the OIPS website.
Notify the Designated Point of Contact to send our office a copy of the approved form for the I-20 update.

If you don't receive a response within 5 business days, forward your original Late Arrival Request email to gradi20@gmu.edu.

If your late arrival request is approved, carry the updated I-20 and complete late arrival form (student section and academic section) with you to your visa interview and when traveling.

If your late arrival request is denied, you will not be issued an updated I-20 for late arrival. You must arrive on campus by the First Day of Class or you may request to defer your admission and your I-20.