Arriving in the U.S., HIO Registration, & Orientations

Welcome to Harvard!  This section details important information you need to know to enter the U.S. to start your internship.

When to Arrive

The U.S. immigration regulations allow J-1 Student Interns to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on Item 3 of your Form DS-2019. If you will arrive after the start date on your Form DS-2019, please alert your HIO Advisor immediately. 

U.S. Immigration Inspection

Upon entering the U.S., all J-1 Student Interns must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection official at the airport or U.S. Port of Entry:

  • Valid passport
  • Visa Form DS-2019
  • Valid and signed Form DS-7002 Training Plan
  • Valid J-1 visa in passport (not applicable to Canadian citizens)
  • SEVIS Fee Receipt

You may not enter the U.S. in tourist visa status or using ESTA unless you are coming to the U.S. for tourism only. Do not use NEXUS or Global Entry, or an automated passport kiosk, to enter the U.S. You must always speak with a Customs and Border Protection Officer and present the above documents in order to be admitted to the U.S. in the proper J-1 Student Intern status.

Arriving in the U.S.

Each time you enter the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an on-line, electronic entry record to record your entry to the U.S. This is called your I-94 record.  Note that many U.S. airports will no longer stamp your passport when you enter the U.S. Instead, the I-94 will be your only official record of entry to the U.S. 

You should check and save a screenshot of your I-94  record each time you enter the U.S. as you may need it for other purposes. If the I-94 record ever displays incorrect information, or cannot be found, please contact your HIO Advisor.

HIO Registration

You must register your arrival with the HIO within 30 days of the start date on your visa document (Form DS-2019), otherwise your SEVIS record will become invalid.

After arriving in the U.S., email the following documents to internationaloffice@harvard.edu to complete your immigration registration:

  1.  HIO Registration FormPlease note, in order to complete this form, you will need to access your I-94 record online. If you have difficulty locating your I-94 record, or your I-94 record has incorrect information, please contact your HIO Advisor
  2.  A copy of your fully signed DS-7002 Training Plan

The staff at the HIO will confirm with you once your registration has been processed.

After arriving, please review our Welcome and Travel informational handout, as well as our New Student Intern Welcome Guide, for more information about your immigration status and your time in the U.S. 

Travel Signatures

After arriving in the U.S., J-1 Student Interns will need to obtain a travel signaure on their DS-2019, which permits student interns to travel internationally during their internship.

HIO Orientations

The HIO offers optional orientation sessions for all incoming student interns and their family members. Please see HIO Orientations for more information.

In addition, incoming and current J-1 Student Interns may listen to a recorded orientation session, specifically tailored to the J-1 Student Intern visa category. Much of the information is the same as the live Getting Started Orientations, with a focus primarily on the J-1 Student Intern experience.