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Immigration Check-in with OIS

All members of the UIC international community must complete an Immigration Check-In with OIS upon their initial arrival to the U.S.

During the Immigration Check-In, OIS advisors will review your immigration documents to ensure that you have entered the U.S. in the appropriate status to begin your planned activities at UIC, whether that be study, research, training, or employment. The immigration check-in must be completed online via myOIS unless otherwise noted. Failure to complete the Immigration Check-In by your deadline could result in a loss of status.

Questions about your requirement to complete the Immigration Check-In can be directed to your OIS advisor or to ois@uic.edu.

Steps to complete the Immigration Check-In with OIS Heading link

Please select your status to view your instructions.

All new international students physically present in the U.S. must complete an Immigration Check-in with OIS within 30 days of the start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. If your SEVIS registration hold has not already been removed, it will be removed as part of this check-in process, allowing you to register for classes.

Immigration Check-In steps for international students

  1. Gather your immigration documents and create digital images of each one. .pdf, .jpeg, .img and .png are all acceptable formats.
    1. Signed I-20 or DS-2019 for study at UIC (F-1 or J-1 status only.)
    2. Passport biographic and expiry page
    3. Passport Visa Stamp or Form I-797 for change of status
    4. I-94 Record
    5. I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt (F-1 or J-1 status only.)
    6. Proof of health insurance that meets program requirements (J-1 status only.)
  2. Submit the New Student Immigration Check-In E-Form in myOIS. If you are unable to access the myOIS portal, please send an email to ois@uic.edu. If you have dependents who entered the U.S. with you in F-2 or J-2 status, please complete the Dependent Check-in E-Form and upload your dependent documents as well.

If your e-form is submitted and accepted successfully, you will receive a confirmation of this via email. If your form is not accepted and requires follow-up, you will receive an email from an OIS Advisor. Please read and respond to any emails you receive from OIS. For students with immigration documents sponsored by UIC, failure to check-in within 30 days of the start of classes will result in termination of their nonimmigrant status.

All new Fulbright students physically present in the U.S. must complete an Immigration Check-in with OIS within 30 days of the start date listed on your DS-2019 form. If your SEVIS registration hold has not already been removed, it will be removed as part of this check-in process, allowing you to register for classes.

 Immigration Check-In steps for Fulbright students 

  1. Gather your immigration documents and create digital images of each one. .pdf, .jpeg, .img and .png are all acceptable formats.
    1. Signed DS-2019 for study at UIC
    2. Passport biographic and expiry page
    3. Passport Visa Stamp or Form I-797 for change of status
    4. I-94 Record
  2. Submit the New Student Immigration Check-In E-Form in myOIS. If you are unable to access the myOIS portal, please send an email to ois@uic.edu. If you have dependents who entered the U.S. with you in F-2 or J-2 status, please complete the Dependent Check-in E-Form and upload your dependent documents as well.

If your e-form is submitted and accepted successfully, you will receive a confirmation of this via email. If your form is not accepted and requires follow-up, you will receive an email from an OIS Advisor. Please read and respond to any emails you receive from OIS.

Please contact an OIS Fulbright Advisor at oisj1@uic.edu if you have any questions regarding the check-in process.

OIS is required by federal regulation to validate your Exchange Visitor program in SEVIS within 30 days of the start date listed on your Form DS-2019. To comply with this regulation, please complete your Immigration Check-In with OIS as shortly after your arrival in the U.S. as possible and prior to beginning any program activity. An OIS advisor will email you approximately 30 days prior to your start date as a reminder to complete your Immigration Check-In with OIS.

Prior to your arrival, ensure you attend a virtual pre-arrival session. Session dates and information may be found on our Events webpage.

Immigration Check-In steps for J-1 EV Scholars

  1. Gather your immigration documents and create digital images of each one. .pdf, .jpeg, .img and .png are all acceptable formats.
    1. DS-2019 with the consular official’s stamp/signature
    2. Passport biographic and expiry page
    3. Passport Visa and Entry Stamp
    4. I-94 Record
    5. I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
    6. Proof of health insurance that meets program requirements
  2. Submit the Exchange Visitor Check-In E-Form in myOIS. When logging into myOIS, use the Limited Services Login. If you have trouble accessing the myOIS portal, please send an email to oisj1@uic.edu. If you have dependents who entered the U.S. with you in J-2 status, please complete the Dependent Check-in E-Form and upload your dependent documents as well.
  3. Collect updated DS-2019 form(s) from OIS (if applicable).

An OIS Advisor will review your check-in form and documents within 1 business day and email you if any further information is required. Once your check-in is complete, you will receive details for the next scheduled J-1 EV Scholar Orientation.

All new Fulbright scholars physically present in the U.S. must complete an Immigration Check-in with OIS within 30 days of the start date listed on your DS-2019 form.

Immigration Check-In steps for Fulbright Scholars

  1. Gather your immigration documents and create digital images of each one. PDF, JPEG, IMG and PNG are all acceptable formats.
    1. Signed DS-2019 for research program at UIC
    2. Passport biographic and expiry page
    3. Passport Visa Stamp
    4. I-94 Record
  2. Submit the Scholar Immigration Check-In E-Form in myOIS. When logging into myOIS, use the Limited Services Login. If you have trouble accessing the myOIS portal, please send an email to oisj1@uic.edu. If you have dependents who entered the U.S. with you in J-2 status, please complete the Dependent Check-in E-Form and upload your dependent documents as well.

If your e-form is submitted and accepted successfully, you will receive a confirmation of this via email. If your form is not accepted and requires follow-up, you will receive an email from an OIS Advisor. Please read and respond to any emails you receive from OIS.

Please contact an OIS Fulbright Advisor at oisj1@uic.edu if you have any questions regarding the check-in process.

All UIC-sponsored employees (H-1B, O-1, TN, and E-3) must check in individually, with an OIS advisor before beginning employment. An OIS advisor will be in contact with you as we process your immigration documents.

Please note that UIC-sponsored J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholars should not follow these steps. Instead, please see the tab, “J-1 EV Scholars” for your check-in instructions.

All new non-UIC-sponsored employees and visitors must check in with OIS before beginning employment. This process is initiated by your department HR administrator through our myOIS portal. Common statuses in this category are listed below. Once the department submits information about the position to OIS, you will be asked to upload copies of your immigration and/or work authorization documents. OIS will review the complete request within 3 business days and update all university systems, accordingly.

List of common statuses (not a complete list):

  • F-1 OPT/STEM – graduate of a non-UIC institution working on “Optional Practical Training”
  • F-1 CPT – student enrolled at another school working at UIC on “Curricular Practical Training”
  • J-1 AT – graduate of a non-UIC institution working on Academic Training
  • J-2 – J-1 dependent with work authorization
  • H-4 – H-1B dependent with work authorization
  • Green card-pending/Adjustment of Status/I-485-pending – awaiting a final green card, has work authorization (EAD card)

*Please note that undocumented individuals (“DACA”) should not use myOIS. Instead, please email oisscholar@uic.edu with your work authorization and offer letter only.

Contact oisscholar@uic.edu with any questions.

F-2 and J-2 dependents are the spouses or minor children of a primary F-1 or J-1 visa holder. The primary visa holder must notify OIS that a dependent has arrived in the U.S. in F-2 or J-2 status by completing an Immigration Check-In with OIS on their dependent’s behalf.

 Immigration Check-In steps for F-2 or J-2 dependents

  1. Gather your dependent’s immigration documents and create digital images of each one. .pdf, .jpeg, .img and .png are all acceptable formats.
    1. I-20 or DS-2019 issued by UIC and signed by the dependent
    2. Passport biographic and expiry page
    3. Passport Visa Stamp
    4. I-94 Record
    5. Proof of health insurance that meets program requirements (J-2 status only.)
  2. Submit the Dependent Check-In E-Form in myOIS. If you are a new international student or scholar, you should submit the Dependent Check-In E-form in conjunction with your New Student Check-In E-Form or Exchange Visitor Check-In E-Form.

If your e-form is submitted and accepted successfully, you will receive a confirmation of this via email. If your form is not accepted and requires follow-up, you will receive an email from an OIS Advisor. Please read and respond to any emails you receive from OIS.