Step 9: Check-In with ISSS
ISSS Student Check-In
Upon arrival in the U.S. all F-1 and J-1 students are required to complete an immigration check-in procedure. Students already in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status who are transferring their SEVIS record from a previous U.S. school to UNC-Chapel Hill must also complete this process. ISSS must validate arrivals of F-1 and J-1 students in SEVIS and failure to complete the check-in with ISSS could result in SEVIS termination.
Students will need to complete ISSS Student Check-In in the ISSS Portal by logging in with their Onyen and password. For step by step instructions, please reference the ISSS Student Check-In Guide. Students should not initiate this process if they are not yet present in the U.S.
Form I-94
After arriving in the U.S., you will need to retrieve your Form I-94 (Arrival Record), an electronic form which you must access on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/.
To retrieve your Form I-94 on this site, click on “Get Most Recent I-94”, read the terms and click on “Consent & Continue”, enter your passport details and click on “Next”. Please save this document as a pdf so you can upload it as part of your check-in materials in ConnectCarolina.
Do NOT submit your “Travel History” as part of your check-in materials. This information will not be relevant. You must submit the I-94 record that shows your entry date as well as your immigration status at the time of entry to the U.S.
You must print a copy the I-94 record as well if you will need it for other purposes such as applying for a North Carolina driver’s license or state ID card or, if you are eligible, applying for a Social Security number (SSN).
On-Campus Employment
F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Incoming students in F-1 status can begin working once they complete ISSS-Check In and once ISSS verifies enrollment status and completes the registration process in SEVIS. Students will receive an email confirmation from ISSS indicating they are active in SEVIS which they should present to their on-campus hiring department prior to beginning work.
J-1 students must complete the J-1 on campus employment request form and get written permission from ISSS prior to beginning work. Students in J-1 status cannot begin working prior to their program start date as indicated on the Form DS-2019.
Social Security Number (SSN)
Students employed on-campus at UNC-Chapel Hill who do not yet have a Social Security Number (SSN) must apply for this number and are required to report it to HR within 90 days.
F-1 students must request a letter from ISSS that will be needed in order to apply for the number at a Social Security Administration (SSA) office. Students should submit requests for this letter through the ISSS Portal. The Social Security Number (SSN) Letter request form is located under “F-1 Student Services”.
As part of the process students will also need to upload a letter prepared by the hiring unit/department which includes all information required by the SSA (please refer to the template for this letter).
*Do NOT submit this form unless you have a current job offer for on-campus employment.
Students can refer to additional information about the SSN application process here.