Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

To log in to the ISSS Portal students will need to do the following: 

1. 1. 1. Create and activate your Onyen and password.  For questions about creating an Onyen and password, please refer to the Onyen and Password FAQ or reach out to IT Services. 
      2. Set up the two-step authentication. 
      3. Log into ConnectCarolina using the Onyen and Duo authentication. 
      4. Wait 24-hours after logging into ConnectCarolina to try logging into the ISSS portal.

If you are still having issues logging into the ISSS Portal, please reach out to ISSS at isss@unc.edu

To initiate the processing of your request with ISSS (International Student and Scholar Services), you must submit a complete request, including the New Student Questionnaire, along with all other required forms as part of the Admitted/New Student Intake Process. These forms are: 

• • • Personal Information
    • Dependent Information
    • Financial Information
    • Current Immigration Status
    • Attestations and Final Submission

Please note that your submission will not enter the ISSS queue for processing until all required forms are completed. Once you have filled out all forms, you will receive an email confirmation. The standard processing time for issuing a Form I-20 or DS-2019 is three (3) weeks from the date ISSS receives a complete request.

Requests for a Form I-20 or DS-2019 are processed in the order in which complete requests are received. ISSS is unable to expedite requests. We advise beginning the process as early as possible and allowing ample time for processing.

International students requesting a Form I-20 or DS-2019 must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition, fees, living expenses, and health insurance for the first academic year. For incoming exchange students, funds should cover the duration of your program.

Students can use a variety of sources to provide proof of financial support. Below is a chart of the most common sources:

Documents submitted must be written in English and contain an issuance date within the last 6 months.  Bank statements must list the account holder’s full name, account type and currency.  All funds must be liquid and immediately available for withdrawal, such as a checking or savings account.

Documents uploaded to the ISSS Portal must be in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format and cannot be uploaded as Word documents.

You can submit a bank statement in a foreign currency, as long as the type of currency is listed on the bank statement. We will do the conversion to US Dollars when issuing the Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Degree-seeking students can find all the detailed expenses listed here. For non-degree/exchange students, please find the detailed expenses listed here.

Students must submit financial support documentation covering (at minimum) the amount listed under “TOTAL.”

Students have four (4) spaces to enter financial sources and provide supporting evidence in the “Financial Information” section of the Admitted/New Student Intake. Students may select “Personal Funds,” “Sponsor/Family Funds,” “University Graduate Assistantship,” “University Scholarship/Fellowship,” or “Other” from the drop-down menu. Please be sure that the total of your funding sources equals or exceeds your cost of attendance and any dependents joining you, if applicable.

If you have fewer than four (4) funding sources, please select “Not applicable” for the remaining funding sources.

First make sure that you are uploading documents in the acceptable formats: PDF, JPEG, or PNG. Word documents are not allowed.

Otherwise, you may need to cancel the Financial Documents form and resubmit. If the error continues, please contact ISSS at isss@unc.edu.

Once you submit all of the required information and documents, you will see your Admitted / New Student Intake in “Pending Office Approval” status. You will also receive an email confirmation.  Your submission will then go under review by an ISSS advisor, which may take up to three (3) weeks. If any additional information is needed, an ISSS advisor will contact you via email.

If your request is complete, an ISSS Advisor will issue your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and send it to your UNC email address. 

Forms I-20 and DS-2019 are now sent to students electronically; therefore, students receive their documents shortly after they are produced. The SEVIS ID is not generated until the Form I-20 or DS-2019 is created.

The I-901 SEVIS Fee is paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program which manages SEVIS. This fee is required and must be paid at least three (3) business days prior to applying for a visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. Once the payment is made, students should save or print the receipt.  ISSS must verify that your SEVIS Fee has been paid before they can register your SEVIS record at UNC.

Students should check Step 6: Obtain the F-1/J-1 Visa Stamp on the ISSS website, as well as the website of their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for detailed instructions on the visa application process. ISSS provides students with a Form I-20 or DS-2019 which will assist students in obtaining the appropriate visa stamp.  However, we are unable to provide any additional written documentation for the visa appointment.

Students who obtain a Form I-20 or DS-2019 may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the Program Start Date listed on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. For students with a Form I-20, the “Earliest Admission Date” located in the “Program of Study” box indicates the first day you may enter the U.S. in F-1 status.

Students should have a valid passport (with validity at least 6 months beyond the date of entry to the U.S.), a valid F-1 or J-1 visa (if applicable), a confirmation of SEVIS fee payment, and Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1 students). Dependents (spouse and/or children) require separate Forms I-20 or DS-2019 for entry in F-2 or J-2 dependent status.
Students may also want to have the following supporting documents with them: a letter of admission to UNC-CH, financial documents, school transcripts, marriage certificate and birth certificates, if bringing a dependent.

Upon entry to the U.S. all F-1 and J-1 students are required to complete the ISSS Student Check-In in the ISSS Portal. Students will be asked to upload copies of their immigration documents and the record of their most recent admission to the U.S. (a Form I-94) as well as a local address.  Please do not complete your ISSS Check-In prior to entering the United States, or you will be asked to resubmit.

No. Students must make sure they are able to arrive to the U.S. prior to the start of classes.

All Undergraduate students should attend the ISSS session as part of their required First Year New Student Orientation or Transfer Student Orientation; students should refer to the orientation schedule for details. 

All Graduate and Professional students should attend the International Student Orientation hosted by ISSS, which is separate from the orientation hosted by their academic department.  The International Student Orientation covers crucial immigration information and campus resources international students can benefit from, so we strongly encourage you to make plans to attend. You can find ISSS orientation dates here. 

In addition to your attendance at International Student Orientation, you are expected to join the UNC International Students course on Canvas, the University’s learning management system.    You will find essential information on this Canvas site related to pre-arrival details and immediate next steps upon arrival, as well as topics you will want to refer to throughout your time as an F-1 student at Carolina.