Step 5: Complete ISSS Student Check-In
ISSS Student Check-In
After 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. Students must complete ISSS Student Check-In in the Admitted/New Student Checklist in the ISSS Portal. Once a student completes their check-in, ISSS will register their information in SEVIS. Failure to complete the ISSS Student Check-in in a timely manner could result in the termination of a student’s SEVIS record.
Students should not initiate this process if they are not yet present in the U.S.
Form I-94
You will need to retrieve your Form I-94 (Arrival Record) after arriving in the U.S.
To retrieve your Form I-94, please follow these steps:
- Navigate to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
- Click on “Get Most Recent I-94”, read the terms and click on “Consent & Continue.”
- Enter your passport details and click on “Next”.
- Save this document as a pdf so you can upload it when you complete ISSS Student Check-In.
- Print a copy of the Form I-94 for your records and to use for other official purposes.
Do NOT submit your “Travel History” when completing ISSS Student Check-In. This information will not be relevant. You must submit your “Most Recent I-94 record” that shows your entry date as well as your immigration status at the time of entry to the U.S.
Employment and 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 Student 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.
Students in J-1 status cannot begin working prior to their program start date as indicated on the Form DS-2019. J-1 students must also receive written approval from ISSS to prior to beginning on campus work by submitting the J-1 Student On-Campus Employment Authorization Request form in the ISSS Portal under J-1 Student Services.
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.