New Student Information

 

CONGRATULATIONS! You have been admitted to the University of Pittsburgh. How do you receive your I-20/DS-2019?

 

GRADUATE: After you have been officially admitted to a graduate program at Pitt, your academic department will send your admission information to OIS. After this process is complete, an email from our office (oisnew@pitt.edu) will be sent to your personal and Pitt email (if applicable) on file, which will include instructions on how to log into My OIS and request your I-20/DS-2019 through the Pre-Arrival Checklist.

UNDERGRADUATE: After you have been officially admitted to an undergraduate program at Pitt and have paid your deposit, an email from our office (oisnew@pitt.edu) will be sent to your personal and Pitt email (if applicable) on file, which will include instructions on how to log into My OIS and request your I-20/DS-2019 through the Pre-Arrival Checklist.

International Students Transferring from a regional Pitt campus to the Oakland Campus: If you are currently attending Pitt-Bradford, Pitt-Greensburg, or Pitt-Johnstown and have been officially admitted to the Oakland, Pittsburgh campus, you will need to receive an updated I-20. Please email us at oisnew@pitt.edu for specific instructions on how to receive your updated I-20. You will NOT be required to complete the Pre-Arrival Checklist.

Students Returning to Pitt from a Leave of Absence: If you had previously been enrolled at Pitt and plan to return, you will need to be issued a new I-20. Please email us at ois@pitt.edu for specific instructions on how to receive your new I-20 for your return.

Pre-Arrival Checklist

Once you have received the instructions from our office, please follow them carefully for details on how to log into the My OIS portal. Once logged in, you will need to access your Pre-Arrival Checklist – this is where you will submit the required documentation/information in order to receive your I-20/DS-2019.

  • OIS has tutorial videos to help you if you have difficulty logging into My OIS, or accessing the Pre-Arrival Checklist.
  • Please do not try to log in until AFTER you have received instructions from OIS!

To receive your I-20/DS-2019, you MUST submit the required e-forms in the "Basic Information" section of your Pre-Arrival Checklist:

  • Biographical Information
  • Upload Passport
  • Financial Information
  • You must provide documentation that will cover your first year of study in your program at Pitt. Please carefully review the applicable document below to see the costs for your program and what the requirements are for your documentation:

If applicable, you must also submit the following optional e-forms in the "Basic Information" section of your Pre-Arrival Checklist:

  • Dependent Information

    • This form is OPTIONAL and should ONLY be completed if you have a spouse or child(ren) under the age of 21 years that will be accompanying you to the U.S. during your studies at Pitt.
  • Transfer In Form

    • This form is OPTIONAL and should ONLY be completed by students who will be in active F-1 status within 5 months from the start of the term they are admitted to.

After you have submitted the required e-forms, our office will review what you have submitted. If all documentation/information submitted is sufficient, your I-20/DS-2019 will be issued within 3-5 business days (during period of high volume, please allow for a delay of up to 3 weeks). If your submissions are NOT sufficient, we will email you directly for additional information that OIS needs to issue your immigration document.

  • Once issued, your I-20 will be sent to your personal email and Pitt email (if applicable). If you would like your I-20 shipped to you, though not required, let us know at oisNEW@pitt.edu.
  • DS-2019s are not permitted to be sent electronically, therefore if you are receiving a DS-2019, you MUST complete the eShipGlobal Shipping Label Request – a link to this request will be emailed to you via oisnew@pitt.edu AFTER your DS-2019 is issued.

Visa Process

Yay! You received your I-20/DS-2019... what now?

F-1 STUDENTS:

  • Once you receive the I-20, you MUST pay the Form I-901 SEVIS Fee (NOTE: students who are transferring their SEVIS records from a different school do NOT need to repay the SEVIS Fee.)
  • Then, you can apply for an F-1 visa.
  • Review the U.S. State Department’s general instructions about the required materials for the F-1 visa application and appointment process.
  • Review your nearest U.S. Embassy / Consulate / Diplomatic Mission for specific instructions about how to schedule your visa appointment.

J-1 STUDENTS:

ALL STUDENTS:

Arrival & Orientation

Students can arrive in the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019. Students who transferred their SEVIS records from a previous school to Pitt can re-enter the United States at any point after they receive their I-20/DS-2019 from Pitt.

ALL incoming students MUST attend OIS’ Orientation and complete Check-In requirements. Failure to complete these requirements will impact your ability to maintain your F-1 / J-1 student status in the US.

Please review OIS’ Orientation website, as well as your Pre-Arrival Checklist (closer to the start of your admitted term), for more specific details.

Questions?

If you have any further questions, please be sure to review our website, especially the New Student Resources page. If you can’t find the answers to your questions there, you may email us at oisNEW@pitt.edu.

Thank you and HAIL TO PITT!