Upon Arrival

All Students: IMMIGRATION INSPECTION | MOVE-IN | WEATHER Additional info for: GRADUATE EMPLOYEES (GEs) | FAMILIES

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Immigration Inspection

Welcome to the United States! Upon arrival at any US airport, follow the signs to the baggage claim area to pick up your baggage. Please expect Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers with trained dogs searching throughout the baggage claim area. At times, these searches may feel aggressive or intrusive: this is normal, as these dogs are trained to be highly sensitive.

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After picking up your baggage, proceed to immigration inspection.

Be sure to have easy access to the following items. Do not pack these items in your checked luggage.

  1. Passport with valid nonimmigrant visa
  2. Original I-20 or DS-2019 form
  3. Copies of financial documents submitted in your original application
  4. UO admission letter
  5. Proof of SEVIS Fee Payment
  6. Customs Declaration Form 6059 B – info about what you are bringing to the U.S.

At the U.S. Port of Entry, you will meet the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer.

A Port of Entry is the place you are entering the country, such as Portland, Seattle, Denver, etc. The CBP officer will ask to see your passport and your I-20. The officer may ask to see the other documents and/or ask questions about:

  • Where you are arriving from
  • What other countries you visited or transited through on your way to the U.S.
  • What your purpose is for coming to the U.S., or more specifically what you intend to do at the University of Oregon
  • How long is your program
  • Where is your final destination today
  • Have you been to Oregon before
  • What’s your address in your home country

If you are traveling with family members, please expect the CBP officer to ask them individually some questions, including:

  • What’s your name?
  • Is this your mom/dad/wife/husband?
  • What is the name of your mom/dad/wife/husband?
  • Are you excited to be in the U.S.?

The officer may also ask you to be fingerprinted and/or photographed.

While this process can feel intimidating and stressful, preparing yourself for this situation will help you.

  • Have easy access to your documents, and be ready to provide the passport and I-20 to the CBP officer as soon as you are called to meet them.
  • Be ready to clearly (but briefly) answer the possible questions listed above. Do not lie or fabricate answers if you do not know.
  • Be patient, stay positive, and maintain calm, don’t forget to treat the CBP officer with respect regardless of their temperament or how much they make you feel uncomfortable.

The CBP officer has a lot of work to do. Please avoid any unnecessary comments, jokes, and questions. The CBP officer will give your documents back once the inspection is over.

If the officer can complete inspection at this stage, they will instruct you to go to a separate location for agriculture inspection. Promptly leave the immigration inspection area as soon as you receive your documents back.

If the officer cannot determine your eligibility to enter the U.S. from the documentation you present, or requires additional information, you may be directed for additional questioning at “Secondary Inspection” at the airport.

Secondary Inspection

The Secondary Inspection takes place in a separate, guarded room area where you will be asked to wait to speak individually with a more senior level CBP officer. In Secondary Inspection, you may be advised that you are not able to make any phone calls unless you are given permission by the officer — please follow their directions. U.S. laws permit the CBP officer to ask any question needed to determine your eligibility to enter the U.S., including your past travel history, financial information, information about your family members, previous travel to the U.S., what you plan to do in the future after graduating from the University of Oregon, as well as request that you provide access to your electronic devices (laptops, iPads, cellphones), email, or social media accounts for review. U.S. guidance indicates that no passwords or other personal information will be retained.

While such requests are not usually made, we want to be sure that you are aware that such requests can happen.

Please note that wait times at Secondary Inspection may take many hours. If you have to wait for an extended period, Secondary Inspection offices have bathrooms/toilets and access to water. If there are any concerns, you will be advised to speak with a Secondary Inspection officer for assistance. Please note there is no way to expedite (speed up) processing at Secondary Inspection, so it is advised to remain calm. Being referred to Secondary Inspection does NOT mean that you have done anything wrong. Similar to your visa interview appointment and visa processing at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, security procedures must be completed in order to enter the U.S. and can take some time to resolve (based on the type of procedure and number of individuals in Secondary Inspection at the time of your entry to the U.S.). We ask that you be patient. If you are waiting for an extended period of time at Secondary Inspection, you may request from the CBP officer for permission to contact anyone who may be waiting for you at the airport and/or the University of Oregon’s International Students & Scholar Services.

Once you have left the immigration inspection area, follow the signs to the agriculture inspection area if you were told to do so by the CBP officer, or follow the exit signs. In order to board your connecting flight to Eugene or Portland, you may need to re-check your baggage with your airline. After that’s done, go towards your gate – at the security area, you only need to show your passport and, possibly, your boarding pass. After that, you and your carry-on luggage must be screened again prior to entering your departure gate. When boarding your next flight, you will need to show only your boarding pass.

Emergency Contacts

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) (Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 17:00)

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Tasks FOR GRADUATE EMPLOYEES (GE)

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Sign up for GTFF GE Health Insurance

International GEs are automatically enrolled in and billed for the UO Student Health Benefits Plan. However, note that you can waive this plan as you are eligible to sign up for the GE Health Insurance administered by the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF) labor union.

  • Sign up for GTFF GE Health Insurance when you arrive on campus
  • Note: New GEs will be waived out of the UO Student Health Benefits Plan upon enrollment in the GTFF plan. You do NOT need to use the online waiver request form in DuckWeb to waive out of the UO Student Health Benefits Plan. Email benefits@gtff.net with questions.

Complete Mandatory GE Training

The required GE training will address employment topics such as inclusive work environments, discrimination and sexual harassment policies, and other employee-related policies. This will be provided online in MyTrack. GEs will be sent an invitation at the beginning of the first term of GE employment.

Complete GE English Language Proficiency*

*This items is for international graduate students who accept teaching-related GE appointments

Students whose native/primary language is not English who accept teaching-related Graduate Employee (GE) positions must submit a test score demonstrating their proficiency in speaking English. Students for whom the TOEFL/IELTS is waived for admission to their graduate program are still subject to these requirements if they are placed in teaching-related GE assignments. View the GE English Language Policy for information on minimum test scores, alternatives to submitting scores, and more.

Attend the Day of Teaching (Optional)

The annual GE Day of Teaching takes place on the Wednesday prior to the start of fall term. This opportunity provides new GEs access to high-quality teacher training.

Attend the International Graduate Student Orientation (Optional)

The Division of Global Engagement coordinates an international orientation for all incoming international students. Incoming international graduate students are not required to attend, but are encouraged to attend if available. View the ISSS website for more information.

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Information for families

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Move-in Guide

Review our Move-in Guide to be prepared to successfully secure housing and to be the ideal tenant!

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Weather and gear

Be prepared for the seasons.

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