Admitted and Incoming Students

Undergraduate Students: Register for ISO through myRutgers. 

Graduate Students: You are automatically registered for ISO.

Study Abroad/Incoming Exchange students with existing partnerships with Rutgers do not need to register for the ISO.

The fall International Student Orientation (ISO) is a two-and-a-half day program for graduate and undergraduate international first year and transfer students. Through presentations and interactive activities, students will learn more about the Rutgers campus, connect with Rutgers departments, resources, and staff, and get guidance from current Rutgers students. ISO is also an opportunity for students to make friends as they begin their Rutgers journey. 

All new students must complete required online modules. 

Undergraduate students must also complete an asynchronous online orientation where they will hear from current Rutgers students, learn more about the Rutgers campus, resources available, and ways to connect with the campus community. Online orientation will be available via your myRutgers dashboard in June. 

Graduate students may be invited to department and school specific orientation programs that are separate from the ISO. Please make sure you attend those programs as well. 

We want to ensure that everyone is able to fully participate in our Orientation experience.  If there are questions and/or concerns about the method(s) of delivering content, please do not hesitate to contact our office at isss-students@global.rutgers.edu.

Note about RUIDs: Students must upload a photo to receive their ID card. Students with on-campus housing will pick up their ID card when they check-in at their residence hall. All other students can at obtain their ID cards at One Stop Student Services Center (Dr. Samuel Dewitt Proctor Hall, Busch Campus) during normal business hours.

All International students will be required to download a "getINVOLVED" QR code to sign in at the ISO Welcome Event on Monday, August 25 at 8:30am at Jersey Mike's Arena. Instructions to obtain the QR code and add it to your Apple or Google Wallets will be available in August.

Students will be invited to their respective school's academic planning Canvas course or mandatory academic orientation. All students must complete their Placement Exams within 30 days of enrolling. Preliminary schedules for international students will be generated in late July. Depending on the school, there might be additional virtual advising sessions over the summer. More information will come directly from school advising offices, and students are expected to check email frequently, including junk/spam folder for important information about enrollment and course registration. Each school has a unique registration process and curricula, so you want to make sure you get correct information directly from your school, NOT from your peers. When contacting the University, include your full name, school, and RUID or NetID, and use your Rutgers email whenever possible. 

Parent and Family members are invited to participate in an orientation experience while their student attends International Student Orientation on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Tickets for Parent & Family Orientation must be purchased in advance. Registration for Parent & Family Orientation will be available in May, 2025.  Email ruparents@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions. 

All Parent and Family Members are also encouraged to join the R Family Hub, our parent communications platform. Sign-up and select what type of information you want to receive and how often you want to hear from us.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your first semester:

Review our Pre and Post Arrival Steps for more information on how to prepare for your arrival and important tasks you should complete to prepare you for your first semester.

Undergraduate Students: Review the information and resources on the Student Orientation and Transition Programs website.

There are two possible ways to obtain F-1 or J-1 student status:

Obtaining F-1 or J-1 Status via Travel

This entails obtaining an I-20 or DS-2019 issued by the appropriate Rutgers office, traveling outside the United States and applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate abroad, preferably in your home country (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement), and then returning to the United States where you will be granted F-1 or J-1 status upon re-entry. At the Port of Entry, your electronic I-94 record will be updated to show your status as F-1 and the Admit Until Date as D/S, which confirms F-1 status. 

Please note that Canadian citizens are exempt from the requirement of a having an F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S. in F-1/J-1 status. But travel and re-entry are still required for Canadian citizens to obtain F-1/J-1 status.

We encourage you to meet with an international student adviser to discuss your plans and visa application considerations. 

Obtaining F-1 or J-1 Status While Remaining in the United States

This process entails obtaining a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from the appropriate Rutgers office and submitting it with an application for "change of status" or a Form 1-539 to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please note that if you choose to apply for change of status within the U.S., you will not receive an F-1/J-1 travel visa, only F-1/J-1 status. This means that if you later travel outside the U.S. while in F-1/J-1 status, you will have to apply for F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate in order to be able to return to the U.S.

Students considering applying for a change to F-1 or J-1 status while remaining in the United States are strongly encouraged to consult with an immigration attorney, especially if their current legal status will expire within less than one year. 

Newly admitted students will receive the Form I-20 or DS-2019 from admissions or from Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services (Rutgers Health) if an Rutgers Health (formally RBHS) student. Currently enrolled Rutgers students must request an I-20 or DS-2019 from Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services. Make an appointment with an international student adviser to discuss your individual situation. Appointments must be made online here. Bring your passport and copy of current I-94 record with you for the appointment. 

Once the change of status has been approved (whether through travel or inside the U.S.), you must notify our office and complete an online check-in procedure through the RGlobal Portal. Use your Rutgers NetID and password to login to your RGlobal account to submit the check-in form (available under “Orientation” in the RGlobal portal). Failure to do so can jeopardize your legal status.

• You must be eligible to apply for an Application to Change Non-Immigrant Status using the Form I-539. 
  USCIS updated their guidance on Changing to a Nonimmigrant F Student Status in July 2021.
  
  Individuals holding nonimmigrant status C, D, K, WB or WT are not eligible to change to any other status within the U.S. In addition, individuals currently in J status (including J-2) who are subject to the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement INA 212(e) may not change status in the U.S. unless a waiver has been granted.

• Your current nonimmigrant status should be valid at the time of filing the change of status application. 

• The processing time for a change of status within the U.S. can be quite lengthy, which could affect the result of your request and delay your academic progress. 

• Premium Processing is now available to students trying to switch to the F or J status. Read more on this from USCIS directly here. 

• Your application should not be submitted earlier than 90 days from your last entry or any other status related change.

• You should not leave the U.S. while the change of status application is pending with USCIS.
  -- This will cause an abandonment of the application.
  -- Your SEVIS record may no longer be valid upon departure

• F-1 or J-1 status students at Rutgers pay an international student fee each semester (barring a few exceptions). Please see here for more information.

• F-1 and J-1 students must have adequate insurance coverage each semester of enrollment. Waivers for the school provided insurance are approved through our office. Please see here for more information.

• Your current immigration status will determine if you can begin studying while the change of status is pending or if you must wait for approval.

If you are currently in F-2 status:
Source: 8 CFR (Code of Federal Register) § 214.2(f)(15)(ii)
Individuals in F-2 status are eligible for part time study. Refer to F-2 Dependents page for details. However, once your change of status to F-1 is approved, you are required to be enrolled full time. If your change of status has not been approved by the deadline for adding/dropping classes, your I-20 start date will be deferred until the start of the next semester and you must stay enrolled part time until the end of the current semester in order to maintain your F-2 status.

If you are currently in B1/B2 status:
Source: 8 CFR § 214.2(b)(7) and §248.1(c)
Individuals in B1/B2 status are prohibited from “enrolling in a course of study” until after USCIS approves their change of status application.

If you are currently in any other status (e.g., H, L, E, etc.):
If your current status allows full-time studies in the U.S., you may start classes before your change of status application is approved. However, you are not allowed employment under F-1 status until after your application is approved. For example, if you have an assistantship, you won’t be able to start it until after you receive your F-1 status.

Newly admitted students will receive a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from admissions. Currently enrolled New Brunswick students must request a Form I-20 or DS-2019 from Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services, following this procedure.

1. Schedule an appointment with an International Student Adviser to discuss your plans. You can schedule this here. 

2. Submit a New International Profile request form so we can create a record for you in our international student database. You will receive an email once this is ready.

3. Submit the Change of Status e-form group via the RGlobal portal.

• Please prepare to submit:

  • photocopy of the biographical page your passport

  • current visa status documentation, such as a visa stamp

  • current I-94 record

  • name & email address of your Academic Official (they will need to confirm your academic information)

    • Undergraduate students: this is your Undergraduate Dean/Advisor

    • Graduate students: this is your Graduate Program Director

  • Certification of Funds Form

  • Proof of financial support—please refer to the Certification of Funds for funding requirement 

4. Receive your certificate of eligibility for F-1 status (form I-20) or J-1 status (form DS-2019). An adviser may contact you to request additional information before preparing your I-20 or DS-2019.

5. Once your change of status is approved, you must check in with Rutgers Global - ISSS to activate your SEVIS record. You can do this online via the RGlobal portal.

Please note that you will need to prepare additional documentation for the change of status application you submit to the USCIS. Please follow the instructions for the Form 1-539.

1. Schedule an appointment with an International Student Adviser to discuss your plans. You can do this by calling us at 973-972-6138.

2. Submit a New International Profile request form so we can create a record for you in our international student database. You will receive an email once this is ready.

3. Submit the Request for Initial I-20 e-form group via the RGlobal portal.

4. Receive your certificate of eligibility for F-1 status (form I-20). An adviser may contact you to request additional information before preparing your I-20.

5. Once your change of status is approved, you must check in with Rutgers Global - ISSS to activate your SEVIS record. You can do this online via the RGlobal portal.

Please note that you will need to prepare additional documentation for the change of status application you submit to the USCIS. Please follow the instructions for the Form 1-539.

• If the request for change of status to F-1 or J-1 has not been approved by the program start date on the I-20/DS-2019, you should notify ISSS. 

  • ISSS may need to defer your program start date in SEVIS to avoid the termination of your SEVIS record.

  • Until your application is approved, you must provide monthly updates to ISSS on your application status to avoid any issues with your immigration status.

• If your change of status application is approved, your change of status to F-1 will be effective as of the date of approval. Upon receipt of Form I-797 Notice of Approval to F-1 or J-1 status, immediately check-in with ISSS.

• Students may not begin an assistantship, or engage in on-campus employment of any kind until the change of status has been approved and no more than 30 days prior to the program start date on your I-20/DS-2019. 

• Even with an approved change of status, students will need to apply for a U.S. entry visa for their new status during their next trip abroad. (Citizens of Canada & Bermuda are exempt.)

• Applicants who receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS should update ISSS and consult with an immigration attorney before responding.

• If the application is denied or is not adjudicated before the expiration date on the current I-94, students should update ISSS and consult with a qualified immigration attorney.

• IMPORTANT: On Form I-797 Notice of Approval, pay special attention to the “Valid from” date as the date indicates when your new status (F-1 or J-1) takes effect. From this date on, you should stop your previous status related activities (e.g. H-1B employment).