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Academic Affairs International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
Texas State Academic Affairs International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) New F-1 Students Steps After Being Admitted Traveling to the U.S. Earliest Admission Date to the US

Earliest Admission Date to the US

F-1 International Students

International students and dependents are not permitted to enter the US earlier than 30 days before the program start date listed on the Form I-20, even though the student may be issued an F-1 visa that is valid before the Program Start Date.

Student who arrive prior to 30 days before the I-20 program start date may be denied entry to the US. Student who are admitted to the US early, 30 days before the program start date, will automatically be out of status and will result in the student’s SEVIS record being terminated.

Refer to Earliest Admission Date in the Program of Study block on the Form I-20, which is a system-calculated date 30 days before the Program Start Date, derived from this regulation.

Example:

I-20

 

J-1 Exchange Visitors

J-1 Exchange Visitors and dependents can enter the US up to 30 days before the program State Date listed on their Form DS-2019. Entry more than 30 days before this start date is not permitted. 

J-1 exchange visitors unable to arrive to the US by the program start date must contact their program sponsor for approval for late arrival. Also, contact ISSS at internationalscholars@txstate.edu to request a new DS-2019 with a later start date.

Refer to "Form Covers Period" and "From Date" for the program start date.

Example:

DS-2019 Dates

Travel During US Holidays

Be sure to make travel reservations in advance of your departure date, especially if you travel to the US during peak tourist seasons or holidays. Below are the US Federal holidays:
  • New Year's Day — January 1
  • Martin Luther King Day — observed the third Monday in January
  • Presidents' Day — observed the third Monday in February
  • Memorial Day — observed the fourth Monday in May
  • Independence Day — July 4
  • Labor Day — observed the first Monday in September
  • Columbus Day — observed the second Monday in October
  • Veteran's Day — November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day — observed the fourth Thursday in November
  • Christmas Day — December 25

Review: University Academic Calendar

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