Welcome to LSU! As a newly arrived F-1 or J-1 student at LSU (even if you are transferring your SEVIS record from another institution), it is important to report your arrival to International Student Services in a timely manner. Until you have completed the three (3) steps below, we cannot activate/validate your SEVIS record, and failure to have an active/validated SEVIS record can put you out of lawful student status.
You should plan to have your LSU single sign on activated and be able to access your LSU email account prior to completing your SEVIS Check-in.
Please be aware that, if you submit any other requests to International Student Services (like a DSO letter request for Social Security purposes), we will not be able to process those requests until your New Student Information Form and SEVIS check-in are completed.
Step 1: New Student Information Form
Complete the New Student Information Form online within 1-2 days of your arrival to the United States. This form collects what ISS advisors need to review before meeting with you for SEVIS check-in (step 3) and reporting your arrival in SEVIS.
We encourage you to review our article ISS New Student Information Form Help Guide for a list of materials and information you will need before completing the form.
Step 2: Update Your Address
Log in to your myLSU account to add or update your Local Street Address and U.S. phone number. Please see our article Report Your Local Address for the steps to complete. Your physical address in the U.S. must always be added to the Local Street Address screen to update your SEVIS record.
Note: Immigration rules require that all non-immigrant visa holders (including F-1 and J-1 students) report their address in the U.S. to USCIS. At LSU, you report your address by using your myLSU portal to update your Local Street Address field. You must update your address in myLSU within 10 days of any move, even if you move temporarily (e.g., for a summer vacation, internship, etc.).
Step 3: Mandatory SEVIS Check-in appointment
After you have submitted your New Student Information Form, you will receive an email confirmation. The email will include a link to schedule a 15-minute virtual SEVIS check-in appointment with an ISS advisor to review your materials.
For a smooth appointment experience, we recommend you join from a computer, laptop, or tablet as opposed to your phone to facilitate screen sharing.
After completing all 3 steps, an ISS advisor will work to activate/validate your SEVIS record. At a later date, F-1 students will receive a "Continued Attendance" I-20.