Late Arrival

Spring 2024 – Late Arrival Information

We strongly recommend that all NEW students arrive by the Program Start Date on their I-20 so that they can get settled and attend important Orientation events. They should arrive no later than the Start of Classes date for their program.  

See the Program of Study section of your I-20 to find out your Program Start Date and Start of Classes Date. 

If you are a NEW student and will arrive between the Program Start Date and the Start of Classes Date, you must do the following: 

Make sure that you have the following documents to show the Customs official at the airport: 

  • I-20 or DS-2019 
  • Passport with valid Visa 
  • George Mason Admissions Letter 
  • List of Registered Classes that show you are registered for a full-time course load and taking the correct number of face-to-face and hybrid courses. Find instructions on how to get your list of classes here: Class Schedule – International Programs and Services (gmu.edu)  and make sure that your course registration follows the examples below: 

Grad Example with 9 or more total credits: 

  • 6 credits face-to-face or hybrid required 
  • 3 credits or more can be online if allowed by the department 

Undergrad Example with 12 or more total credits: 

  • 9 credits face-to-face or hybrid required 
  • 3 credits or more can be online if allowed by the department 
  • Undergraduate Students only: Send an email to world@gmu.edu to find out if you need a late arrival letter or not. 

Since you are arriving a few days after the program start date on your I-20, but before the start of classes, you are not likely to have issues entering the U.S. 

However, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has the ultimate authority on decisions to allow entry to the U.S. Therefore, in case you are asked to go to secondary inspection, make sure you have the documents listed above 

If you will arrive late and you are unable to attend orientation, please contact your academic advisor to schedule a virtual advising appointment (email).  Click here to locate your academic advisor and click here to review the course registration guide. 

If you are a new student and you arrive between the start of classes and the last day to add, you must do the following: 

  • Follow the same instructions in the section above for documents you must have to show to the Customs Official at the airport to increase your chances of entering the U.S. successfully 
  • Undergraduate Students: Send an email to world@gmu.edu to request a late arrival letter from Admissions and a new I-20 with an updated start date.  
  • Graduate Students: Send an email to gradi20@gmu.edu to find out how to get a late arrival letter from your academic department and a new I-20 with an updated start date.  

All NEW and RETURNING students must arrive by the last day to add and be fully registered for a full-time course load with the correct number of Face-to-Face/Hybrid courses.  

  • If you are a NEW student who is not able to arrive by the last day to add, you must contact the International Admissions Office at gradi20@gmu.edu (graduates) or world@gmu.edu (undergraduates) to defer your admission and I-20 to the next available semester.
  • If you are a RETURNING student with a SEVIS active record and a valid travel signature, you should be able to enter the U.S. See https://oips.gmu.edu/travel-and-re-entry/ for more information. Note that failure to remain in good academic standing will result in the termination of your F1 SEVIS record. We recommend that you contact your academic department for any questions about your ability to keep up with your courses.