Welcome to Illinois Tech and the Office of Global Services (OGS)
A warm welcome to all new and transfer-in international students in F-1 and J-1 status from the Office of Global Services (OGS)! We are looking forward to having you on campus for the Fall 2024 Semester. The information below is for new students for the Fall 2024 semester. Please read carefully.
Required Check-In with the Office of Global Services
All incoming international students, including transfer-in international students are required to check-in with OGS, within 24 hours of arriving in the United States. Check-in will take place in virtually, through the ISSS Portal starting from December 12th 2024. Students must log into the portal using their Illinois Tech (Okta Access) credentials, and submit a "New Student Check-In" request.
Required documents/information for check-in:
- Visa
- I-94 arrival record; Please download here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
- Local U.S. address
- Local telephone number
- Emergency contact information
Watch how to submit a "New Student Check-In" request using the ISSS Portal: https://tinyurl.com/InternationalStudentCheckIn
The Office of Global Services will process your request within 2 business days and remove the International Check-In Hold on your student account. Students only need to check in ONCE with the Office of Global Services.
The Office of Global Services is open Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m for assistance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email OGS at global@iit.edu.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for NEW Students
If you do not plan to come to campus for the Spring 2025 semester, and are considering studying remotely from your home country for the entire length of the Spring 2025 semester, be sure to check with your Academic department for details on online course availability and to ensure that your proposed schedule meets program requirements.
The information below is for new international students only, i.e. those coming to the U.S./Chicago, for the first time, including transfer and change of level students who have previously studied in the U.S.
Am I required to report to the Office of Global Services after arrival?
New F-1 and J-1 international students are required to complete an immigration check-in process. More information about the check-in process is here.
Can I choose ONLY online classes if I come to campus and be in the U.S.?
No. All F-1 and J-1 international students at Illinois Tech are required to be enrolled in “in-person” classes, with just one online class counting toward full-time eligibility each semester.
Please refer to the official government announcement "SEVP Ends COVID Guidance for International Students" here for more FAQs pertaining to course modality in relation to the F-1 or J-1 status.
Will I be able to obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa in time to come to Chicago?
Visa services at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world were severely impacted by the pandemic. Though many U.S. embassies and consulates have resumed routine visa services, local conditions and restrictions continue to impact availability of sufficient visa appointments. Check with the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest to you to find out more about their plans and about your options for scheduling an appointment for a visa interview. Try to schedule your visa interview appointment as soon as possible, since there may still be delays due to backlogs and physical distancing protocols at embassies and consulates. In some cases, the option to schedule a visa interview through “expedited processing” may be available.
When should I plan to arrive on campus?
You should plan to arrive on campus no later than the reporting date (program start date) on your I-20 or DS-2019 form. Classes for most programs will begin on January 13th, 2025.
Students must arrive by the Add/Drop Deadline listed on Illinois Tech's Academic Calendar.
If you are unable to arrive by this day, we encourage you to defer the start of your program to a future semester.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you on campus soon!