Search
  Office of Visa Services
  Latest News
  For Scholars
  For F-1 Students
  For J-1 Students
  Useful Links
   

   About Princeton
   News & Events
   Travel & Weather
   PU Home
  

A Guide for International Graduate Students 2009-2010

2. CANADIAN CITIZENS OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.

Canadian citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea are exempt from visa requirements. However, as of January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens are required to have a passport when arriving in the U.S. by air, or from the outside of the Western Hemisphere, and will be required to have a passport for all land and sea entries no later than June, 2009.

Canadian citizens are NOT exempt from paying the SEVIS fee. They are required to file form I-901 and to pay a $200 (F-1 students) or $180 (J-1 students) SEVIS fee BEFORE entering the U.S. The SEVIS fee may be paid by credit or debit card directly on the SEVIS website or by check or money order, mailed to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program along with form I-901. Further information about the SEVIS fee and form I-901 can be found here.

Important note: All landed immigrants of Canada must have BOTH a passport and an F-1/J-1 visa to be admitted to the U.S. Landed immigrants should follow the procedures in Section A of this Guide.

You will find enclosed a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20/DS-2019). You should present this document  along with copies of your guarantee of financial support (i.e., your Princeton University admission letter and/or reply, and financial documentation), and I-901 SEVIS fee receipt to the DHS officer at the port of entry or pre-flight inspection station. You will also be required to provide proof of Canadian citizenship if entering the U.S. by land.

Prior to your arrival in the U.S. you will be asked to complete a form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. If you cross at a land border, there is a small fee for the I-94. If you travel by plane, this cost is included in the price of your airline ticket.  

When you arrive in the U.S., the DHS officer will review your passport, I-94,I-20/DS-2019, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt and accompanying documents (i.e., your Princeton University admission letter and/or reply and financial documentation). Remember to carry all these documents with you. Do not store them in your luggage.

After being endorsed by an officer, the I-94 card should be stapled into your passport. The card should indicate the date of your arrival, the port of entry and your nonimmigrant status (either F-1 or J-1). The card should also be marked D/S indicating you may remain in the U.S. for Duration of Status. 

The date of your arrival, the port of entry, your non-immigrant status (either F-1 or J-1) and D/S indicating you may remain in the U.S. for Duration of Status should also be indicated on your I-20/DS-2019. 

D/S allows you to remain in the U.S. for the length of time you are enrolled as a full-time student, plus any authorized practical/academic training after you complete your program and a “grace period” to depart the U.S. Details about the grace period and practical/academic training will be discussed during International Graduate Student Orientation.

Review your documents carefully at the immigration port of entry to make sure the proper information was noted. If any errors are made, politely ask for them to be corrected. It is very important to remember that, in most cases, the only way to have a document corrected is at the port of entry itself

Corrections to documents after leaving the port will be difficult and time consuming and can lead to problems with other agencies (for example: with the  Motor Vehicles Commission when you apply for a driver’s license, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Services, etc.).  

If the DHS officer determines that you do not have the proper documents, s/he may issue form I-515 and require you to submit the proper documents to the DHS within 30 days of arrival. Your I-94 will be marked with a date of expiration INSTEAD of D/S. If this happens, you should report to the OVS  with all of your documents immediately.   

Make sure to enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 student status. Without obtaining an I-94 and without having your I-20 or DS-2019 endorsed at a port of entry, you will be considered as having entered as a tourist. If you are admitted as a tourist, you MUST return to Canada and reenter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status.

You may not begin full-time studies as a tourist nor may you engage in any on-campus work while here as a tourist. If you have an assistantship, you may not begin your assistantship until you are in valid F-1 or J-1 status.  

Contact the OVS immediately if you have encountered any problems at the port of entry. If there is an emergency and you need to contact us after regular business hours (9 am to 5 pm) please call Public Safety at (609) 258-3134.  

All F-1 and J-1 students MUST report to the Office of Visa Services at Princeton University within 15 days of their arrival in the U.S. Please bring your passport, I-20/DS-2019, and I-94 card.