New International Student Check-In in myIO

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident upon admission to UT Austin, you are classified as an international student. MyIO is a portal for international students to request immigration documents and/or manage their immigration-related data. Upon formal admission to UT Austin, degree-seeking students will receive an email from International Student and Scholar Services with a link to myIO. This email will include a list of e-forms to complete, and information needed in order for UT Austin to issue immigration documents.

Note: Exchange students should follow the exchange student check-in process. 

 

Part 1: Admissions Check-In

Intent to Enroll and Immigration Status

All international students must complete this form. In this form, you will confirm the following:

• Whether you will attend UT Austin
• Your country of citizenship and (if you are in the U.S.) current immigration status
• Whether you will request an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019 immigration document

If you will not be requesting an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019, you will be asked to upload your passport and evidence of your immigration status.

Student Identification

Only students requesting an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019 immigration document should complete this form. In this form, you will confirm the following:

• Legal name as indicated on your passport
• City of birth
• Country of birth
• Country of citizenship
• Foreign address and phone number
• Whether you are bringing dependents (spouse and/or children) with you

You will also be asked to upload a scan of your passport biographical page.

Spouse/Child Identification

Only students requesting an F-2 I-20 or J-2 DS-2019 for their spouse or child/children should complete this form. In this form, you will confirm the following:

• Dependent’s legal name
• Dependent’s gender
• Dependent’s date of birth
• Dependent’s city of birth
• Dependent’s country of birth
• Dependent’s country of citizenship

You will also be asked to upload each dependent’s passport biographical page.

SEVIS Transfer Notice

Only students transferring their F-1 SEVIS record to UT Austin from another school in the U.S. should complete this form. (J-1 students wishing to transfer to UT Austin need to email hotline@austin.utexas.edu.)

If you are unsure of whether you are eligible for transfer, contact the school that issued your I-20. In general, students can transfer a SEVIS record if they meet one of the following requirements:

• There is less than a five-month gap between the last day of classes or finals at the transfer-out school and the first day of instruction at UT.
• There is less than a five-month gap between the last day of OPT/STEM OPT and the first day of instruction at UT.

In this form, you will be asked to confirm the following:

• Your eligibility for SEVIS transfer (if you are unsure of your eligibility, consult an international student advisor at your current school/the school that issued your I-20)
• Your current school
• Your SEVIS ID number
• Your SEVIS transfer release date
• Your U.S. address

Additionally, you will be asked to upload your most recent F-1 I-20 and/or your F-1 OPT/STEM OPT Employment Authorization Document. 

Financial Certification

Only students requesting an F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019 immigration document should complete this form.

To prevent delays in the issuance of your I-20/DS-2019, be sure to fully review our funding page and make sure your funding meets our requirements.

In this form, you will confirm the type(s) of funding you will use to study at UT. 

• Personal/family/private sponsor support
• UT assistantship/fellowship/scholarship
• External sponsor funding

If you will be supported by personal funds, family funds, a private sponsor, or an external sponsor, you will need to upload proof of funding. 

• F-1 students must show proof of funding to cover the estimated expenses for one academic year.
• J-1 students must show proof of funding to cover the estimated expenses for the entire length of their degree program. Proof of funding must include all of the J-1 student’s school and living expenses as well as living expenses for any J-2 dependents. At least 50% of the J-1 degree seeker’s funding must come from institutional or government sponsorship.

If you will be supported by a UT assistantship, fellowship, or scholarship, you will be asked for your department administrator’s name and contact information. They will then confirm directly to ISSS, via myIO, the amount and type of funding you will need.

 

Part 2: Pre-Arrival Check-In

This section of the check-in in myIO is comprised mostly of short informational videos on topics important to international students. Please complete all required forms in this section. 

 

Part 3: Arrival Check-In

This final section of the check-in must be completed in myIO as soon as you arrive in Austin.

Notice of Arrival

This form is required for all F-1 and J-1 students. Here, you will simply confirm that you have arrived in the U.S. to begin your studies at UT Austin.

Notice of Dependent Spouse/Child Arrival

These forms are for you to report the arrival of your F-2 or J-2 dependent spouse/child(ren) in the U.S.

Immigration Documents Review

This form is required for all F-1 and J-1 students. You will upload the following documents:

• Passport
• Visa stamp
• I-94 Arrival record (retrievable from the Customs and Border Protection website)

U.S. Address & Phone Report

This form is required for all students. You will provide your local Austin-area address and your phone number as well as emergency contact information.

Voluntary Insurance Enrollment

This form is for non-F/J students to learn about voluntary enrollment in UT’s student health insurance plan. F-1 and J-1 students will automatically be enrolled in the plan.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I receive my I-20/DS-2019?

I-20/DS-2019 issuance takes three weeks from when we receive your completed Financial Certification form. If you are receiving funding from UT Austin, the three weeks start when your department administrator confirms via myIO the type and amount of your funding.

For students transferring their SEVIS record to UT Austin, I-20/DS-2019 issuance takes three weeks from whichever date is later:

• Date that we receive your completed Financial Certification form
• Your SEVIS transfer release date

When will my “I” hold be removed?

All international students will receive an “I” hold upon admission. We will remove the “I” hold after you have completed all required forms in your International Student Check-In. It may take 2-3 weeks for your hold to be removed after you have completed the Check-In. However, please note that your “I” hold is waived through the end of your first semester at UT Austin, meaning it will not go into effect until your second semester. This means:

• Your “I” hold will not prevent you from registering for classes in your first semester at UT.
• As long as you complete all of your required International Student Check-In forms by the first day of instruction, your “I” hold will be removed by the time you have to register for classes for your second semester.

In other words, the “I” hold should not pose a problem for your course registration. Just be sure to complete the International Student Check-In by the first day of instruction. If you miss that deadline, complete it as soon as you can to prevent delays in registering for a future semester.