Required Action Checklist

Check that you have the following documents needed upon arrival at a U.S. port-of-entry.

• Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by the UH Mānoa
  • Form I-20 (for F-1 students)
  • Form DS-2019 (for J-1 students)
• Passport
• Visa for F-1 or J-1 - not applicable for Canadian citizens
• SEVIS I-901 Fee receipt - for new, initial students
• Recommended: a copy of your admission letter and documents that show proof of funding for your program, such as scholarship or graduate assistantship letters, bank statements, etc.

 

REMINDER FOR CANADIAN STUDENTS: Since Canadian students are not required to have a visa for their F-1/J-1 program, it is IMPORTANT that you show your I-20/DS-2019 and SEVIS I-901 fee receipt on entry to the U.S. This will make sure that you are entering on your F-1/J-1 program and not accidentally entering as a tourist.

 

UH Students must activate their UH Google Account. This account is required to access many of your UH student benefits.

• Go to the University of Hawaiʻi's Check Status of UH Username page to activate your UH Account. You will need the UH ID number provided on your admission letter.

Your UH Google Account gives you access to your UH Username and UH email ending in @hawaii.edu

It is your responsibility to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status. Log in to the Immigration Course to learn what you need to know as an international student at UH Mānoa. You will be able to complete Steps 1 & 2 from outside the United States. Steps 3 & 4 must be completed once you enter the United States.

ISS Immigration Course

All students must submit specific immunization records (referred to as Health Clearances) through Med+Proctor for processing and verification. Proof of immunizations are required for attendance to the university.

Health Clearance is overseen by the Office of the Registrar and currently uses Med+Proctor for verification. Details on requirements and how to submit your documents for verification can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s Health Clearance Requirement website. They also provide contact information for questions regarding Med+Proctor or related concerns. 

IMPORTANT:

Failure to complete the Health Clearance requirement will prevent you from moving into student housing and attending classes, and may result in the disenrollment of in-person/hybrid courses.

International students on F-1 and J-1 visas must prove they have a certain level of medical insurance coverage for the length of their program. The university sponsors its own Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). SHIP is a fully comprehensive plan, which means it covers a wider range of situations and services. However, students may purchase other options as long as they meet minimum requirements set by the university. Health insurance may be purchased before you arrive in the U.S. Go to the ISS Health Insurance page to read about insurance minimums and proof requirements.

***Please be aware that many inexpensive "travel" insurance plans may not offer the comprehensive benefits that you may need while you are studying in the U.S., and many healthcare providers, including the campus Health Clinic, may not accept these insurance plans. So, you may have to pay the full cost of your medical visits yourself and then deal with reimbursements with your health insurance company.

How do I submit proof of health insurance?

• J-1 students must show proof of health insurance to the ISS Office. They must have their health insurance provider complete and sign the J-1 Health Insurance Provider Certification form. This form, once completed, should be included in Step 3 of the Immigration Course document submission.
• F-1 students must show proof of health insurance to the Student Health Insurance Office (SHIO). Visit their website and follow the instructions to submit.

IMPORTANT:

If you do not prove that you have adequate health insurance by the start of the semester, a hold will be placed on your student account. This hold will block you from adding or dropping courses.

On your UH Mānoa admission letter, it may show that you are required to take an English Language Placement Test through the English Language Institute (ELI).

The ELI Placement Test is given to new international students whose prior coursework and test scores indicate a possible need for additional English language instruction to succeed in a U.S. university. Based on your ELI placement test results, you may be exempted from ELI, or placed into a series of required ELI courses.

Students who are required to take the ELI test will have the “ELI hold” placed on their student record at the time of admission and will not be able to register for courses until the hold is removed.  The ELI hold is removed when you register for an ELI Placement Test, but will be reset if you fail to appear for the test.

By signing up early for an ELI Placement Test, you can avoid having the ELI hold stop your registration for courses.

Check the UH Mānoa Registration Time Table to know when you can register for classes. For registration help, consult the Registration Step-by-Step Guide produced by the Registrar's Office. Make sure you have cleared any holds on your registration. You can check for holds by going to MyUH and clicking on "View Holds."

F-1 or J-1 students have strict enrollment requirements, including number of courses required each semester and a limitation on online coursework. For more information on your enrollment requirements see the ISS page on Enrollment Requirements.

Check the payment deadlines to see when you have to pay. If you have not enrolled by the start of the semester, you will have to pay a late enrollment fee.

We strongly recommend you sign up for eRefund. If you have already set up a bank account, eRefund allows you to receive any refunds directly to your bank account.

Most students need to submit a TB Risk Assessment Form according to Hawaiʻi State guidelines before the semester begins. Please see the Health Clearance Requirements page for more information.

Please be aware that all TB risk assessments/skin tests/chest x-rays MUST be completed and signed by a U.S.-Licensed Healthcare Professional (M.D., D.O., N.P., P.A., or clinic stamp). (Chapter 164.2 of Title 11. Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) for Tuberculosis). Students who do not submit their required health clearance documents before the semester begins may be disenrolled from their in-person/hybrid courses.

Complete Steps 3 & 4 of your online Immigration Course once you've entered the United States.

• Submit your required documents in Step 3 to activate your immigration status
• Update your addresses as instructed in Step 4

ISS Immigration Course

The Immigration Course is a mandatory action required for all F-1 and J-1 students. Failure to complete the Immigration Course within 30 days of the semester start date will prevent the ISS office from "activating" your SEVIS Record with the U.S. government.  This may result in the termination/cancellation of your F-1 or J-1 student status.