International Check-in and Orientation

All F-1 new arrivals, travel reinstatement students, and students with change-of-status approval to F1/F2 must complete the mandatory Virtual New Student Check-in. 

F-1 New arrival & Travel Reinstatement Students- immediately after arriving in the U.S.A.

Click on CHECK-IN NEW ARRIVALS to complete and submit the form.

You will need to provide your HCC ID number, a current local US address, and a US phone, emergency contact information, and prepare to upload copies of the following documents in .PDF:

1. Form I-20* 
2. Passport (photo page)* 
3. F-1 Visa page*(citizens of Canada and Bermuda provide a copy of the passport entry stamp indicating F-1;D/S) 
4. I-94*  Go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home > click on Get most recent I-94.  If you receive an error that your I-94 was "Not Found", follow the directions in this document to request a correction to your I-94 record:I-94 Correction Instructions
5. Receipt of online payment for the $50.00 orientation fee – you can pay this with a credit card online through the PeopleSoft / Student Account sign-in. For more information, see International Payment Tutorial (Flywire). Allow pop-ups on your browser.
6. Receipt of SEVIS fee I-901. If you need to retrieve it, go to http://www.fmjfee.com/, and click on “Check I-901 Fee Status’.

*Provide this document for all dependents (spouse/ children) on F-2 visa.

 

Change-of-Status Approved Students

Click on CHECK-IN COS APPROVED to complete and submit the form.

Prepare to upload copies of the following documents in PDF:

1. Form I-20*
2. COS Approval Notice I-797A*
3. Receipt of payment of the $50.00 orientation fee – you can pay this with a credit card online through the PeopleSoft / Student Account sign-in. For more information, see International Payment Tutorial (Flywire). Allow pop-ups on your browser.

*Provide this document for all dependents (spouse/ children) on F-2 visa.

Once you submit all required documents, our office will remove the International Advisement Required Hold from your account. Please review and follow the Next Steps for New F-1 Students

To complete the F-1 onboarding process, connect with the Enrollment Services staff located on the HCC campuses  or via HCC Virtual Lobby.

 

The International Student Orientation is mandatory for all new, transfer, reinstatement, and change-of-status F-1 students. During the orientation, we will cover topics such as maintaining F-1 status, academic requirements, academic integration, Title IX, F-1 health insurance coverage, student life, and more. It is recommended that students complete their class enrollment before attending the Orientation.

Students must choose and attend only ONE of the Orientation sessions listed below:

• Virtual: Click to register for the Orientation on  Thursday, August 1
• Face-to-Face: Click to register for the Orientation on Saturday, August 10 at HCC Alief Hayes Auditorium, 2811 Hayes Rd, Houston, TX 77082
• Face-to-Face: Click to register for the Orientation on Thursday, August 15 at HCC Central Campus Auditorium, 1300 Holman St, Houston, TX 77004

 

The Virtual orientation will take place through Webex. An invitation will be sent to your primary email to complete the registration form which will be included in the invite. It is advisable to download and install the Webex application in advance of the orientation day.

To register, you only need to provide your last and first names, a valid email address, and your HCC ID number on the left side of the registration form. After you complete the registration process, you will receive an email confirming your registration. It is important to note that you will only be able to join the session 15 minutes before the start time. It is important to ensure that your calendar is configured to use the Central Time (CT) zone. Please make sure to check your primary email in your HCC student account regularly to ensure that you receive all communications from our office.

If you register for one of the Face-to-Face orientations, you will receive an email confirmation with a QR code. Please keep this email safe, as it will serve as your ticket to the event. Make sure to arrive early to allow enough time for parking and finding the venue.