Frequently Asked Questions
International Student Orientation

Yes. ISO is required for new F-1 and J-1 students, including transfer and exchange students. US permanent residents, US citizens who are living abroad and students on other US visa types are welcome to attend programs, but not required to.

The required Check-in and Immigration Session will be held throughout the week of Monday, August 25 - Friday, August 29, with two sessions each day at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Students will receive an information packet, register their immigration documents, and meet with ISO leaders (current Penn students) during check-in. Those arriving earlier may attend an earlier registration session. A session will be offered on Tuesday, September 2 for those whose arrivals are delayed.

F-1 and J-1 students must bring their completed Student Registration Form, passport, I-94 card (small white departure card in passport) and I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students) to orientation check-in/registration. Immigration regulations require ISSS to review and copy these documents in order to register your arrival with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) of the US Department of Homeland Security.

Campus Copy Center: Locations in University City are at 3731 Walnut Street and 3907 Walnut Street. Visit http://www.ucnet.com/campuscopy/ for details.

Yes. Transfer students must also attend ISO to register their immigration documents and attend the Check-in and Immigration Session. In addition, students transferring their F-1 or J-1 sponsorship from another US institution to the University of Pennsylvania must also apply to ISSS for a new I-20 or DS-2019 and complete the F-1 or J-1 transfer procedures through ISO. However, students can choose to attend either the ISO or the NSO orientation program.

For details on NSO transfer orientation program, visit: http://www.upenn.edu/nso/20068/transfer/events.html.

For more details see http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/transfer.html.

Students participating in these pre-orientation programs must register their immigration documents and attend one of the Check-in and Immigration Sessions at a time that does not conflict with their pre-orientation program. (They may also attend any ISO activities that do not conflict with their pre-orientation program.)

Your parents or guardians will be invited to participate in orientation activities designed especially for them by the Parents Program. Visit the Penn parents web site for more information: http://www.pennparents.org/New-Parents/International-parents.shtml. Parents are especially encouraged to attend the Penn Museum Tour and International Parent's Luncheon from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM (registration required on the Parent's Program web site) and the Provost's Welcome Reception for Students and Families from 5:00 - 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 27 (register online for this event). Parents are also welcome to attend the Information Session: Staying Healthy from 9:00 - 10:30 AM on Wednesday, August 27.

Students do not need to sign up for ISO, but please register (online registration will be made available soon) for the Small Group Dinner Outings (for early arrivals) on Tuesday, August 26 at 6:00 PM and the Provost's Welcome Reception on Wednesday, August 27 at 5:00 PM by July 20 if you will be able to participate in these two events.

Parents planning to attend the Penn Museum Tour and International Parent's Luncheon from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM must register on the Parent's Program website Parent's Program web site.

Most College Houses are expected to be open for early move-in on Sunday, August 24, if your travel arrangements require earlier arrival. There are no special arrangements for early move-in. However, in order to enter on-campus housing, you will need to know the last 4 digits of your 9-digit ID number, which is usually assigned or confirmed by Admissions.

Please note that while there is no registration fee for ISO, there will be a housing charge of about $30 per day for each night before Thursday, August 28. Early move-in fees will be billed directly to your student account in September; please do not send any payments in advance. For more information about moving into your College House, please visit the Department of Housing and Conference Services web site at http://www.upenn.edu/housing/. If you have alternate housing arrangements during ISO (such as staying in a hotel with your parents), you are not required to move into your on-campus housing early.

If you arrive too late to attend one of the Check-in and Immigration Sessions, be sure to report to ISSS to register your immigration documents and go over F-1 or J-1 student regulations no later than the first week of classes.

Events held on-campus such as the information sessions and Provost's Welcome Reception are free of charge. There are some other optional activities where students will be required to pay for their own meals.

While there is no registration fee for ISO, there will be a housing charge for each night before Thursday, August 28.

Here are some tips from Housing and Conference Services: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/housing/movein.html#bring. You can purchase many of these items upon arrival in Philadelphia.

No matter how you plan to arrive, visit Penn's web site for instructions and information on arriving on campus, including public parking facilities, directions from 30th Street Station (trains and Regional Rail) and local transportation, at http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/visitUs/. Be sure to know the address (street number and name) of your destination! The campus is large and taxi or shuttle drivers will not know the name of your on-campus building or College House.

If you plan to arrive by air, it is recommended that you arrive at Philadelphia International Airport.

From Philadelphia International Airport

Taxi

• $28.50 Flat Rate (subject to change) from the Airport to the Central Philadelphia Area, including most of Penn’s campus in University City as far west as 38th Street. Other destinations outside the area are charged by meter.
• Should you need to pay by credit card please advise the dispatcher upon your arrival to the Taxi area as all companies do not accept credit cards or vouchers as a form of payment.
• Visit http://www.phl.org/ground_transportation.html and http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/visitUs/ for more information.

Other

There are also various private shuttle and limousine services, which will take you from the airport to University City. Advanced reservations for these shuttle services are not required.

After you pick up your luggage at the luggage claim area in the terminal, go to the Ground Transportation Counter located in all baggage claim areas. The shuttle service operator will tell you when and where to meet the van.

Visit http://www.phl.org/ground_transportation.html for more information.

SEPTA Airport Express Train

• Take the R1 Regional train l ine to the University City station.

• The train leaves every half hour and can take you to either the University City Station on or to 30th Street Station. The fare is $7.00 and the ride takes 18 minutes to the University City Station.

• For more information, visit http://www.septa.org.

• Please note that this might be a hassle for travelers with large suitcases as it takes you a couple streets away from the residential areas on campus.

Driving

If you are driving, details can be found at http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/visitUs/.

Below is transportation information from other regional airports; however, it is recommended that you fly into Philadelphia International Airport for convenience. Transportation to the Philadelphia area from another airport may be unavailable or very limited at night.

From the Newark Liberty International Airport

Amtrak/Airtrain

• Get on the AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and go the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station.

• When you exit at the station, follow the signs to the Amtrak Trains. (You will go up one level, pass through the fare gates and go down one level to the Amtrak Train Platforms).

• Take the Amtrak train to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA. (Approximately 1-1.5 hours by train).

• Prices range from $40 - $80 one-way depending on the time of day.

• From 30th Street Station, you can walk to the University of Pennsylvania (about 10 minutes) or take a cab (4 minutes).

• Note, Amtrak can be strict with their luggage limit and, as such, this method of traveling is not recommended for those with more than one piece of luggage.

• Visit http://www.panynj.gov/airtrainnewark/fromNewark_phila.html for more details.

From Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland

• Take the free airport shuttle to BWI rail station. Purchase an Amtrak ticket to Philadelphia (30th Street Station).

• From 30th Street Station, you can walk to the University of Pennsylvania (about 10 minutes) or take a cab (4 minutes).

• Prices range from $40 - $120 one-way depending on the time of day.

• For assistance on other modes of transportation go to http://www.bwiairport.com/customer_assistance/travel_tips/.

From Kennedy (JFK) Airport

Dave's Best Limousine Service Inc.

• Door-to-door limousine service from JFK to University of Pennsylvania

• Prices to JFK start as low as $55 one way and $105 a round trip.

• 2 pieces of luggage and 1 carry-on per person are allowed without additional charge.

• Visit http://www.davesbestlimos.com/ for reservations.

Please Note: All of these items will be discussed in more detail at orientation:

• Penn ID Cards: Bring your passport (or US state Identification Card or Driver's License, if you already have one) to the PennCard ID Center (Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Suite 150) to obtain your PennCard. This card identifies you as a university student. You will need it to enter campus buildings (including on-campus housing), use libraries and other university facilities, and to make transactions using Penn Cash: http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/penncard/.

• PennKey: You will use your PennKey and password to access many of the University’s electronic services. You probably have received a PennKey Setup Code from your academic department. If not, more information and assistance is available at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/pennkey/.

• Penn Email: Contact your school to create your Penn email account. Each school, as well as ISSS, communicates with students via email, so you should be sure to check your account often.

• Immigration Documents: Photocopy your immigration documents (passport photo & information page, I-94 card, visa stamp, I-20 or DS-2019 or other immigration documentation) and put them in a safe place in case your documents are ever lost or stolen).

• Penn InTouch: Be sure to always update your contact and local address information in Penn InTouch within 10 days of moving. This is how ISSS reports your information to the immigration service, as required by F-1 and J-1SEVIS regulations. This will also ensure that you receive important mailings from Penn: https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouch/.

• Get to know the area by walking around campus and the area and trying the public transportation system (SEPTA) during the day. SEPTA information can be found at http://www.septa.org/.

• Take a campus tour. An information session and campus tour is offered by the Office of Admissions. For details, visit: http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/visiting/tours.php.

• Check out the section for New Arrivals under International Student and Scholar Services on the ISSS web site: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/new/.

• Check out the historical sites and other attractions around Philadelphia. Visit http://www.gophila.com/ for information on things to do in Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

For more information about your arrival and getting settled at Penn please see the International Student & Scholar Handbook.