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International Student and Scholar Services

ISSS Check-In

All new international students — including Academic English and Pathway Students, Degree-Seeking F-1 Students, J-1 Exchange Students, and those on all other visa types — must complete an online check-in with ISSS after arriving in the U.S.

You do not need to visit Fell Hall in person to complete this step. Thanks to the ISSS Portal, the entire process is now completely online!

ISSS Portal

The ISSS check in request is found in your ISSS Portal. Learn tips on how to navigate the ISSS portal

  1. Step 1: Enroll in Classes

    Before you can complete your online check-in with ISSS, you must first be enrolled in classes at Illinois State University.

    Academic English and Pathway students, Degree-Seeking F-1 students, and J-1 Exchange students are required to maintain a full course of study each semester to remain in compliance with their non-immigrant status. For more information, please see our Course Load Requirements page.

  2. Step 2: Update Your Contact Information

    • Log in to the ISSS Portal
    • Click on the Personal & Program tab
    • Scroll down to the Contact Information section
    • If any of the information is missing or incorrect, you will need to update that information in your MyIllinoisState account. Detailed Instructions on how to update your personal contact information in My can be found at the Help Center website.
      • Students living off campus must click on the link in My to add a Local address. You must add that specific Local address type or our system will not pick it up.
        Student Center Local Address Button
    • After you update your My account with your new Contact Information, please allow 2-3 business days before checking to make sure that information now shows in the ISSS Portal.

  3. Step 3: Upload Your Immigration Documents

    • Log in to the ISSS Portal
    • Click on the Personal & Program tab
    • Cick the "Browse" button to find and select the saved image for each document type. You must upload each of the following documents:

  4. Step 4: Submit Your ISSS Check-In Request

    • Log in to the ISSS Portal.
    • Click on your Control Center.
    • Click on the ISSS Check-In Request.
    • Complete and submit the request. If you need to stop and come back to the request, you can click "Save as Draft" and return to the request later to finish and submit.
    • You will know the request has been submitted because you will see it in your Control Center under Pending Requests and the status will show as "Submitted".

    Additional Steps for J-1 Exchange Students

    • Finalize Your Class Schedule:
      • Undergraduate exchange students should contact Ella Metzger at ebmetzg@IllinoisState.edu.
      • Graduate exchange students should contact their academic department.
    • Attend the Mandatory Exchange Student Meeting:
      Thursday, January 9, 2025
      10 - 11am CST, Room 231 - Fell Hall, 2nd Floor

Important Reminders:

If you need to apply for an Social Security Number, please review the information at the Social Security page.