Registrations, Walk-Ins, and Appointments

All F-1 and J-1 students must register with our office in order to comply with the United States Department of Homeland Security reporting requirements. Students enrolled at Duke in all other nonimmigrant visa categories as well as lawful permanent residents, must provide evidence of valid status. Please review the Provost's Policy on Documentation of Non-Citizen Duke Students for additional information.

There are two types of registrations for new (initial) students, Early Arrivals and Mass Registrations for Fall Semester.

Early Arrivals

The DVS Registration process involves 2 steps:

1. Online: E-Registration in the Duke Visa Services / TDS Portal (To access the F-1 E-Registration, please click here and log in with your Duke NetID and password).
2. In-Person: Present your passport to Duke Visa Services

Mass Registrations for Fall Semester

Several departments hold group “mass” registrations. Students will receive notifications through Visa Services as well as the appropriate academic departments.

If you have any questions about the registration process, please reach out to your DVS Advisor or visahelp@duke.edu. Your DVS Advisor will also be your point of contact during your academic program.

All J-1 scholars receiving DS-2019s from Duke to teach or pursue research on Duke’s campus must register with our office in order to comply with the United States Department of Homeland Security reporting requirements. Each new scholar should contact the designated  Duke Visa Services Advisor of his or her program to schedule an appointment to complete the Registration process. Be sure to bring the passport, DS-2019, I-94, and visa stamp (foil) at the appointed time.

All Foreign national employees (H-1B, E-3, O-1, TN, etc.), must register with our office for verification of the appropriate documentation required to work on Duke’s campus. Visa Services must send electronic notifications to Human Resources and Payroll before a Foreign National employee can start to work on Duke’s campus. Contact your Duke Visa Services Advisor to schedule a registration appointment.

Any foreign nationals receiving a written invitation from a Duke department and will be on Duke’s campus for 9 days or more can register through the visiting department’s visa liaison. Contact your department liaison for further instructions.

A successful registration requires the presentation of all documentation, which confirms your nonimmigrant or immigrant status and your relationship to Duke. This normally includes the following information as it relates to your visa category:

1. Visa document: I-20, DS-2019. I-797 Approval Notice, or any other documentation verifying your visa status.
2. A copy of the award letter, if you will be receiving funding from Duke (assistantship, fellowship, tuition waiver, etc.)
3. Passport containing visa stamp. Note: Canadians citizens do not require visa stamps.
4. Form I-94. Printout of information from Customs and Border Protection's Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W webpage confirming your entry, or the small white card you received at the land port-of-entry, probably stapled to your passport.
5. Non-Duke Sponsored J students (e.g., IIE, ACTR, LASPAU, etc.) who want to work on campus MUST bring a letter from their program sponsor confirming employment eligibility.

The registration process will allow you to:

• Notify the United States Department of Homeland Security that you have arrived at Duke. Failure to register by the first day of class may render you out of valid F-1 or J-1 status.
• Begin the process to obtain a United States driver’s license. Do not apply until after you have registered—it will delay the process.
• Apply for a Social Security or Individual Tax Identification number (if eligible). Do not apply until after you have registered—it will delay the process.
• Obtain necessary payroll documents (if applicable). Do not apply until after you have registered—it will delay the process.

Our advisors at the Registration desk can provide the following services on a walk-in basis:

1. Due to COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is allowing us to continue to issue electronic documents so all Travel Revalidation signatures as well as lost and stolen documents will be issued electronically.. 
2. Issue “Confirmation of Status” forms to invite family and friends to visit. For more information, please review our Inviting Friends and Family webpage.
3. Issue Social Security Number Authorization letters and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number applications. We recommend that you email visahelp@duke.edu so you can receive additional instructions before you come to our office.
4. Process Section II of the Form I-9 for students. Scholars and employees should contact their DVS Advisors.

We strongly recommend that you contact your DVS Advisor by telephone or email for assistance. Advisors have scheduled appointments each day and may not be readily available to assist you.

To save you time and prevent frustration, it is often best to schedule an appointment if you need to discuss concerns like your future plans, changes in your immigration classification, changes in your work or study, work authorization requests or transfers. You may schedule appointments with advisors by telephone or by e-mail. Please see telephone and e-mail contact information in our Office Staff Directory.

If you are coming to submit a request or application, please be advised that you will find almost all of the necessary materials on our Forms webpage. The informational materials and forms generally explain the process and list all of the required documents students/scholars must bring in order to submit their application or request.

Do not bring “some” of the required documents and plan to bring or send the others “later.” This only means that you will have to make two appointments and two trips. Everything will go faster if you are prepared for your appointment. In almost all circumstances, you will need to bring at least your passport, I-94 card, and Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Our advisors receive many emails each day. We normally respond to email inquiries in 24 hours. If you have not received a response in 24 hours and you believe you have an urgent concern, send an email to VisaHelp@duke.edu.

These foreign nationals should schedule an appointment with the Director of Visa Services for initial registrations.

These foreign nationals should contact the Associate Director for initial registration information.

If there is a Mass Registration for your program, you will receive notification directly from your program.

Note that all entering international students are required to participate in an orientation program conducted by their individual schools or programs.

These orientation program are separate from the SEVIS Registrations required for F-1, J-1 and the Duke registration requirement for international students in different visa categories.