This information is intended for newly-admitted students (degree, non-degree and exchange) who will begin their studies in Spring 2026 or Fall 2026.
Congratulations on Your Admission to Yale!
We are sure you have a lot of questions about next steps and how to prepare for your move to New Haven, so we have compiled the following resources to get you started on your journey to Yale. This guide contains information on everything from applying for your visa to packing your bags, so make sure you read through each subject carefully.
Getting Your I-20 or DS-2019
OISS will be issuing I-20 or DS-2019 forms to newly admitted students. There are several steps to this process (described in Applying for Your U.S. Visa). You can expect your I-20 or DS-2019 (both sent electronically) 7 to 10 business days after you have submitted both your New Student Survey and the financial documentation. Please allow us this time to complete the process before asking where your form is. Please pay attention to your email as we will notify you if anything is missing.
International Student Orientation 2026 (Online Canvas Course)
For degree students, when you receive your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1), you will also separately receive an email invitation to complete your mandatory online orientation Canvas course (International Student Orientation 2026). This is an comprehensive pre-arrival online course that will guide you through your next steps in the onboarding process, including applying for your visa.
Look for the email with a subject line of ‘Course Invitation’ from 'Canvas@ Yale Bulldogs'. You can expect to receive this separate email invitation either on the same day with your immigration document, I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1), or 1-2 business days before receiving your immigration document.
Getting in Touch
If you have any questions not answered in the below pages or in our FAQs for new students, please contact your OISS Adviser. You can find the OISS Adviser assigned to your school by using the search tool on our Connect with OISS page.
Yale College undergraduate students should contact their designated OISS adviser, Daniel Riecker.
