J-1 Scholars

You should have already completed your New Scholar Orientation on Homebase [1]. Once completed, you will receive a code you'll need to enter when completing your 'New Scholar Check-In' request in MyOISS (see next section). As soon as you arrive in New Haven, you are invited to sign up for an in-person New Scholar Meetup to meet other new scholars at Yale. The link to sign up may be found in the 'Your Next Steps' section of the Homebase online module.

H-1B Scholars

You should have already completed your Yale H-1B Orientation in Homebase. You will have received a link to access it via email.

If you are on a J-1 visa, as soon as you arrive at Yale submit a 'New Scholar Check-In' request [2] in your MyOISS account. You will need to enter the code you received from completing the New Scholar Orientation on Homebase [1]. The 'New Scholar Check-In' request must be completed as soon as possible after your arrival to validate your J-1 SEVIS record so you can proceed with other administrative matters, like completing the I-9 process (if you will be a University employee). 

• Read instructions for completing the check-in request [2]. Please complete this as soon as you arrive in the U.S.

Any changes in address must be reported/updated within 10 days of the change.

J-1 Scholars

• Report your U.S. address and phone number by following these instructions [3]

H-1B, O-1, TN and U.S. Permanent Residents

• Update your address with USCIS at by completing the online AR 11 form [4]
• Update your address with OISS [5]

Scholars on F-1 OPT or OPT STEM Extension must report their employment information and U.S. address to the school they graduated from. Follow the instructions on our website:

• Instructions for Yale graduates on OPT [6]
• Instructions for Yale graduates on STEM OPT [7]

Your department will be able to assist you in getting your Yale ID and setting up your NetID. If you are paid by Yale, they will also be able to answer questions about your benefits and employment status.

If your appointment type at Yale requires you to complete an I-9, you will find an email notification in your Workday mailbox with instructions. Follow the instructions and complete your I-9 form [8] in Workday - this must be done no later than your first day of employment.

If you are being paid by Yale and on a J-1 visa you MUST complete the OISS Check-in request [2] and have been notified that your SEVIS record is active BEFORE completing your I-9 form and registering with the International Tax Office (see Complete Your U.S. Tax & FNIS Paperwork below). 

OISS is always here to help. If you have any questions about your arrival, please contact your OISS adviser [9].

Upon arriving at Yale, you should be certain you understand your tax obligations and are ready when the filing season arrives. Here is what you can do to get prepared.

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires Yale University to apply specific federal tax withholding and reporting rules consistent with your U.S. tax status, i.e., resident or nonresident tax filers. Resident tax filers are taxed same as U.S. citizens, while nonresident tax filers are taxed under different withholding and reporting rules.

  • Non U.S. students and scholars receiving payments from the University (e.g., compensation, stipend, fellowship, etc.) are required to complete Sprintax Calculus with the International Tax Department [10].

  • ​Once Sprintax Calculus completed and submitted to the International Tax Department [11], you will receive notification regarding U.S. tax residency, treaty eligibility and instructions for completing Form W-4 and CT-W4. If you have not received the Sprintax Calculus link, please send an email to internationaltax@yale.edu [12].

• If you are eligible for a U.S. social security number (SSN), [13] apply for one now.

If you do not already have an SSN, you should apply for one. You are eligible for the SSN as soon as your OISS check-in process is complete. Learn about what you need an SSN for and more on our informational page [13]. 

It is important that you maintain lawful J-1 or H-1B status while in the U.S. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your stay in the U.S. remains valid, such as reporting any changes in address, enrolling in health insurance, and more. 

• Maintaining legal status for J-1 scholars [14]
• Maintaining legal status for H-1B scholars [15]

Read our weekly newsletter [16], and follow us on Facebook [17], Instagram [18], and Yale Connect [19].

Check out our Life at Yale [20] section for topics such as campus life [21], practical matters [22] like banking [23] and your Yale ID [24], belonging at Yale [25], and much more.

Check out our shopping [26] section for information on where you can purchase the items you need when you get here.