Late Arrival for Initial Students
Late Arrival Policy for F-1 and J-1 International Students
Regulations
International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are in Initial Status when they begin a new program of study at Baylor or return to Baylor after an extended absence. In either case, their I-20 or DS-2019 will be either Initial or Transfer Pending.
The Baylor Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) includes a Program Start Date—also known as the Report Date. This date indicates when students are expected to arrive and check in with the university.
The Program Start Date is typically 5–7 days before classes begin.
Baylor expects students to arrive no later than the Program Start Date.
Students should be fully enrolled by the first day of classes.
We understand that unexpected delays may occur due to:
Visa appointment scheduling or processing issues
Flight delays or cancellations
Personal or family emergencies
Short delays (2–3 days) are usually manageable if the student arrives before classes begin. However, arrival after the first day of the academic term introduces additional challenges and requires formal approval.
Late arrival can impact a student’s ability to:
Adjust physically (recover from travel, get settled, access housing and supplies)
Adjust socially (build connections, find community, navigate a new culture)
Adjust academically (attend orientation, obtain materials, begin coursework)
It may also require time-consuming administrative tasks across campus. For these reasons, students should make every effort to arrive by the Program Start Date, or at the very least, before classes begin.
Late Arrival Request Eligibility
Students in Initial Status may request late arrival if they can arrive and complete CGE check-in no later than the 6th day of the term.
Graduate students may request arrival up to the 11th day of the term with approval from their Program Advisor or Graduate Program Director.
If a student cannot meet these deadlines, they should begin the process of deferring to a future term.
Late Arrival Process
If a student must arrive after the Program Start Date, they are responsible for completing the following steps:
Submit a Late Arrival Request through Global Bears.
Be fully enrolled by the first day of classes.
Contact academic advisors/faculty:
Undergraduate students must contact their academic advisor and professors to explain their situation. Professors are not required to excuse absences or allow make-up work.
Graduate students must receive formal approval from their Program Advisor or Graduate Program Director. CGE will only approve late arrival (up to the 11th day) if the student is fully enrolled.