Contact Us

Harvard International Office
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 864
Cambridge, MA 02138

Phone: 617-495-2789
Fax: 617-495-4088

International students and scholars have several options for getting in touch with the HIO:

Connect with an HIO Advisor through daily virtual advisor on call sessions (for quick questions only)
Contact your HIO advisor directly via email or phone
Make an appointment for a virtual 1:1 meeting with your HIO advisor
Email internationaloffice@harvard.edu
Limited walk-in services are for travel signatures and document pickup only, Monday through Friday from 12pm - 1pm, at the HIO office on the 8th floor of the Smith Campus Center. This service is not intended for advising questions. If you need a travel signature or a replacement document, please review the applicable instructions below.

How to Contact the HIO

I need an answer to a quick question.

Please note that in person walk-in advising services are not available.

For very quick questions (five minutes or less): Connect with an HIO Advisor through daily virtual advisor on call sessions.
For more detailed questions or future planning: Contact your HIO advisor directly via email or phone.
You may review our advising staff list if you are uncertain who your HIO advisor is. If you are still uncertain where to direct your inquiry, you may email internationaloffice@harvard.edu.

In addition, the HIO website is a great resource to review for answers for your quick questions.

You should reach out directly to your HIO advisor with immigration-related questions that are not necessarily short and simple.

I need to meet with my HIO advisor.

You may book an appointment to meet with your advisor virtually, or contact your HIO advisor directly via email or phone. All appointments are being held via phone or zoom. No walk-in or in-person appointments are available at this time.

I need a travel signature on my Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Travel signature options for F-1 Students:

F-1 students may complete the F-1 Travel Signature Request Form to request a new I-20 with an updated travel signature. The HIO will respond to your request by sending you a new Form I-20 via email.
Alternatively, if you are in the Cambridge area and have available space on your printed Form I-20 for a new travel signature, you may go to the HIO office on the 8th floor of the Smith Center between 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET Monday through Friday for walk-in travel signature hours. You do not need to make an appointment for this walk-in service.

Travel Signature options for J-1 Students, Student Interns, Scholars, and their dependents:

If you are in the Cambridge area and have available space on your printed DS-2019 Form for a new travel signature, you may go to the HIO office on the 8th floor of the Smith Center between 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET Monday through Friday for walk-in travel signature hours. You do not need to make an appointment for this walk-in service.
If you are in the Cambridge area and do not have available space on your DS-2019 Form for a new travel signature, and/or need a new document for any reason, you must contact your HIO Advisor first to request a reissuance of your document. Once you have confirmation from the HIO that your document is ready for pick up, you may then go to the Smith Campus Center between 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET Monday through Friday for walk-in document pick up.
Longwood Travel Signature hours: Beginning November 2nd, the HIO will be hosting travel signature hours in the Longwood area for students, student interns, and scholars to obtain a travel signature on their F-1 Form I-20 or J-1 Form DS-2019 or to pick up documents from the HIO. An HIO Advisor will be available every other Wednesday, beginning November 2nd, from 1:00pm - 3:00pm in Gordon 006 (at the HMS/HSDM Office for Postdoctoral Fellows - see map). These hours are not intended for answering immigration advising questions. The office hours are open to all students, student interns, or scholars. No appointment is needed for this walk-in service. The schedule for the Fall 2022 semester is as follows:
- Wednesday, November 2
- Wednesday, November 16
- Wednesday, November 30
- Wednesday, December 14
J-1 Students and Scholars who are not in the Cambridge area will need to request a new DS-2019 with a new travel signature to be shipped via FedEx. To request this service, please follow the steps to purchase a FedEx label using eShipGlobal.

I need to pick up a document from the HIO

If the HIO has contacted you to pick up documents from our office, you may attend our walk in document pick up hour from 12pm - 1pm ET Monday-Friday with a photo ID to obtain the document.

I just arrived in the U.S. How do I register with the HIO?

The HIO is processing all registrations via email. Please do not come to the HIO offices for registration at this time.

You may find instructions based on your visa category below:

I have lost my Form I-20/DS-2019. Where can I get a new document?

You must contact your HIO Advisor via email to request a replacement document. Please note the following:

For F-1 Students: the Form I-20 can be sent electronically. The HIO will respond to your request by sending you a new Form I-20 via email.
For J-1 Students, Student Interns, and Scholars: the DS-2019 form cannot be sent electronically. If you are in the Cambridge area, you can request for a new document to be made available via pickup. You must wait until your advisor confirms that the form is available before attending the walk-in pick up hours. Documents cannot be reprinted on the spot and must be requested in advance. Once you have confirmation from the HIO that your document is ready for pick up, you may then go to the Smith Campus Center between 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET Monday through Friday for walk-in document pick up. If you are not in the Cambridge area, you will need to request a new DS-2019 to be shipped via FedEx. To request this service, please follow the steps to purchase a FedEx label using eShipGlobal.

About the HIO

Map & Directions

Harvard Directions and Maps

View Larger Map

Public Transportation

The Harvard Square stop on the Red Line of the MBTA subway system is across the street from the Harvard Yard.

Traveling by Car

Driving from South of Boston: Take I-93 North to exit 26 (Cambridge/Storrow Drive) in the recently opened Big Dig tunnel. The exit ramp merges with traffic on Storrow Drive from the left. Move to one of the right lanes and continue on Storrow Drive approximately 4 miles to Cambridge/Allston. After a Doubletree Guest Quarters Hotel, take the right-hand exit to "Harvard Square/Cambridge." Turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead.

Driving from North of Boston: Take I-93 South to exit 26A (Storrow Drive/North Station). Keep left and take the underpass to Storrow Drive. Continue on Storrow Drive approximately 4 miles to Cambridge/Allston. After a Doubletree Guest Quarters Hotel, take the right-hand exit to "Harvard Square/Cambridge." Turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead.

Driving from West of Boston: Take I-90 East (Mass Turnpike) to exit 18 (Cambridge/Allston), a left side exit. Bear right after toll booth at end of exit ramp. Turn left after lights (before the bridge) onto Storrow Drive. Take Cambridge/Allston exit (1/2 mile ahead) and turn right at end of ramp onto John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square is approximately 1/2 mile straight ahead.

From Logan Airport

By taxi

The ride to Harvard Square takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. Typically, the ride from Logan Airport to Harvard Square costs about $35-$50.

By Subway

Take the Silver Line bus from any terminal to South Station. At South Station, change to the Red Line (outbound towards Alewife), go six stops and get off at Harvard Square. The subway fare is paid with The Charlie Card.