Welcome To Harvard Guide
Welcome Guide
This section is designed to help Harvard international students and scholars accomplish the tasks necessary to establish yourself in the Boston/Cambridge area. The sooner you have your home set up, the sooner you can concentrate on your academic studies or research work.
Arriving in the U.S., HIO Registration, & Orientations
Welcome to Harvard! This section details important information you need to know to enter the U.S. to start your academic program, appointment, or internship.
Students
Visa Resources
When to Arrive
The U.S. immigration regulations allow F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on page 1 of your Form I-20 or Item 3 of your Form DS-2019.
U.S. Immigration Inspection
Upon entering the U.S., all F-1 and J-1 students must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection official at the airport or U.S. Port of Entry:
- Valid passport
- Printed Form I-20 or Original Form DS-2019 (no photocopies)
- Valid F-1 or J-1 visa in passport (not applicable to Canadian citizens)
- I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt
- Admission letter
- Financial support document(s)
- Medical record, including immunization records
- Money for initial expenses
F-2 and J-2 Dependents cannot enter the U.S. before the F-1 or J-1 Student.
You may not enter the U.S. in tourist visa status unless you are coming to the U.S. for tourism only. Individuals in tourist visa status are not permitted to study in U.S. educational institutions.
Do not use NEXUS or Global Entry, or an automated passport kiosk, to enter the U.S. You must always speak with a Customs and Border Protection Officer and present the above documents in order to be admitted to the U.S. in the proper student status.
For information on immigration inspection after graduation while on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training, please review our Travel on Post-Completion OPT, STEM OPT, or AT information on our website.
If your plans change and you wish to come to Harvard on a later date than the start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019, or if you decide not to come to Harvard at all, please notify the HIO and your school or department immediately, because the HIO is required to either reissue your visa document or report the change to the U.S. government.
Arriving in the U.S.
Each time you enter the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an on-line, electronic entry record to record your entry to the U.S. This is called your I-94 record. Note that many U.S. airports will no longer stamp your passport when you enter the U.S. Instead, the I-94 will be your only official record of entry to the U.S.
You should check and save a screenshot of your I-94 record each time you enter the U.S. as you may need it for other purposes. If the I-94 record ever displays incorrect information, or cannot be found, please contact your HIO advisor.
For LAND BORDER Admissions, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) issues a Form I-94 only upon payment of a fee. For faster processing time at the border, this fee can be paid in advance of your arrival, either online or via the CBP Link mobile app.
Ask a Question (CBP)
HIO Registration
You must register your arrival with the HIO within 30 days of the start date on your visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019), otherwise your SEVIS record will become invalid.
After arriving in the U.S., you must complete the HIO Registration Form to fulfill your required immigration registration. Please note, in order to complete this form, you will need to access your I-94 record online. If you have difficulty locating your I-94 record, or your I-94 record has incorrect information, please contact your HIO advisor.
You will receive an email from the HIO confirming when your registration has been processed.
After arriving, please review our Welcome and Travel informational handout for more information about your immigration status and your time in the U.S.
Travel Signatures
- You may request a travel signature via our online signature request form.
- You may also visit the HIO during our walk in travel signature and document pick-up hours.
Scholars
Visa Resources
When to Arrive
The U.S. immigration regulations allow J-1 Scholars to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on Item 3 of your Form DS-2019. If you hold an H-1B visa, you may enter the U.S. no more than 10 days before the start date listed on your H petition approval notice.
U.S. Immigration Inspection
Upon entering the U.S., all scholars must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection official at the airport or U.S. Port of Entry:
- Valid passport
- Visa document (Form DS-2019, or I-797)
- Valid visa in passport (not applicable to Canadian citizens)
- Appointment offer letter
- I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt (for J-1 Scholars only)
- Medical record (only if needed for follow-up care while in the U.S.)
- Money for initial expenses
Dependents cannot enter the U.S. before the scholar.
You may not enter the U.S. in tourist visa status unless you are coming to the U.S. for tourism only. The HIO recommends you do not use NEXUS or Global Entry, or an automated passport kiosk, to enter the U.S. You should always speak with a Customs and Border Protection Officer and present the above documents in order to be admitted to the U.S. in the proper scholar status.
Arriving in the U.S.
Each time you enter the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an on-line, electronic entry record to record your entry to the U.S. This is called your I-94 record. Note that many U.S. airports will no longer stamp your passport when you enter the U.S. Instead, the I-94 will be your only official record of entry to the U.S.
You should check and save a screenshot of your I-94 record each time you enter the U.S. as you may need it for other purposes. If the I-94 record ever displays incorrect information, or cannot be found, please contact your HIO advisor.
HIO Registration
You must register your arrival with the HIO as soon as possible after your arrival in the U.S. so that we may activate your SEVIS record. Your SEVIS record will become invalid if not activated within 30 days of the start date on your visa document (Form DS-2019).
After arriving in the U.S., you must complete the HIO Registration Form to fulfill your required immigration registration. Please note, in order to complete this form, you will need to access your I-94 record online. If you have difficulty locating your I-94 record, or your I-94 record has incorrect information, please contact your HIO advisor.
You will receive an email from the HIO confirming when your registration has been processed.
After arriving, please review our Welcome and Travel informational handout for more information about your immigration status and your time in the U.S.
Travel Signatures
After arriving in the U.S., J-1 scholars will need to obtain a travel signature on their DS-2019, which permits scholars to travel internationally during their academic appointment.
- You may request a travel signature via our online signature request form.
- You may also visit the HIO during our walk in travel signature and document pick-up hours.
Student Interns
Visa Resources
When to Arrive
The U.S. immigration regulations allow J-1 Student Interns to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on Item 3 of your Form DS-2019. If you will arrive after the start date on your Form DS-2019, please alert your HIO advisor immediately.
U.S. Immigration Inspection
Upon entering the U.S., all J-1 Student Interns must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection official at the airport or U.S. Port of Entry:
- Valid passport
- Visa Form DS-2019
- Valid and signed Form DS-7002 Training Plan
- Valid J-1 visa in passport (not applicable to Canadian citizens)
- SEVIS Fee Receipt
You may not enter the U.S. in tourist visa status or using ESTA unless you are coming to the U.S. for tourism only. Do not use NEXUS or Global Entry, or an automated passport kiosk, to enter the U.S. You must always speak with a Customs and Border Protection Officer and present the above documents in order to be admitted to the U.S. in the proper J-1 Student Intern status.
Arriving in the U.S.
Each time you enter the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an on-line, electronic entry record to record your entry to the U.S. This is called your I-94 record. Note that many U.S. airports will no longer stamp your passport when you enter the U.S. Instead, the I-94 will be your only official record of entry to the U.S.
You should check and save a screenshot of your I-94 record each time you enter the U.S. as you may need it for other purposes. If the I-94 record ever displays incorrect information, or cannot be found, please contact your HIO advisor.
HIO Registration
You must register your arrival with the HIO within 30 days of the start date on your visa document (Form DS-2019), otherwise your SEVIS record will become invalid.
After arriving in the U.S., you must complete the HIO Registration Form to fulfill your required immigration registration. Please note, in order to complete this form, you will need to access your I-94 record online. If you have difficulty locating your I-94 record, or your I-94 record has incorrect information, please contact your HIO advisor.
Please note that you should have a scanned copy of your fully signed DS-7002 Training Plan to complete this registration process.
The staff at the HIO will confirm with you once your registration has been processed.
After arriving, please review our Welcome and Travel informational handout for more information about your immigration status and your time in the U.S.
Travel Signatures
After arriving in the U.S., J-1 Student Interns will need to obtain a travel signature on their DS-2019, which permits student interns to travel internationally during their internship.
- You may request a travel signature via our online signature request form.
- You may also visit the HIO during our walk in travel signature and document pick-up hours.
HIO Orientations
Welcome to Harvard! Now that you have arrived (or will soon arrive) in the Boston/Cambridge area, here are some activities to help you settle in.
The HIO group orientation "Getting Started - Part 1" covers banking, social security numbers, driver's license and state IDs, health insurance, transportation, things to do in the local area, and more. The session lasts about 75 minutes.
These orientations take place virtually via Zoom.
The HIO group orientation "Getting Started - Part 2" is for students and scholars who attended Part 1 and have follow-up questions regarding the topics covered in that session and/or questions regarding U.S. cultural concepts, English pronunciations (ex. “how do you pronounce Worcester?”), or things to do in the local area. It is intended to be an interactive session lasting up to one hour.
These orientations take place virtually via Zoom.
In addition to the Getting Started orientations, we encourage J-1 Student Interns to review the Harvard J-1 Student Intern Orientation in Homebase for more detailed information.
The HIO group orientation for spouses and partners of international students and scholars covers J-2 work permission, job and volunteer opportunities, settling-in topics, resources, shopping, things to do in the local area, and more. The session lasts about one hour.
These orientations take place virtually via Zoom.
These are tours led by undergraduate students of Harvard College. The tour covers Harvard Yard, some of the undergraduate housing, history, and urban legend. Please register for these tours through the Harvard Visitor Center.
Harvard ID
To gain access to most Harvard facilities, you must show your Harvard photo identification (ID) card. There are three ID Services locations on campus. You may find hours and directions on the Campus Service Center website:
- Campus Service Center - Smith Campus Center, Rm. 807, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; 617-496-7827.
- Longwood Medical Area - Veritas Science Center (formerly known as the New Research Building or NRB), 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Room 133, Boston; 617-432-0389.
- Business School - HBS Department of Operations, Shad Hall, 70 North Harvard Street; 617- 495-6814.
Students
You receive your ID card during registration or orientation at your school. For registration time and location at your school, consult your school's registration materials or its website.
Scholars
You will be able to pick up your ID card from Campus Services only after your department has processed your Harvard appointment and after the start date on your visa document, e.g. Form DS-2019 or Form I-797. Please check with your department to be sure that your appointment has been processed before going to obtain your Harvard ID. For more information please consult the Campus Service Center website.
Student Interns
Student Interns at affiliated hospitals may not be eligible for a Harvard ID card. Student interns should check with their hospital departments to enquire about eligibility. If not eligible, you may be able to request a Library Proxy Account with the assistance of your PI.
Replacement Cards
If you lose your ID card, students and scholars may obtain a replacement card for a fee.
Transportation
Harvard Shuttle Bus
The Harvard Shuttles and the On-Demand Van Service provide free transportation to all parts of the Cambridge and Allston campuses. These services are limited to students and Harvard affiliates with a Harvard ID. Real-time shuttle tracking is also available through the PassioGo! app.
M2 Shuttle and other Longwood Medical Area Shuttles
The M2 Shuttle runs between Cambridge and the Longwood Medical Area. Harvard students, scholars, faculty, and staff can ride the M2 Shuttle for free by presenting their Harvard ID. Family members of Harvard affiliates must purchase tickets for the shuttle. M2 Shuttle schedules and live tracker are available on the Longwood Collective website. Information about other Longwood Medical Area shuttle routes is also available on the Longwood Collective website.
The public transportation system in the Boston area is called the MBTA or the "T". The "T" consists of subway, bus, and commuter rail services. Service runs seven days a week from approximately 5:00 am to 12:30 am. Schedules, maps, and fare information can be found on the MBTA website.
The subway consists of five lines which extend outwards from downtown Boston. They are the Red, Green, Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines. The terms inbound and outbound are used to indicate in which direction the train is heading on the lines.
- The Red Line runs inbound towards Park Street Station in Boston and outbound going away from Park Street Station. The stop for Harvard University on the Red Line is Harvard Square. It is on the way from Park Street Station to Alewife Station.
- The Green Line (that has B, C, D, and E Lines) runs inbound to Park Street Station and outbound from Park Street Station as well. The Longwood Medical Area is located near the Longwood stop on the D line between Park Street and Riverside Station, and the Longwood Medical Area stop on the E line between Park Street and Heath Street Station. Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health are located closer to the Brigham Circle stop on the E line.
- The Orange Line runs inbound to Downtown Crossing Station and outbound away from Downtown Crossing Station.
- The Blue line runs inbound towards Government Center Station and outbound away from Government Center Station. The Blue Line has a stop called Airport where you can connect to shuttles that take you to the terminals at Logan Airport.
- The Silver Line is a bus service but is considered a subway line. It connects with every subway line except the Blue Line. From South Station on the Red Line you can transfer to the Silver Line that takes you directly to the terminals at Logan Airport.
Buses
The following are buses that come to Harvard Square:
1 - Nubian Station - Harvard/Holyoke Gate via Mass. Ave.
66 - Nubian Station - Harvard Square via Brookline & Allston
68 - Kendall/MIT - Harvard/Holyoke Gate via Broadway
69 - Lechmere Station - Harvard/Holyoke Gate via Cambridge St.
71 - Watertown Square - Harvard Station via Mt. Auburn St.
73 - Waverley Square - Harvard Station via Trapelo Road
74 - Belmont Center - Harvard Station via Concord Ave.
75 - Belmont Center - Harvard Station via Huron Ave.
77 - Arlington Heights - Harvard Station via Massachusetts Ave.
78 - Arlmont Village - Harvard Station via Park Circle
86 - Cleveland Circle - Harvard Square via Allston and Harvard Square - Sullivan Square via Somerville
96 - Medford Square - Harvard Station via Davis Square and Porter Square
Fares
For riding on the subway and bus you must use a Charlie Card or the MBTA Tap to Ride program that allows for contactless payment (contactless debit/credit card, phone or watch with mobile wallet). Transfers from one bus to another are allowed without extra charge within a two hour period. Transfers do not apply from subway to bus travel. You can deposit money to a Charlie Card at ticketing machines located at any of the subway stops. You can obtain a Charlie Card at some subway stations as well as some retail stores.
There are different types of T passes that can be purchased on the 15th of the previous month to the 14th of the current month. If you are being paid by Harvard or a Harvard-affiliated hospital and are eligible for Harvard employee benefits, you will be eligible for the Harvard CommuterChoice Program. Harvard offers its employees a 60% discount on monthly bus, subway and commuter rail passes. You can purchase your pass online, and you only need to sign up once for automatic monthly renewal. Payment is made through pre-tax payroll deduction, so employees save even more on top of Harvard's subsidy. You must sign up online no later than the fourth day of the month prior to the month for which you want a pass. For example, to be eligible for a November pass you must sign up by October 4th. Passes are mailed to your home address.
The Commuter Rail (Train) routes appear in purple on MBTA maps and primarily serve suburban towns. Trains going north start at North Station on the Green Line and going south at South Station on the Red Line.
Rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft operate in the Boston/Cambridge area and may be more convenient and less expensive than taxis.
Owning a car is expensive and maintaining a car (especially a used one) may be a constant financial burden. Before buying a used car, you should have a qualified mechanic examine the car. Massachusetts does have a Buyer's Right to Return Law that allows the buyer of a used car to return it for a full refund under certain conditions.
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
Car Registration
If you buy a car, it must be registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To register your car, you need to provide proof of car insurance, the bill of sale, and the certificate of ownership (the "title") at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Two convenient locations are:
- Boston: 136 Blackstone St.
- Watertown: Watertown Mall, 550 Arsenal St.
Car insurance
Car insurance is mandatory. The average cost of insuring a car in Massachusetts is approximately $1,000 per year or higher depending on:
- Type of coverage
- Where you live
- Age of the car
Car Tax
All car owners must also pay an annual excise tax, which varies according to the value of the car.
Parking
Some communities do not allow overnight parking on the street. Others limit daytime street parking to intervals of two hours. Never assume that a parking space will be included in the rental price of an apartment, even if there is a parking lot or garage in or near the building.
In Cambridge and Boston, a majority of the streets require a parking permit that can be obtained only if your car is registered in that town. Local ordinances prohibit parking on certain street cleaning days. Pay close attention to posted signs before parking your car. Even where street parking is permitted, it is often difficult to find a parking space. Parking meters monitor the length of time you are permitted to leave your car in a parking space. Most parking meters accept cash, credit card, or payment via an app. If the words "violation" or "expired" appear on the meter, the allotted time has ended and you are expected to move the car or you will get a parking ticket. Parking tickets must be paid or penalties will be assessed.
During the winter months when snowfall is particularly heavy, snow emergencies will be declared through most public media and news outlets. At these times, parking is prohibited on many streets. Signs are posted on the streets that are included in these parking bans.
In order to rent a car in the Boston area you must have a driver's license and a major credit card, and you must be 25 years or older.
Zipcar provides another alternative to car ownership. Zipcar provides cars for rent at hourly and daily rates. All reservations include gas and insurance and international drivers licenses are accepted. Sign up here for a discounted membership rate and use one of many Zipcars across campus or hundreds more across the Boston area.
A system of publicly-shared bicycles with a network of hundreds of stations including 14 stations at Harvard to which bikes can be returned. Harvard affiliates have access to a discounted annual membership; you can find more information on the Harvard Transportation website.
For more information on bicycling commuter benefits, department bike-share programs and other bike programs and resources, visit the Harvard Campus Services CommuterChoice site.
When riding a bicycle you must observe traffic laws, be cautious (do not assume car drivers can always see you), and always lock the bicycle when leaving it unattended. Lock the bike in a well-lit and well-traveled area, and use two bike locks, each with a different locking mechanism. You should always wear a bicycle helmet while biking. $15 helmets can be purchased at the CommuterChoice Office: 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 837. Check the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) website for information regarding bicycle registration.
Safety, Scams, & Identity Protection
Boston and Cambridge are relatively safe as long as you use common sense. We encourage you to review the resources below as well the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) website should you have any questions regarding safety issues.
If you are ever involved in an emergency situation (such as a car accident, fire, robbery, or assault) you should contact the police in the city or town by calling 911. You also can call the HUPD at (617) 495-1212 (Cambridge) or (617) 432-1212 (Longwood) if the situation takes place on-campus. If you need the assistance of a mental health professional to discuss problems connected with your emergency situation, call Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or the HUPD for assistance in getting help.
Harvard Resources for Your Safety
- Annual Security Report - Playing It Safe from HUPD
- Cambridge-based Shuttle and Van Service
- Allston Shuttle and Van Service
- Longwood Medical Area Shuttle Routes including the M2 shuttle between Longwood and Cambridge
- On-Demand Evening Van Service
- Harvard University Campus Escort Program (HUCEP) in Cambridge
- Walking Escort Service in the Longwood Medical Area
- MessageMe - Harvard's emergency notification system
Please protect your personal information by not responding to unsolicited phone calls, emails, and text messages. We have heard of a number of scams (a dishonest way of soliciting money by deceiving people) targeting non-immigrants lately, including calls from individuals claiming to be immigration and tax officials requesting personal information such as social security numbers and credit card information. Government officials do not call, text, or email requesting such personal information.
Tax season in particular is a time of year when scammers attempt to extort money from people or steal identities by pretending to be IRS officials. Students and scholars who have received scam phone calls have reported that their caller ID said the IRS or an immigration office (e.g. SEVP, USCIS) were calling. Scam phone calls have also been received where the caller ID stated that the Massachusetts State Police, Cambridge Police, or other local police were calling. If you do not know who is on the line, do not simply assume it is someone from the office identified on your caller ID. Scammers are able to “spoof” these numbers so it appears the call is coming from a government office.
Government officials would never ask you for money or to meet them with gift cards. The IRS would never call individuals regarding their taxes, and USCIS or SEVP would never call you to threaten you with arrest or deportation. If you receive any calls like those described above, simply hang up! You should also never email your Social Security Number or give it to someone you do not know over the phone. Please refer to the links below for resources and more information:
- Scams and Identity Theft - Harvard University Police Department (HUPD)
- Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts - IRS
- Identity Protection: Prevention, Detection and Victim Assistance - IRS
- Identity Theft and Identity Fraud - U.S. Justice Department
- Identity Theft and your Social Security Number - Social Security Administration
- Common Scams and Crimes - U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Lost Passport
If you lose your passport please go here to find information on passport replacement and refer to our info page about lost/stolen passports.
Many communities have free or low cost legal “clinics” that can assist with non-criminal disputes, such as tenant landlord disputes and other similar issues. Below are two such organizations.
Cell Phones
When purchasing a cell (mobile) phone plan, you normally are asked for a Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have one and are not eligible for one, you may be asked to pay a security deposit. The amount of the deposit varies according to the provider. The following are alternatives to avoid the SSN or deposit requirement:
- Buy a prepaid cell phone, which is possible to do at local stores such as Verizon or T-Mobile in Harvard Square.
- Use a prepaid SIM card with your existing, unlocked cell phone. Companies that offer this service include:
- Mint Mobile: SIM card starter kits are available for free during the HIO pick-up hours. You will need to download an app through which you can access one free month of service. If you like the service, you can renew with different paid plan options.
- US Mobile: SIM card starter kits are available for free during the HIO pick-up hours and offer discounts for students.