When OISS is Closed
Travel concerns may arise outside of the OISS office hours. Regular OISS hours are 8:30 - 4:30 PM excluding weekends and holidays when the University is closed. During regular office hours, please contact OISS directly. Please follow the guidelines below when OISS is CLOSED.
It is NOT an emergency if you have forgotten to get a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 from OISS.
What to do if you do NOT have a valid travel signature:
- For F-1/J-1 STUDENTS: Complete the Travel Signature request in the and you will be able to access and print the document from the OISS portal. Regular processing time is within 7 business days.
- For J-1 SCHOLARS: (visiting/research scholars and Professors) Please reach out to the advisor associated with your department and request a travel signature directly. Advisor contact information can be found HERE.
- If you will be re-entering the U.S. in less than 7 business days, also send an email to INTOFF@northwestern.edu to explain your situation and your travel date. We will do our best to complete it, but this is not always possible.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you lack a signature at the port of entry, it is possible for you to receive an I-515A which will gives you temporary permission to enter the U.S. for 30 days. Once arrived, you will have 30 days to submit your signed I-20/DS2019. Further information can be found .
Immigration Related Emergencies
Examples:
- Trouble at the U.S. Port of Entry or stopped by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer
- Immediate danger of deportation from the U.S.
- Arrest
What to do:
- Call the Â鶹´«Ã½ Police Department (NUPD) at 1-847-491-3456.
- Inform NUPD you are an international student or scholar and that you have an immigration related emergency. Briefly provide specifics to NUPD.
- NUPD will contact the OISS Director or appropriate advisor to follow up with you.
- If possible, also send an email to intoff@northwestern.edu with details of your immigration related emergency.
Non-Immigration Related Emergency
Examples:
- Hospitalization
- Personal injury
- Automobile accident
- Victim of a crime such as robbery or assault
- Missing persons
What to do:
- On-campus if NOT life-threatening: Call NUPD at 1-847-491-3456 and explain the situation
- On-campus if life-threatening: Call 911 and explain the situation
- Off campus: Call 911 and explain the situation
- Once you are able, send email to intoff@northwestern.edu. OISS will provide assistance when the office reopens.
NON-Emergency, Immigration Related
If your passport is lost or stolen while you are traveling outside the United States:
- Contact your local embassy to apply for a replacement passport.
- Note: some embassies require a police report in the case of a stolen passport.
- If you will be returning to Â鶹´«Ã½, you will need to re-apply for a new visa stamp in the new passport. See Apply for a Visa Stamp for further instruction.
- You will not need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again. Go to the and click on Check I-901 Status to print a copy of your I-901 payment confirmation receipt.
- You will not need to request a new I-20 or DS-2019 UNLESS something has changed from your most recent immigration document (change of program, name change, travel signature expired, etc.).
All other inquiries (on-campus employment, off-campus work authorization, etc.)
- Email your OISS advisor and they will respond after the office reopens within normal response time (7 business days or less).