J-1 Pre-Arrival Information

We are looking forward to welcoming you to New Jersey soon! We hope that your time at Rowan University will be a rewarding, enjoyable, and enriching experience.

This page contains useful pre-arrival information for incoming scholars and student interns. If you are an exchange student, please follow the link below to our Student Pre-Arrival Information page:

Pre-Arrival Information for Exchange Students

Earliest Date of Arrival

The earliest possible day you can enter the U.S. is 30 days before the program start date on your DS-2019. You cannot enter the U.S. before this date!

If you enter the U.S. before your program start date, you cannot begin working until the program start date. You are not permitted to start working early.

Packing for Life in New Jersey

New Jersey's climate varies throughout the year. We experience very cold winters and very hot, humid summers. We also receive a lot of rain throughout the year. Please pack accordingly depending on the dates of your program. Winters can get as cold as -17°C, and summers can get as hot as 37°C. Please pack for the weather accordingly! There are also plenty of clothing and secondhand stores in the area so you can purchase clothes once you arrive.

Documents to Bring on the Plane

Please have the following documents printed out prior to boarding the plane. Keep these documents in your carry-on, NOT in your checked luggage! You will need to show these documents to a Customs & Border Protection agent at the port of entry to the U.S. before you can get to baggage claim.

DS-2019 from Rowan University with your signature at the bottom of page 1
Valid passport
Valid J-1 visa for Rowan University (unless you are Canadian)
I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
Financial support documents
Offer letter/appointment letter from Rowan University
Immunization records (with English translations)
Medical records if you have any chronic medical conditions (with English translations)
Proof of health insurance
Airplane tickets/boarding passes
$300-$500 USD in cash in case of emergencies
Directions to and contact information for the International Center

Getting to Campus

We strongly recommend that you fly to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), as it is the closest airport to Rowan University. Some people choose to fly to Newark Library International Airport (EWR) or JFK, but that is not recommended as it is a 2-hour drive from our campuses and transportation can be very expensive.

Ride Share Apps: You can use Uber or Lyft to reach our campuses. These services do not accept cash and are done only via mobile app.

Taxi Transit: Click for PHL taxi service information or EWR taxi service information. NOTE: There may be many different taxi companies at Taxi Services. Please confirm the cost of the trip before loading your bags into the taxi. Remember: in the U.S., it is customary to tip the driver 20% of the bill, especially if they help with your bags.

Public Transportation: We recommend using Google Maps to evaluate all public transportation (bus/train) options. Rowan’s Stratford and Camden campuses are accessible by the PATCO train line. There are various direct bus lines from Philadelphia to Glassboro.

Check-In After Arrival

Please keep the International Center updated on your plans and travel dates. Within 10 days of your arrival, you must reach out to the International Center and schedule your check-in meeting. This meeting is required so the International Center can validate your J-1 status in SEVIS! Failure to arrange and attend this check-in meeting could result in your loss of J-1 status.

At this meeting, please bring physical copies of the following:

Your DS-2019
Your passport and J-1 visa
Your I-94, which can be retrieved from the government's website here
Your U.S. address and phone number (if applicable), written down
Proof of U.S. health insurance

At this meeting, the International Center will validate your J-1 status, which is required for you to remain in the U.S., work, and get a Social Security Number if needed. A brief orientation will also be provided.