When to Arrive
You must be at UWM and ready to start attending classes on the first day of classes, which is the start date on your I-20. F-1 students can enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the start date on the I-20; this date is listed on your I-20 as your “Earliest Admission Date”.
Graduate students with assistantships must arrive to campus prior to the start date on your employment contract.
When booking your flight to the U.S., consider the following:
- Date of flight: Think about where you will stay when you arrive in the U.S.
- If you plan to live on-campus, UWM Housing has strict move-in dates, and you MUST complete the Early Move In form by January 1 if you want to move in before the official move-in date, as stated in your Housing contract.
- If you plan to live off-campus, you cannot move in until your lease date begins.
- Depending on your move-in date, you may need to find temporary housing.
- UWM offers very limited temporary housing; therefore, you may need to stay in a hotel or Airbnb or with friends/relatives.
- Arrival time: Pay attention to the local time when your flight arrives and verify that your accommodation can serve you at that time. UWM Housing will be available for check-in at any time, but transportation options and private accommodation may not be available late at night. You may need to find temporary housing until you can check in.
Transportation Options Upon Arrival
The Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is the closest airport to the UWM campus. For ease of transportation, we recommend you fly into MKE if possible.