Skip to main content
International Student and Scholar Services
Airliner in flight with the sun in the background
overrideTextColor= overrideCardAlternateTextColor= overrideDisableBackgroundImage= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection= overrideCardHideByline= overrideCardHideDescription= overrideCardShowButton= overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=
You may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your DS-2019.
Prepare for Departure
Port of Entry to U.S.
Getting to Your BYU Destination
Social Customs and Etiquette

Organize your documents and have these documents in your hand (and not packed in a suitcase) for the officer to review:

  • Unexpired Passport (valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry to the U.S.)
  • Valid Visa (unless exempt from visa requirement)
  • DS-2019
  • SEVIS fee receipt
  • BYU Department Offer Letter or Invitation
  • Financial Documentation

Additional things to pack into your carry-on:

  • Currency: U.S. currency and credit cards from home. Some cash is highly recommended
  • Change of clothing and toiletry items in case of unexpected delays or lost baggage
  • Medications: Prescriptions must be obtained from a doctor and medication is dispensed by a pharmacist in the U.S.
  • Eyeglasses and/or contact lenses: These are quite expensive in the U.S. and not fully covered by medical insurance

Plan your first day/night

Remember to plan your transportation, destination, and how you will communicate (as needed). Plan how your phone (service, data, etc.) works internationally. Not all airports have reliable and free Wi-Fi. If someone is picking you up, plan accordingly because the U.S. Customs line can take more than an hour.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the government agency that controls admission to the United States. Your visa and other immigration documents are evidence of your eligibility to apply for admission in a particular visa status at a U.S. Port of Entry. The CBP officer makes the final decision on your admissibility.

What to Expect:

  • There will be two lines for Customs and Immigration—one for U.S. citizens and the other for international visitors.
  • The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review your documents and ask you a few questions about the purpose of your travel to the U.S.
  • If all is in order, the officer will admit you to the U.S. in the immigration in the requested visa classification.
  • CBP creates an electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure Record. Check it a day or two later to make sure it correctly shows your:
    • date and place of arrival
    • immigration status
    • expiration of this status (for J-1, it should state D/S direction of status)
  • Make sure to take all of your papers and belongs with you
  • U.S. CBP Information

Transportation from the SLC International Airport to BYU

You will need to arrange transportation from the Salt Lake City International Airport to Provo, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south. A shuttle service is available from Express Shuttle or Super Shuttle for about $30.

Less expensive TRAX and FrontRunner train services are also available. We recommend doing your own research as well, but here are the most recent instructions we have heard on how to get to Provo using these services:

  1. From the airport, take the TRAX green line to North Temple.
  2. Get off at North Temple and take the FrontRunner going south until Provo.
  3. From there, you can take the UVX bus around Provo depending on when and where you are going. You can also opt out to use an Uber or someone can pick you up from the Provo FrontRunner station.

For more information, please go to the TRAX and FrontRunner websites.

If you have friends or family in the state, you can also arrange for them to pick you up at the airport.

There are many differences between the U.S. and other countries. There are a lot of resources online you can read about. See the Edupass guide to US social customs and cultural differences. Keep in mind that the U.S. is so large that it is hard to generalize because of variations across regions.
Utah is unique in its culture due to the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  • Tipping. It is customary to tip 15-20% of your total in restaurants where you are seated and served at a table. 
  • The US uses the imperial system for measurement and Fahrenheit for temperature.
  • The prices listed usually don’t include sales tax.
  • Dates are written as “Month, Day, Year” and not “Day, Month, Year” or “Year, Month, Day.” e.g. 02/01/2022 is February 1st, not January 2nd.
  • Addresses start with building numbers instead of street names. e.g. 524 N 200 E.
  • The US uses a twelve-hour clock system with AM/PM instead 24-hour clock system, which is called "military time" here. (e.g., 3:00 PM rather than 15:00)
  • Sometimes, “How are you?” can be more of a statement in passing rather than a question.
  • Often food portions are larger than in other countries.