Traveling to the U.S.

As an international student at Iowa State, you will more than likely arrive at your Port of Entry first, prior to boarding a connecting flight to Des Moines. Common connection hubs for students coming to Iowa State include Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, but can be any major Port of Entry depending on where you are flying from and what airline you take.

Be sure to carry all necessary documents in your carry on bag.

Step 1 - Immigration and Customs

• Passport Control: A CBP officer will check your passport and visa, and they’ll also look at your Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 (for J-1 students). They might ask a few questions about your plans in the U.S.—this is normal. ISSO also recommends having the following documents on hand just in case:
  • SEVIS Fee Receipt: Proof you’ve paid the SEVIS fee (Form I-901).
  • Admissions Letter: Have your Admissions letter on hand. If you've already registered for classes, it can be helpful to have a print out of your class schedule as well.
  • Financial Documents: Proof of funds, like bank statements or scholarship letters.
• Biometrics: You’ll likely have your fingerprints taken and a quick photo snapped.
• Customs Declaration: After immigration, grab your luggage and head through customs.

Step 2 - Secondary Inspection (if needed)

Sometimes, students are asked to go through a secondary inspection for more questions. Don’t stress—this is pretty routine. Just be honest and answer their questions.

Step 3 - Re-check Your Luggage and Go Through TSA

If you are boarding a connecting domestic flight at your Port of Entry, you will likely need to re-check your luggage with your airline and go back through security prior to boarding.

If CBP has any questions about your immigration record, I-20/DS-2019, or plans to study at Iowa State, they may contact ISSO. They already have our contact information, so you shouldn't need to provided it to them.

If you do need to contact us, you can contact us during business hours at 515-294-1120 or after hours by calling the ISU Police Department at 515-294-4428 to be connected to our emergency line.

By the time you arrive in Des Moines, you should have already gone through immigration and cleared customs, so no further inspections are needed. Just follow signs for security, exit down the escalators, and head right toward baggage claim and transportation pick up.

As a new undergraduate student to Iowa State, ISSO collaborates with University Transportation services to provide you with a one time free shuttle from the Des Moines International Airport to Iowa State University's campus in Ames. Please visit the Your University Shuttle section below for more information.

August 3rd to August 12th

For undergraduate students arriving for Fall 2025, ISSO recommends that you arrive no earlier than August 3rd, as this is when early arrival housing options become open to you.

You must arrive by your program start date, which is August 12th.

If you are unable to arrive by August 12th, please reach out to the Office of Admissions at admissions@iastate.edu to request late arrival approval.

To book your shuttle, please follow these instructions:

• Log into Cystart using your NetID and Password or use the Limited Services log on if you do not yet have your university NetID set up.
• Select International Student Orientation from the menu on the left side of the screen.
• Based on your immigration status, open orientation checklist that applies to you.
• In the Pre-Arrival part of the checklist, locate the Arrival to Ames e-form.
• Completely fill and submit this form, making sure to also complete the attached booking form.
• Please make sure to submit this form at least 3 business days prior to your arrival, so we have adequate time to arrange your shuttle.

If for any reason you are unable to submit this form, please email isorient@iastate.edu and we will assist you.

Once you've arrived at the Des Moines International Airport, exit passed security and follow signs for baggage claim. 

For students arriving during the recommended arrival window, be on the look out for our ISSO Welcome Leaders, who are there to assist you upon arrival. You will recognized them by bright red Iowa State shirts.

Once you've collected your bags, you may wait near baggage claim until your pick up time, which you will find in your shuttle confirmation email.

15 minutes prior to your pick up time, proceed to the loading lane outside baggage claim and look for the large 15 passenger vans with Iowa State University decals on the side. This is your shuttle. 

If you've connected with an ISSO Welcome Leader, they will assist you in locating and boarding your shuttle.

Your shuttle will depart within 2 hours of your declared arrival time.

If you are bringing guests or family members with you to attend orientation, passengers above the age of 18 can travel with their student. Please include an accurate guest and baggage count with your reservation so we can assure all passengers are accommodated. 

Please note: guests are responsible for their own return transportation.

For those traveling with small children, we recommend booking through Executive Express, as University Transportation Services is unable to assist passengers under the age of 18 due to liability concerns.

Your drop off location will depend on where you plan to spend the night on the day of your arrival.

Arriving Prior to the Recommended Arrival Window

If you are arriving prior to the your semester's recommended arrival window, your drop off location will likely be a hotel. Please give the full address of the hotel you have booked so our drivers know where to drop you off.

Arriving for On Campus Housing

If you have a contract for on campus housing, you will need to apply for Early Arrival through your StarRez portal. If approved, you may be able to move directly into your permanent housing. If you don't receive approval, you will instead be directed to Interim Housing in Maple Willow Larch, where you will stay until day 1 of orientation. On day 1 of orientation, ISSO will have vehicles available from 4pm to 8pm to assist you in moving from Maple Willow Larch to your permanent housing assignment.

Arriving for Off Campus Housing

If you are planning to live off campus, you will want to make sure that your housing is available on the date you plan to arrive and what their move in procedures are. So long as you are able to move in, you can list your off campus housing as your drop off location. If not, you will want to make other arrangements.

Arriving After 4pm

If you are arriving after 4pm on any day within the arrival window, you will automatically be directed to Maple Willow Larch for the night. You will then be able to make the transition to your permanent housing the following day, if it is available. 

International travel can be hectic and delays often happen. If your flight gets delayed and will make you miss your shuttle pick up, make sure to communicate with University Transportation Services your new arrival time, and they will adjust the pick up schedule to get you on a later shuttle. 

To make changes to your reservation, please email isorient@iastate.edu regarding what you need to change.

To cancel your reservation, please contact isorient@iastate.edu as soon as possible to prevent delays or unneeded trips for our UTS Shuttle Staff.