Planning Your Arrival

Planning Your Arrival to the United States

If you are traveling on the F-1 student visa, you may enter the United Status up to 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your Form I-20 (see “Program of Study”). Some students choose to travel to the U.S. to visit friends or family before traveling to Knox. You must arrive in the United States on or before the program start date. If you attempt to enter the U.S. after this report date, you may be denied entry. Please notify the Office of International Services at if your travel plans are delayed.

At the U.S. Port of Entry (Passport Control and Customs)

When you arrive in the United States, you will present your passport, valid F-1 visa, and Form I-20 issued by Knox College to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. The officer may also ask to see your admission letter and evidence of financial resources (such as a copy of your Affidavit of Support form, bank statements, employment letters, or tax forms). Be sure to keep these important documents in your carry-on luggage, not in checked baggage. It’s also a good idea to carry photocopies or digital copies of your passport, visa, and I-20, stored separately from the originals.

As part of the inspection process, the CBP officer will take a digital photograph and scan your fingerprints. While CBP officers may still stamp passports in some cases, it is now common not to receive a physical stamp. Instead, your entry and immigration status will be recorded electronically in your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which you can access and print from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov after arrival.

Your I-94 record should show “F-1” as the class of admission and “D/S” (Duration of Status), meaning you are permitted to remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain valid F-1 student status. Be sure to review your I-94 information for accuracy. If anything is incorrect or missing, notify your international student advisor immediately so corrections can be requested.

Getting to Campus

Transportation to campus is available on specific dates from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, the Galesburg Amtrak train station, the Galesburg bus station. You can view these dates and submit your travel information on your Pre-Arrival Tracker.

By Plane

If you’re coming by plane to the U.S., please fly into O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago. We provide transportation on specified dates to Galesburg, IL. Please check your transportation schedule beforehand to see if your arrival matches one of the pickup days.

By Train

Each day, several trains from Chicago stop at the Galesburg Amtrak station. If you fly into O’Hare airport (ORD) and want to take the train to Galesburg, you will need to take the blue CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) line from O’Hare to the Clinton Station. The blue line ticket will cost $5 and you can purchase it at the airport with cash or a credit or debit card. At Clinton Station, get off the train and walk north for two blocks on Clinton Street. Head east (turn right) onto Jackson Street, and after one block, head north (turn left) onto Canal Street. You’ll see Union Station on your right. At Union Station, you can take an Amtrak train to Galesburg. You can purchase a ticket online by searching for a route between Chicago (CHI) and Galesburg (GBB). Please note: the blue line CTA trip from O’Hare to Union Station will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the last Amtrak train from Chicago to Galesburg usually leaves at 17:55. If you decide to take the train to Galesburg, please keep this in mind as you’re scheduling your travel.

By Car

If you’re coming to campus by car, take a look at our directions to campus. Rental cars are available at most major airports. Please note that auto insurance is required to drive a car in Illinois, and ensure you are familiar with the Illinois Rules of the Road. 

Local Dining & Accommodations

If you will arrive early to Galesburg, or have family accompanying you, you’ll need to make a reservation at a hotel in Galesburg. View information on local accommodations. Meals for new students are not provided on campus until orientation programs begin, so be prepared to enjoy many of the exciting restaurants within walking distance of campus if you will arrive early.