Terra Dotta Tutorials

Your User Homepage

In the Terra Dotta User Homepage, you can review your Terra Dotta activity with ISS, including immigration update requests, messages from ISS, and basic profile information.

 Records: In this section, you can:
 View the status of your immigration record updates
 Finish a record update you started, but did not submit yet
 Review your immigration record history

Profile: In this section, you can:
 Review your basic profile information
 See who is your assigned ISS advisor
 Add a profile photo, SMS number, and cc email address (your contact information must be updated in your MyUW Student Center)

Messages: In this section, you can:
 Read all written communication sent to and from ISS
 View the date and time the message was sent

  Search Forms by Category (On the top right-hand corner)
 Access all types of immigration record update requests available for submission

How to make appointments.

1. Go to your Terra Dotta immigration portal and log in.
2. Click “House” icon the top left corner and click “Staff” in the bottom.
3. You can find your ISS advisor and click their name. To know your ISS advisor, click here.
4. Click “Requesting an appointment or information” button.
5. Briefly mention about the reason why you are making appointment in the Subject line.
6. Select an available time by clicking “Click to Request Appointment Time”
7. Please include key information in the Message box about what you wish to discuss during the appointment.
8. Click “Send” then you will receive an appointment confirmation email in your inbox.

How to cancel appointments.

1. Go to your Terra Dotta immigration portal and log in.
2. Click “House” icon the top left corner and click “Staff” in the bottom.
3. Find your appointment information in the “Information Requests” section on the lower left corner of the page.
4. Find and click on the appointment you would like to cancel, then click “Cancel” button.

Please try to cancel the appointment at least 2 hours before the appointments. 

How to send information requests to your advisor.

1. Go to your Terra Dotta immigration portal and log in.
2. Click “House” icon the top left corner and click “Staff” option.
3. You can find your ISS advisor and click their name. To know your ISS advisor, click here.
4. Click “Requesting an appointment or information” button, write your requests and click “send”
5. After clicking “Send,” you should receive an automatic reply.

Click and watch the below video for detailed instruction.

How to access copies of your immigrations documents.

1. Go to your Terra Dotta immigration portal and log in.
2. Click User homepage on the top left corner.
3. You can find and click completed record under the “Records” column.
4. You find the electronic copy of your I-20 under the “Attached Document ” section

You can also find from “Academic Objective” section:
1. After logging in to Terra Dotta, click User homepage on the top left corner.
3. You can find “Academic Objective” under the “Records” column.
(usually under the semester you started at UW-Madison.)
4. You find the electronic copy of your I-20 under the “Attached Document ” section.

If you are unable to find the electronic copy of your old I-20s or other immigration documents, you can send an information request to your assigned advisor in Terra Dotta. Please be aware that ISS is not required to keep all copies of your previous I-20s.

Click and watch the below video for detailed instruction.

How to find forms for your immigration-related requests.

1. Go to your Terra Dotta immigration portal and log in.
2. Click “Search Forms by Category”  on the top right-hand corner
3. Choose and click your current status.
4. Click the student visa category that matches your visa status.
5. You can find different e-forms from the list.

Click and watch the below video for detailed instruction.

How to extend your I-20/DS-2019

If you will not complete your academic program by the program end date stated on the I-20, you must apply for an extension in advance.
Read Extension of Stay: How to extend your I-20/DS-2019 first.

To apply for an extension, click Program Extension and sign-in to Terra Dotta.

Note: only medical or academic are acceptable reasons per immigration regulations. 

How to get a Travel Signature

ISS is currently working remotely. All requests for a travel signature must be done through an I-20/DS-2019 reprint request in Terra Dotta.

Steps:
1. For current F-1 students, choose “I-20 Reprint Request” on Terra Dotta
For current J-1 students, choose “DS-2019 Reprint Request” on Terra Dotta
2. Login with NetID username and password
3. After you begin, upload the Current Unofficial Transcript from your Student Center.
4. Complete the “Document Mailing Information” and “I-20 Reprint Request Form” under Questionnaire.
–> When completing I-20 Reprint Request Form, choose “Other” for #3, and explain “Travel Signature Request” for #4.
–> If you are traveling with your dependents, please choose “Yes” for #5 (F-2 or J-2 dependent should travel with the same documents)
5. Click “Submit” on the top.

Please plan ahead. ISS may take approximately 15 business days to issue a new I-20 or DS-2019. Our current processing times are updated on our contact page.
Global travel advisories and restrictions change frequently. Check U.S. Centers for Disease Control global travel advisories and your airline for updates. You must carry your important travel documents.