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Arrival & Transportation to Campus

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.  
Fall 2023 Information:

Transportation from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Milwaukee may be available for international students new to UWM who have confirmed valid visas and confirmed flight tickets into Chicago O’Hare Airport with arrival between August 6, 2023 - September 4, 2023. Panther Pickup Sign Up is required and must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the departure date listed on your flight ticket.

Panther Pickup Sign Up for Fall 2023 will open in July 2023 in your ISSS Connect portal in the DOCUMENTS & REQUESTS tab. 

Qualifying students will be provided a CoachUSA bus ticket from O'Hare Airport to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, you can get off on any of the stops leading up to and including the Intermodal Station. You can then take a taxi or ride share vehicle to your destination. Additional information will be provided upon the issuance of the CoachUSA bus ticket.

Notes: 
  • F-1 students: To complete the sign up, login to your ISSS Connect portal with your UWM ePantherID and password and navigate to the Documents & Requests section. The sign up will open in July 2023.
  • J-1 Exchange Students: Contact Sue Conway at conways@uwm.edu for sign up instructions.
  • Tickets will not be issued until August 2023. 
  • Due to the evolving COVID-19 protocols, arrival procedures are subject to change and affected students will be notified through their UWM email. 
From Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport

From Chicago O’Hare International Airport
  • Panther Pickup
    • Qualifying students may be provided a CoachUSA bus ticket from the O'Hare Airport to Milwaukee; see the Panther Pickup tab above for details
  • Coach USA Bus Service
    • Take a CoachUSA bus from O’Hare to Milwaukee General International Airport.
    • Purchase a ticket in advance (before you travel) and print your ticket
    • The CoachUSA bus has a pick up near the street exit of the international terminal. There is also a bus-center where you can find another pick up location. However, it will be much easier to board the bus when it pulls up in front of the international terminal.
    • The cost of the CoachUSA ticket is $31
    • Pay attention to the CoachUSA schedule as buses do not run late at night
  • Amtrak (Train) / Milwaukee City Bus
    • At O’Hare Airport, take the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line service to Chicago Union Station.
      • The CTA station is located in Terminal 2 of O’Hare Airport (not in Terminal 5). You need to take the free Airport Transit System to Terminal 2 and follow the sign to “CTA Trains” or “Trains to City.”
      • The CTA Blue Line costs $5 and takes you to downtown Chicago. You need to exit at at Clinton Station. From Clinton Station, it’s a 5 minute walk to Union Station.
    • At Chicago Union Station, take Amtrak Train service to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
    • From the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, take city bus Gold Line or 30/30X to UWM campus.