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Pre-Arrival Reminders
WARNING!(IMPORTANT IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENT REMINDER) Please remember to visit the Office of International and Off-Campus programs and the Summer School when you arrive on campus. All new international students are required by US immigration law to visit and register with this office within 15 days of their program start date. During this visit, students must bring their passport with student visa stamp, I-20 or DS-2019 document, and the I-94 card issued by US. Customs upon entrance into the United States. Failure to properly meet this requirement could jeopardize your immigration status in the United States.
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CLASS REGISTRATION:
US immigration regulations require that F-1 and J-1 students maintain full-time status at all times. This means that undergraduates must be enrolled for a minimum of 3 courses (four credits per course) per semester. Full time enrollment at the graduate level is determined by the individual department or program; This usually means a minimum of 3 courses per semester (three credits per course).
PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST:
Study in the United States, as you know, requires a great deal of advanced planning. Here are some practical considerations you need to think about as you prepare to leave for the US:
- Have you received your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 and obtained your F-1 or J-1 student entry visa?
- Have you received arrangements for housing at the College?
- Have you arranged your travel plans so that you will arrive on the announced date for International Students and attend the orientation program for new international students?
- Do you have a small amount of US currency to cover the initial expenses of your arrival (i.e., bus and taxi fares, meals, etc.)?
- If you are bringing over $10,000 in cash to the United States, make sure you declare it on your customs form; otherwise the Customs officials have the right to confiscate your money and charge a fee.
- Do you have traveler's insurance to cover medical emergencies?
- Have you budgeted for the expense of health insurance, including coverage for your family if they are accompanying you?
- If necessary, have you made arrangements for transferring money to the US? Do you know what documents are required? What are the restrictions on the transfer of funds to the US? How much lead time is necessary?
- Have you packed a variety of clothes to keep you warm & cool during Ewing's changing seasons?
- Have you packed all sharp objects (pocket knives, scissors, etc) in your luggage and not in your carry-on? If not, it will be confiscated during the security clearance.
- Are planning to drive in the United States? If so, consider obtaining an International Driver's License from your home country. (If your immigration documents are not valid for at least 1-year at time of applying for a NJ Driver's License, you will not be eligible to obtain one).
