Pre-Arrival Information

Dear Future Ohio State Student,

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University! We are looking forward to meeting you this summer. Over the next few months we will send you weekly emails to help you plan for your arrival to Ohio State.

These emails are designed to:

Address the most important topics for incoming international students.
Prepare students for the transition to campus.
Introduce future Ohio State Buckeyes to what awaits them on campus!

We look forward to sending you more detailed information in our upcoming pre-arrival emails. In the meantime, please explore our website and answers to frequently asked questions, and you are always welcome to email us at iss@osu.edu.

First Important Steps

You can get a head start on preparing for your arrival by completing the tasks below:

Activate Your Ohio State Email

It is very important that you activate your Ohio State email account as soon as possible and

prior to your arrival.

If you know your Ohio State ID number and password you can activate your Ohio State Account
(lastname.#) and Ohio State email address (lastname.#@osu.edu) at my.osu.edu. The password should have already been emailed to you by the admissions office. Your Ohio State ID Number can be found in the top portion of your official acceptance letter. Please read the Policy on Responsible
Use of University Computing Resources then click on "Activate account."

Once activated, you may check your email account by visiting buckeyemail.osu.edu and
signing in to Buckeye Mail using your lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu (Windows Live ID) and password.

If you continue to have trouble activating your account, please contact the Office of Information Technology by emailing 8help@osu.edu or by telephone at 614-688-4357.

Pay the Acceptance Fee

Once you have paid the nonrefundable $100 acceptance fee, Housing and ESL testing information are emailed to you. To pay your acceptance fee, follow the directions on your Acceptance Fee Statement, which has been emailed to your BuckeyeMail.

Learn About the Academic Culture at Ohio State

As a new international student, you are about to embark on an exciting academic journey at The Ohio State University! We recommend you take time to read through the New International Students' Guide to Ohio State Academic Culture. This resource was designed by experts across the campus to prepare incoming undergraduate students for success in the Ohio State classroom, and familiarize you with U.S. academic culture.

Arriving at Ohio State

The Office of International Affairs encourages all students to arrive 2 - 3 weeks before the start of classes on Wednesday, May 9 in order to attend orientation and immigration check-in. Students who arrive early will have better course availability, more time to explore Columbus and more opportunities to meet other students.

Orientation

Orientation is a multi-step process consisting of a mandatory immigration check-in session, as well as an orientation session, placement tests (if applicable), course registration and a mandatory health screening, etc. Your on-campus orientation will take place on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 9 a.m.

Orientation will introduce you to Ohio State and Columbus, allow you to meet other new students, help you schedule courses and provide information on topics such as maintaining immigration status, academic success, campus activities, health insurance and cultural adjustment.

Staff members from offices around campus have made special arrangements to participate in this event so that they can introduce themselves and discuss the services they provide . You are required to attend both orientation and the immigration check-in.

Mandatory Immigration Check-In

Mandatory international student immigration check-in will be held in 100 Enarson Classroom Building on May 7, 2017 between 1 - 4 p.m. You do not have to register ahead of time.

You must bring the following documents with you:

Admission letter to Ohio State
Current Passport
Current U.S. Visa
Printed I-94 (you can print the form yourself by visiting the Customs and Border Protection website: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home)
Ohio State Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (Note: if you have an active immigration record that is being transferred from another college or university in the United States to Ohio State, please also bring your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 from your previous school)
Form I-20(s) or Form DS-2019(s) of your dependents (spouse and children), if applicable

At check-in, you will be greeted by Peer Advisors (PAs) who are current Ohio State students. PAs play an integral role in introducing new international students to Ohio State by introducing them to important university resources and policies, as well as sharing their experiences as successful students. An Immigration Coordinator will also be available to answer any questions you may have.

At check-in, you will also receive information regarding:

How to maintain your immigration status
English and/or Math Placement tests (if necessary)
Required health screening
BuckID (university identification card)
Resource Guide - contains more information about Ohio State and Columbus
New student orientation
Course registration

RETURNING STUDENTS

Students returning to Ohio State after a leave of absence are required to attend the mandatory
check-in. It is highly recommended that returning students attend the orientation program.

IF YOU HAVE ADMISSIONS QUESTIONS:

If you need assistance with the following matters:

To correct a Form I-20 or or DS-2019 due to an error;
To arrange to begin at a later semester; and
To ask questions about transfer of courses from a previous college or university

Contact the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Phone: 614-292-9444
gpadmissions@osu.edu
gpadmissions.osu.edu

Please note: If you are a returning student or a student with a current immigration record that is being transferred to Ohio State, please contact the Immigration Coordinator who signed your
Ohio State Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 if the form contains any errors.

Applying for a U.S. Visa

Information about U.S. consulate policies, procedures and requirements can be obtained from the U.S. Department of State.

Applicants for student visas usually apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of their permanent residence. Click here for the list of websites for U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.

Required documents/evidence:

I-20 or DS-2019
Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses
Evidence of English ability sufficient for course of study
Evidence of intent to depart the United States after completion of studies
Passport valid for at least 6 months
Photograph (check with embassy for specific dimensions)
SEVIS Fee payment proof - Current SEVIS Fee Information

Visit oia.osu.edu for more information, or contact iss@osu.edu with questions.

Additional Resources

Visit our website to review information from previous emails and/or answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact iss@osu.edu.

- Pre-Arrival FAQ

- Global Engagement
- Office of International Affairs Facebook

- Global Engagement Facebook
- Ohio State International Affairs Twitter
- OSUGlobal Instagram

We are looking forward to seeing you here in Columbus! Please allow us to join the other offices on campus in congratulating you on your acceptance to The Ohio State University.

Kind regards,

Office of International Affairs

Quick Links

Global Engagement	Calendar of Events
Global Engagement Night	International Students
Global Engagement Facebook	Ohio Union Events

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