Pre-Arrival Information - Autumn Semester 2020 at Ohio State

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

International Student
Check-In and Orientation

Autumn 2020

Dear Future Student

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University.

Ohio State colleges and departments are currently determining mode of course delivery. Some will be in person, some will be online (“distance learning”), and some will offer a blend of in-person, online and other activities. The Registrar’s office will notify you by the end of July when schedule revisions are complete and yours is ready to view through buckeyelink.osu.edu.

To prepare yourself for the transition to campus, check for communication from the university in your Buckeyemail and visit the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website.

The Office of International Affairs will still conduct international student orientation and mandatory immigration check-in virtually.

Over the next few months we will send you weekly emails to help you plan for beginning your academic journey at Ohio State. The emails will also be archived online.

In the meantime, please explore our website, and you are always welcome to email us at iss@osu.edu.

Learn More

Important Updates for Autumn 2020

The U.S. Government has rescinded the guidance issued on July 6, 2020 by the Department of Homeland Security that prohibited international students who only take online/distance learning courses this autumn from remaining in the United States.

The Office of International Affairs anticipates further guidance from SEVP and a notification will be sent to international students. We will also update the answers to frequently asked questions to help clarify areas of concern regarding Autumn 2020.

Please note that information is subject to change as situations are fluid due to COVID-19 and government agency policies that may be modified.

Mandatory Immigration Check-In Registration is Open

International students who arrive in the United States are required to attend immigration check-in to complete your enrollment requirements.

You will register for a 30-minute immigration check-in virtual appointment. Registration is now open.

At the moment, we ask that you only register for an appointment if you have:

A valid visa or
A confirmed visa appointment with an embassy or consulate before August 30

We want to minimize the number of canceled immigration check-in appointments and allow students that have the required documents to find available appointments.

During your appointment, an immigration check-in staff member will assist you with completing your student record form, uploading copies of your immigration documents and will answer any questions you may have, as well as discuss next steps before classes begin.

In order to make the process go smoother, please read through the directions and complete the Student Record eForm in advance. You will input your local address and emergency contact information through the eForm. If you have access to a scanner or camera phone, you can also upload your immigration documents.

Once you have filled your information, please save the student record form as a draft and an immigration check-in staff member will review the documents for accuracy with you before its official submission.

You will need to have the following documents uploaded for your immigration check-in appointment:

Current Passport
Current U.S. Visa
I-94 card (Print a copy at cbp.gov/i94)
Ohio State Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (Note: if you have an active immigration record that is being transferred from another institution in the U.S. to Ohio State, please 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

Reach out to iss@osu.edu with any questions.

Health Screening and Tuberculosis Test Update

As a part of the mandatory Vaccination Requirement, international students who arrive in Columbus and will take in-person classes at Ohio State must complete Tuberculosis (TB) testing to eliminate the possibility of active infections on campus. This is required of all new international students, any returning international student after spending one semester or more in their home country or abroad, and any international student switching from an undergraduate degree program to a graduate-level program.

To protect you and other students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Student Life Student Health Services will NOT be hosting in-person health screens this year to assist with the Tuberculosis test requirement. It is highly recommended that all international students complete their Tuberculosis test before their arrival to the university.

Student Life Student Health Services sent an email on July 9 outlining the new process for completing a Tuberculosis test and Virtual Health Screening. Please reference their email for more information.

If you are unable to complete a Tuberculosis test before your arrival to the university, you will be able to complete a Tuberculosis blood test (QFT-G) at Student Life Student Health Services within the first few weeks of autumn semester.

Contact shs@osu.edu with any questions.

What to Pack

It is very important that you carry your immigration documents on your person when you travel to the United States. Do not pack them in your suitcase!

The documents you want to make sure to keep with you include:

Admission letter to Ohio State
Current passport
Current U.S. visa
Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
SEVIS fee payment receipt
Proof of funding (financial documentation as listed on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019)

Do not pack fresh fruit, produce, meat, prepared food, spices or plants. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will not allow you to bring these items into the country.

Do pack photos or items that remind you of home, but not those that are irreplaceable.

Do pack extra face masks or coverings (you should also wear one as you travel). At Ohio State and Columbus, masks must be worn in public enclosed or indoor spaces.

Weather in Columbus

Summer (June - August) high temperatures are usually between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 35 degrees Celsius). Winter (December - February) low temperatures usually range from 0 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 17 to 7 degrees Celsius). Spring (March - May) and fall (September - November) temperatures are in between. The summers tend to be humid with occasional thunderstorms. During the winter, Columbus can get a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Additional weather information is available from The Weather Channel. Enter "43210" into the search bar.

Entering the United States

Prior to traveling from your home country to the United States, it is important that you prepare for your inspection at the port of entry (first place of arrival in the United States).

Upon your arrival, an immigration official from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will review a variety of your immigration documents before allowing you to officially enter the United States. This official must be satisfied that you intend to attend the school specified on your F-1 or J-1 visa and/or Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. The immigration official will inspect the documents you present to ensure their authenticity.

Visit the Customs and Border Protection website for a complete overview of what you can expect upon arriving at a U.S. port of entry.

Make sure that your passport is stamped at the port of entry, showing the date and place of entry, non-immigrant status (F-1 or J-1) and the 'admitted to' notation (D/S). This information is recorded electronically by CBP, but instead of being given a paper I-94 at the time of entry, you will later be able to print the form yourself by visiting the CBP website at cbp.dhs.gov/I94. Please make sure that your passport is stamped appropriately. You want to see "F-1 D/S" if you are an F-1 student, and "J-1 D/S" if you are a J-1 student. This is a necessary step to confirm your legal immigration status.

Remember to print your I-94 before coming to your immigration check-in appointment and each time after re-entering the United States.

Secondary Inspection Requirements

If the inspector cannot automatically verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be escorted to an interview area known as "secondary inspection." Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information. Verifications are done apart from the primary inspection lines so that an individual case will not cause delays for other arriving passengers.

In the case your admission/participation needs to be verified, we strongly advise that you have readily available the contact information of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at Ohio State. Immigration coordinators at OIA may be reached Monday through Friday at 614-292-6101 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., (Eastern Standard Time), except during university holidays when our office is closed.

Connect With Other Buckeyes Virtually

Join the New Ohio State International Students - 2020 Facebook group using your Ohio State email. The group will post about events happening during orientation, and you can meet and chat with your fellow new Buckeyes!

The Global Engagement team oversees all orientation and social programs both before the semester begins and during the academic year. There are a few engagement opportunities this summer:

Online Speed Friending – every Wednesday, 6 p.m. EST
Online Game Night – every Thursday, 6 p.m. EST
Virtual International Film Series – every fourth Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. EST

Download the Global Events at Ohio State App and like the Office of International Affairs and Global Engagement's Facebook pages to stay updated on events this summer and throughout the year.

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.

Kind regards,
Office of International Affairs

2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210

oia@osu.edu

osu.edu

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