Pre-Arrival Information - Summer Term 2021 at Ohio State

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

International Student
Check-In and Orientation

Summer 2021

Dear Future Student

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University. While information surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, please know that our highest priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. We are monitoring the global outbreak and are taking appropriate steps to ensure the well-being of the campus community.

Ohio State will continue to be open and classes will take place through a mix of in-person, online and blended teaching during Summer 2021. The Office of International Affairs will conduct International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Check-In virtually. International Student Orientation and Mandatory Immigration Check-In are two separate processes, and students are required to complete both.

Please note that unless the Student and Visitor Exchange Program makes any new announcements, the Department of Homeland Security’s guidance for international students from autumn will remain the same for summer term 2021.

The Office of International Affairs encourages all students to arrive 2-3 weeks before the start of classes on May 12 in order to attend Mandatory 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.

Over the next few months we will send you weekly emails to help you plan for beginning your academic journey at Ohio State. You may access the archived emails online, under Summer Term.

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.

Learn More

Purchasing Health Insurance

Student Health Insurance Benefits Plan

International students are automatically enrolled in and required to purchase the Ohio State Student Health Insurance Benefits Plan, which includes medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage. Coverage for Summer 2021 will begin on May 12. This fee will appear on your Statement of Account when you register for classes, regardless of the mode of instruction assigned to your course enrollment.

However, international students remaining in their home country and taking only distance learning credits are not subject to the Health Insurance Requirement and may request the SHI fee removed from their Statement of Account.

To request the fee to be removed from your Summer 21 Statement of Account, you will need to verify current residency in your homeland by providing your I-94 documentation (Most Recent I-94 page and Travel History page) for any arrivals and departures in 2020. You can access your I-94 information online. The requested documentation must be received prior May 5. Please contact Student Health Insurance of you have questions at shi_info@osu.edu or by phone at 614-688-7979.

For more information, including current rates, benefit details and the enrollment requirement for international students, visit shi.osu.edu.

Interim Health Insurance

International students arriving before May 12 are not covered by Ohio State's Student Health Insurance Benefits Plan until this date. Accordingly, we encourage all international students enrolling at Ohio State for the first time to purchase the university's interim health insurance plan.

Interim insurance provides up to four weeks of extended coverage under the Student Health Insurance Benefits Plan. A pro-rated, weekly premium must be paid to the Office of the University Bursar for this coverage in addition to the standard rate for comprehensive coverage for the upcoming enrolled term.

Access rates and dates information online. To fill out a form to purchase the interim insurance, please download the International Student Interim Insurance Request.

If there are any questions regarding interim insurance, please contact the Student Health Insurance Office at shi_info@osu.edu or by phone at 614-688-7979.

Vaccination Requirements

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.

You will be receiving a secure message from Student Life Student Health Services via My BuckMD web portal in the next few weeks with information on how to complete and submit the Tuberculosis test for the university requirement. Please read this message and complete any associated electronic forms as soon as possible to avoid having an academic hold placed on your BuckeyeLink account, which will prevent you from scheduling classes, viewing your grades, or receiving your transcripts.

Contact shs@osu.edu with any 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.

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

2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210

oia@osu.edu

osu.edu

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