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.

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.

Learn More

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 Now."

Once activated, you may check your email account by visiting buckeyemail.osu.edu and signing in to BuckeyeMail 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 the Chief Information Officer by emailing 8help@osu.edu or by telephone at 614-688-4357.

Set up BuckeyePass

BuckeyePass is a multifactor authentication service provided by Ohio State, which is required when accessing your different Ohio State accounts. It helps protect your account even if your password is stolen. You must have BuckeyePass set up on a device that you will have with you during immigration check-in. You won't be able to complete the process without BuckeyePass. The easiest way to set up BuckeyePass is to download the Duo Mobile app on your mobile device. View instructions on how to set up BuckeyePass and download Duo Mobile.

Pay the Acceptance Fee / Tuition Deposit

Log into your Applicant Center to:

Accept your offer of admission by clicking the Accept/Decline link on the main page, even if you already accepted the offer to the prior term
Pay the tuition deposit and/or acceptance fee when accepting your admission using Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express (if required by the program and not already paid)
Verify/update your contact information

Mandatory Immigration Check-In

International students who arrive in the United States are required to attend Mandatory Immigration Check-in to complete your enrollment requirements. Mandatory Immigration Check-In is a separate process from Orientation. You will complete your Mandatory Immigration Check-In, after arriving in the United States.

You will register for a 30-minute immigration check-in virtual appointment. Registration will open on April 15 for appointments starting the week of May 10.

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 May 12

We want to minimize the number of canceled immigration check-in appointments and allow students that have the required documents to find available appointments. Canadian students do not need a visa to make an appointment.

During your appointment, an immigration check-in staff member will assist you with reviewing your student record form and the uploaded copies of your immigration documents. They will also answer any questions you may have and 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 BEFORE 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.

International Student Orientation

On April 19, you will be automatically enrolled to complete your self-guided International Student Orientation. Orientation will take place virtually through CarmenCanvas, Ohio State’s online learning management system. Please note:

You DO NOT have to register since you will be automatically enrolled. You will receive an enrollment confirmation email along with instructions through your Buckeyemail account on April 19.
Orientation is mandatory and you should complete your self-guided orientation by May 12. The Office of International Affairs will be automatically notified of your completion.

Orientation ia a separate process from Mandatory Immigration Check-In and will consist of a series of pre-recorded presentations and videos aimed at introducing you to Ohio State, providing important information and helping you become familiar with available resources. Through self-guided modules, you will learn about:

Maintaining your immigration status
Academic requirements and success strategies
Life on campus and outside the classroom
Health insurance and screening requirements
Campus health and safety
Housing and dining services

Starting May 3, you will have the opportunity to attend online information sessions and social programming via CarmenZoom. These programs will be hosted virtually by the Office of International Affairs. A full schedule of live virtual programming, including instructions for registering and links to CarmenZoom sessions, will be available in your virtual orientation's calendar.

You will also be able to interact with staff members to answer your orientation questions through global-engagement@osu.edu.

For help accessing CarmenCanvas, refer to the Get Started Guide. When orientation opens on April 19, if you have problems accessing CarmenCanvas, contact the OCIO Help Desk at ServiceDesk@osu.edu or call 614-688-4357 (HELP).

Applying for a U.S. Visa

In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of State may only be conducting emergency appointments for interviews at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. The process to request an expedited nonimmigrant visa interview varies by location.

Individuals interested in the operations of a particular post should contact that embassy or consulate directly. Contact information for embassies and consulates worldwide is available at usembassy.gov. News and updates 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. 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

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.

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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