International Student Check-In and Orientation

Dear Victor,

Greetings from the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University! We're looking forward to meeting you this spring. Over the next few weeks, we'll send you weekly emails to help you plan for your arrival to Ohio State. Please read these messages as they contain important information regarding maintaining your immigration status and completing other requirements.

These weekly emails are designed to:

• Address the most important topics for incoming international students
• Prepare you for the transition to campus
• Introduce you to what awaits on campus

To view a list of upcoming topics and review previous emails, visit our Pre-Arrival Messages page.

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. You're always welcome to email us at iss@osu.edu with any immigration questions and global-engagement@osu.edu with general orientation and arrival questions.

First important steps

Activate your Ohio State account and email address at my.osu.edu by clicking "Activate Now" in the top left corner. The admissions office should have already emailed you the password. Each student is assigned a lastname.# (frequently called a "dot number"). Your lastname.# will be your username for your Ohio State accounts, and your lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu will be your email address.

If you have trouble activating your account, please contact the Office of the Chief Information Officer at 8help@osu.edu or 614-688-4357.

BuckeyePass is a multifactor authentication service provided by Ohio State, which is required when accessing your different Ohio State accounts. You must have BuckeyePass set up on a device you will have during immigration check-in. You will not 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.

Learn how to set up BuckeyePass and download Duo Mobile.

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 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

Apply for a U.S. visa

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 the completion of studies
• Passport valid for at least six months
• Photograph (check with the embassy for specific dimensions)
• SEVIS Fee payment proof - View current SEVIS Fee information

Contact iss@osu.edu with questions.

SEVIS Fee

Each student or exchange visitor issued a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 for initial status in a new program is required to pay the SEVIS Fee.

Payment methods:

• File Form I-901 with DHS by mail along with a check, money order or foreign draft drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. currency
• Electronically submit Form I-901 to DHS using credit card or other electronic means of payment accepted by DHS
• Western Union Quick Pay
• Any future DHS-approved payment services

Online Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP) Academic English Writing Assessment

If you are required to take it, you will also receive an email to your Ohio State email from AEWP-Assessment@osu.edu with detailed instructions for taking the assessment online before your arrival on campus. Please do not schedule an appointment to take the assessment until you receive this email.

Assessment times are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is highly recommended to reserve your testing time as soon as possible. If you do not complete the Academic English Writing Assessment during the testing window in November, you will not have another opportunity to take this assessment until February 2025 and will not be able to register for any required IELP courses until the Summer 2025 semester at the earliest.

Learn more about the assessment or email AEWP-Assessment@osu.edu with any questions.

Additional resources

Visit our website to review information from previous emails and answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, contact iss@osu.edu with any immigration questions and global-engagement@osu.edu with general orientation and arrival questions.

• Pre-Arrival Frequently Asked Questions
• Academics
• Life at Ohio State
• Global Engagement
• Maintaining Your Immigration Status
• Campus Resources

Please allow us to join the other offices on campus to congratulate you on your acceptance to Ohio State.

Kind regards,
Office of International Affairs