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International Students & Scholars Affairs

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Pre-Arrival Information

 

Admission Documents | Pre-Arrival and Orientation Guide | U.S. Visa Information | Review of Immigration Documents

 

Admission Documents and Correspondence

Applicants who successfully turn in all required documents, and who meet the admission requirements should expect to receive their Admission Packet within two weeks depending on the shipping option selected. Newly admitted students should expect to receive the following documents in their Admission Packet:

• Admission Letter
• Welcome Letter
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Pre-Arrival Booklet and Information
• Health History and Medical Form

You should continue to check your e-mail for important information about confirming your visa issuance, airport pick-up, housing, orientation, network account set-up, deferral or cancelation. Please continue to keep your e-mail address updated and check for messages from global@wou.edu or buncale@wou.edu.

 

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Pre-Arrival and Orientation Guide

* Download the complete Pre-Arrival and Orientation Guide here. (PDF)

In the Pre-Arrival and Orientation Guide you can learn about:

• International Students and Scholars Affairs Office
• Immigration
• Academics
• Housing
• Online Services/Resources
• Paying Tuition
• Health
• Student Life
• What to Pack
• Transportation
• And More!

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Visa Information

Visa Information | Getting your U.S. Visa | What to Expect at the Airport/Port of Entry | A Review of Immigration Documents

 

After being admitted to Western Oregon University, and proving that you have sufficient funds to cover your first academic year of study in the U.S., you should be issued an I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document.

 

Important things to remember:

• Double check your I-20 or DS-2019 for spelling errors or mistakes (in your name, birth date, or course of study) and make sure it matches your passport. Contact us immediately if it needs to be corrected.
• You are encouraged to apply early to get a U.S. Visa because at certain times in the year it is hard to get a visa appointment and processing times may be long.
• DO NOT buy plane tickets before you receive a visa! You may only enter the U.S. 30 days before the Program Start Date and should arrive before the first day of classes.
• If you cannot attend by the Program Start Date, you will need to contact the us to defer the I-20 or DS-2019 and attend WOU at a later term.

Before applying for a visa, it is recommended that you have general knowledge about visas, know any conditions that your visa has, and understand the rules and regulations international students must follow.

 

The Travel.State.Gov website offers up-to-date information about visas and forms. It is highly recommended that you read this site.

 

The Education USA website offers information for international students planning to study in the U.S. and provides support and resources in countries around the world. Visit an Advising Center in your home country to learn what it offers.

 

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Getting your U.S. Visa

 

Contact the U.S. Embassy in the country you will apply for a visa in. Each Embassy or Consulate may require different or additional information for the visa application process.

 

First, you will need to set up a visa appointment. Most of the time, this can be done online and you may need your I-20 or DS-2019 information to complete the visa appointment time registration.

 

Required Documents

Each applicant for a student visa must submit these forms and documentation as explained below.

 

• Immigration Form I-20 (for an F-1 nonimmigrant student) or DS-2019 (for a J-1 exchange visitor). You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form I-20 or DS-2019; by signing it you acknowledge that you have read page two and agree to comply with the terms and conditions of your admission.
• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160.
• A Passport which is valid at least six months beyond the intended period of stay in the United States.
• One 2x2 photograph.
• A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee.
• The SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.

 

Other Documents (with certified English translations)

All applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Admission letter to Western Oregon University;
• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;
• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, IELTS, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;
• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study;
• Supporting documents which strengthen your claim that you will return to your country after completing studies;
• Other documents which may vary depending on which country you are from.

 

 

The Visa Interview and Questions

The Immigration and National Act has a strict set of requirements which must be met by applicants to qualify for the student visa. At the visa interview, the consular officer will be able to determine in a few minutes whether you qualify for the visa or not. It is important that you are prepared and know the qualifications for obtaining a student visa. You must:

• Have a residence abroad with no immediate intention of abandoning that residence;
• Intend to depart from the United States upon completion of the course of study; and
• Possess sufficient funds to pursue the proposed course of study.

You should expect the interview to be conducted in English and not in your native language. Since time is limited, keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point. Be confident and polite because the initial impressions you create are critical to your success.

 

Click on the picture to see commonly asked U.S. Visa Interview Questions and Tips.

 

If you are denied a student visa, get the reasons you were denied in writing and ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal. Contact the ISSA office if we would be able to help or if you will need to defer your I-20/DS-2019 to a future term.

 

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What to Expect at the Airport/ Port of Entry

 

First you will need to plan your arrival. Review the Travel Arrangement page to learn more information about airport pick-up dates, and arrival information. Know that you should not make travel arrangements until your visa has been confirmed, and that you may be refused entry if you arrive more than 30 days before the Program Start Date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.

 

Follow the links for up-to-date detailed arrival information specific to each status:

Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry … What a (F-1) Student Can Expect

Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry … What an Exchange Visitor (J-1) Can Expect

 

Highlights of what to expect upon arrival:

• Due to heightened security concerns since the attacks of September 11, 2001, your carry-on and checked luggage may be thoroughly searched by airport personnel. Do not lock your bags, and know the limits on liquids you can have in your carry-on baggage.
• You should expect to go through immigration and customs inspections at the US port of entry. Allow enough time (a few hours to be safe) for immigration and customs procedures to make any connecting flights.
• The following documents should be carried with you, and never packed in your checked baggage: passport, visa, I-20 form or DS-2019 form, admission letter, SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, and evidence of financial resources. Present these documents to the immigration officer.
• Be prepared to state the reason you wish to enter the United States and your final destination. An appropriate response is "to attend Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon”.
• Note for transfer students: If you are traveling while transferring from another US school, your WOU SEVIS I-20 may read "transfer pending from" and the name of your previous school. If you are questioned about the "transfer pending" notation, inform the immigration officer that WOU has advised you that your transfer will be completed once you arrive on campus and register for courses.
• Answer all questions asked by the immigration officer politely and briefly. Do not offer any information that goes beyond the extent of the question asked you.
• The officer will return the documents to you after stamping the I-94 card, I-20/DS-2019, and passport page with an arrival stamp. Make sure all the documents are returned to you, and do not exit until you double check everything.
• You may be asked to go to secondary inspection if your documents or situation need additional review or processing. Immigration officers will carefully look at your documents and run additional computer checks. This is normal but may take additional time.
• After the immigration area, you will collect your baggage and pass through customs. A customs inspector will ask you to declare what you have brought into the country (such as money or gifts), inspect your bags for forbidden or restricted items, and review the customs form you filled out on the airplane.

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A Review of Immigration Documents

I-94? Admission Number? D/S? Visa? DS-2019?

All these terms can get confusing for an international student. In this section, we will explain the important documents and terms. Look at the documents that you do have, and make sure all the information on them is correct.

 

 

Passport

A passport is a document issued by your government which certifies your identity and nationality. The passport Biography or ID page has your surname (last name), given (first) name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, and nationality.

Look at the date of expiry, you should plan to renew or extend your passport at least six months before it expires. If you travel on an expired/soon to expire passport, it may cause difficulties.

 

 

U.S. Visa

After applying at the U.S. Consulate abroad, and successfully passing the requirements, a US Visa will be placed inside your passport. A US visa is used for entry to the United States only; at the US port-of-entry (in the airport) the US Immigration Inspector will make the final decision about your admission to the US.

Review your visa as soon as you get it at the US Embassy or Consulate abroad.

• Check the spelling of your name, and your birth date on your visa.
• Make sure the passport number matches your passport, and the SEVIS number matches what is on the upper right side of your I-20 or DS-2019.
• The annotation section should state you will attend Western Oregon University (unless you are a continuing F-1 student which transferred to WOU*).
• The visa type/class section should have an “R” meaning regular citizen passport, and should have your visa type such as “F-1” or “J-1” if you are a student. A dependent’s visa should read the visa type such as “F-2” or “J-2”.
• Under entries, it should have an “M” meaning multiple entries or a number. Entries means how many times that visa is valid for entry into the US.
• Finally look at the expiration date. The expiration date is the last day you can use your visa to seek entry to the US. It has nothing to do with how long you may stay in the US. What determines how long you can stay in the US is your SEVIS record (I-20 or DS-2019) and I-94 card. Even if you have an expired visa, you may stay in the US as long as you maintain status. If you exit the US, you will need to renew your visa (unless traveling for 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent islands).

*A J-1 Exchange Visitor should only enter the US with the visa that has the school's (or program) name noted on it, even if the visa has not yet expired. If you change schools or programs, you must obtain a visa with the new program name noted on it before entering or re-entering the US.

 

 

I-20..............................................DS-2019

I-20/DS-2019 SEVIS Document

The I-20 (for F visa holders) or DS-2019 (for J visa holders) is an immigration document given to applicants by a government approved school, which certifies that the applicant has been  admitted to a full-time study program and that they have demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the US. Dependents will be issued a “Dependent I-20 or DS-2019” to obtain a dependent visa.

 

An I-20 or DS-2019 is issued after an international applicant is admitted to Western Oregon University. The admitted student’s name, birth date, citizenship, nationality, program information, and funding are entered into a US government database called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The number in the upper-right corner is the student’s individual SEVIS Number.

 

Any change to the information on the I-20 or DS-2019 needs to be reported within 10 days to the Designated School Official (DSO) who is the International Student Advisor or SEVIS Coordinator. Updates or changes to the I-20 or DS-2019 will be entered into the SEVIS system and a new I-20 or DS-2019 will be produced. All immigration documents should be kept and not thrown away- they may be needed later to prove your immigration history.  Failure to maintain and keep your I-20/DS-2019 updated may result in losing your immigration status.

 

The terms and conditions of an F-1 or J-1 student are listed on page 2 of the I-20 and page 2 of the DS-2019. It is important that F-1 or J-1 students read this page to understand the rules that apply to their stay in the US, however some of the procedures have changed so contact the ISSA office to discuss your situation.

 

 

I-94 Card

The I-94 Form is a white card, usually distributed on the airplane before landing at the port-of-entry to the US, which is stapled into your passport. Since you personally fill it out, it is important that you complete it correctly. To correct a mistake it costs around $320 dollars!!!

The I-94 form has you write your family name, first (given) name, birth date (day/month/year) and country of citizenship. Make sure you write clearly, in ink, so that the information matches your passport. Most mistakes are made in the birth date’s order.

The officer will check your documents, and stamp the I-94 card with aclassification of “F-1” or “J-1” and the code “D/S”, meaning Duration of Status*. The stamp will state the date and port you entered the US.

 

If you notice any mistakes, or if the officer forgets to stamp the I-94, you should correct it IMMEDIATELY! It is much easier to make the necessary corrections at the Port of Entry upon arrival rather than later. It is always okay to ask questions if you are unsure.

 

*Duration of Status means that students may stay in the country until the completion of their program, as long as the student always maintains legal F-1 or J-1 status. This is true even if the visa has expired.

 

The 11-digit number on the I-94 is called your "admission” or “departure number". This number and your SEVIS number are used by the USCIS to identify you during your stay in the US. When you leave the US (unless traveling to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent islands for less than 30 days) your I-94 card should be removed from your passport to mark your departure. A new I-94 will be given to you when you reenter the US.

 

 

NSEERS and Special Registration

Some students may be required to register in program called Special Registration, based on a variety of factors including country of citizenship or birth. If you are subject to Special Registration, you should be given instructions on a special departure procedure you must follow in the future, and your I-94 card will be notated with a "FIN Number or NSEERS."

 

 

Documents to bring to the U.S.

Plan to bring with you to the United States any important documents that relate to your legal, medical, and academic history. You should bring notarized/certified copies of the original document with the notarized/certified English translation:

• Official copy of birth certificate or birth certificates for any children
• Copy of marriage certificate (if married)
• Medical and dental records, including certificates of immunizations and vaccinations (especially important for dependent children)
• Prescriptions for medications and eyeglasses
• Information about medical conditions or treatments
• Official transcripts from secondary schools, colleges, or universities
• Course descriptions of classes taken outside the U.S.
• International driver's license

 

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Contact

International Students and Scholars Affairs ph:503-838-8425 fax:503-838-8338 | or e-mail: global@wou.edu

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