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PRE-ORIENTATION
Pre-orientation for international and exchange students, global nomads, and language assistants begins on Saturday, August 16, 2008. The program is mandatory for nonimmigrant visa holders; please confirm your attendance by emailing us at oisa@wooster.edu. Permanent residents and Americans living abroad are invited to join us, and they should also email us at oisa@wooster.edu to confirm their participation. Pre-orientation participants move into their fall housing assignments on Saturday, August 16. The three-day program continues throughout the day and evening on August 17, 18, and 19. Pre-orientation participants also join the general Orientation Program starting on Wednesday, August 20.
Exchange Students / Global Nomads / Language Assistants
Pre-Arrival Immigration Details / Visa Interview Tips / Port of Entry Procedures
What to Bring / Miscellaneous Reminders
Pre-orientation Schedule 2008
1) Complete the Enrollment & Action Item Checklist
2) Prepare for lawful entry into the U.S. by Saturday, August 16, 2008. (details below)
3) Submit the: Friends of International Students Application (Due June1)
4) Let us know when you secure your visa, and e-mail your specific travel itinerary by August 1.
- Free Bus Shuttles will be available from Cleveland Hopkins Airport on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. Reserve your seat: oisa@wooster.edu
Friends & Family Members: We are prepared to support new students who arrive on their own, but there will be several activities for family or friends who also make the trip. They will have the opportunity to meet our President, Dr. Grant H. Cornwell, as well as our Dean of Students, Director of Student Wellness, Chaplain and Director of Interfaith Campus Ministry, and other staff and faculty. Family and friends will also take a campus tour and enjoy a picnic with FIS hosts. On Wednesday, August 20, there will be several programs for all new College of Wooster students and their families.
*Hotel Accommodations for family and friends should be made well in advance of Pre-orientation.
*Transportation: Family and friends who arrive on August 16 may ride the free bus shuttles to Wooster; please reserve a seat on the OISA bus shuttles, or you may make other arrangements through area taxi services or rental companies. Please note: You must make your own arrangements for the return trip to the airport.
Begin immediately to prepare for lawful entry into the U.S. by Saturday, August 16. You have secured your admission to The College of Wooster, confirmed your ability to finance a Wooster education, and received your Form I-20. You have several VERY important next steps to follow:
- If you are already in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, you need to request a SEVIS transfer from the institution at which you are currently enrolled to The College of Wooster. Please contact the OISA as soon as possible to prevent the issuance of an initial I-20!
- If you are already in the U.S. and hold a nonimmigrant status other than F-1, you may need to process a “change of status” through Citizenship and Immigration Services. Contact the OISA immediately.
- If you are a citizen of a country that is exempt from the student visa requirement (Canada, Bermuda), you do not need to apply for your F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy. You may apply for your visa at the Port of Entry (POE). When you enter the U.S., you must be able to establish your identity and citizenship with a birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or passport. The officer at POE will interview you. Be prepared to show proof of financial support to complement the I-20. Once an F-1 visa is granted, the immigration officer will stamp your passport, your I-20, and your I-94 (as received from the POE). DO NOT enter the U.S. as a tourist; B-1/B-2 entry does not allow for full-time study.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing abroad, you do not need a visa to enter the U.S., nor do you need to pay the SEVIS fee. You are invited, however, to participate in Pre-orientation.
Most nonimmigrant students will follow the following procedures:
STEP 1: I-901 SEVIS FEE. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires that international students pay a $100 fee to support and administer the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Individuals can pay the fee by credit or debit card via the internet or by check or money order mailed to SEVP. Details are online. Payment is recorded in the SEVIS system, and you must present your I-901 Fee Receipt at your visa interview. *Canadian students, and others who are exempt from the visa requirement, must also pay the SEVIS FEE and must show the I-901 Receipt at the Port of Entry (POE).
STEP 2: SECURE A STUDENT VISA. If you are a citizen of a foreign country, you will need a student visa to enter the U.S. Most foreign citizens must apply for the F-1 Student Visa at a U.S. embassy in their home countries. Language assistants and some exchange students will apply for a J-1 visa. Visa processing can take several months. You can be issued an F-1 visa as early as 120 days prior to your program start date. Visit your nearest U.S. embassy as soon as possible to request an application packet. Complete the application and prepare the required documentation (Form I-20 or DS 2019, Wooster admission and financial aid letters, financial support documents, plane tickets, etc.). Schedule your visa interview appointment as soon as possible. Assuming you have the appropriate documentation to present, the visa interview is the most critical element in successfully securing your visa. Your local ‘Education USA’ advisor (usually housed within the U.S. embassy) can provide valuable advice on specific student visa requirements for your country, as well as local opportunities for pre-departure programs and information.
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The visa interview is your opportunity to convince the officer of your legitimate intention to become a student in the U.S. and to return to your home country upon completion of your studies. Be prepared. One officer may begin the interview casually and ask about the weather, or ask you to find Wooster, Ohio on a map. Another officer may have specific questions about the program you intend to enroll in, what you want to do with your degree upon graduation, or how you will pay for summer expenses if you remain in the U.S. during breaks. The more you know about where you are going and why, the better you will do!
- Ties to home: Applicants for nonimmigrant visas are viewed as “intending immigrants” until they convince the consular officer otherwise. Be prepared to show that your reasons for returning home are stronger than those for remaining in the U.S. Ties to home include things that bind you to your homeland or current place of residence, such as job, family, investments, or financial prospects that you own or will inherit. The officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. There is no specific explanation, document, or letter to guarantee visa issuance.
- English: The interview will be in English.
- Speak for yourself: Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. Be prepared to speak on your own behalf.
- Know the program: You must convince the officer that you are planning to study, not to immigrate. Be prepared to articulate why you want to study in the U.S., why you have selected The College of Wooster, and how this choice relates to your professional career when you return home. You should be able to demonstrate some knowledge of the national job market in your country for the skills you will learn in college. Be prepared to articulate the value of a liberal arts education. Bring transcripts, exam results, and anything else that demonstrates your academic commitments.
- Be concise: Consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct quick and efficient interviews. Many decisions are made on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. What you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep answers short and to the point.
- Supplemental documents: The content and the context of your supporting documents should be clear at first glance. You have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
- Not all countries are equal: Applicants from countries with severe economic problems or where many students have remained in the U.S. as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas, and they are more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after they study in the U.S. Applicants from countries where the U.S. has strained relations must also be especially prepared to articulate their intent to pursue and fund their studies prior to returning home.
- Employment: Your main purpose for coming to the U.S. should be to study. While some students may receive special permission to work off campus during their studies, such employment is rare and incidental to the main purpose of completing a degree.
- Finances: The U.S. Government and The College of Wooster need assurances that you have the ability to finance your education and that you won’t take a job illegally or drop out of school for financial reasons. Your chances are improved if your parents are sponsoring your education. If anyone else is sponsoring you, be prepared to explain your special relationship with this person, justifying his or her commitment of thousands of dollars to your education. Provide evidence of your sponsor’s finances – sources and amounts of income. Have the sponsor write a letter listing and documenting the source(s) of funding.
- Maintain a positive attitude: Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal. Request to have the reason you were denied put in writing. If you are denied on the first interview, make an appointment for a second interview as soon as possible and gather new information (bank statements, sponsor letter, etc.) to address deficiencies in your application or interview responses. You must bring NEW and compelling information to a second interview in order to justify reconsideration of your case.
* If you pay your first semester Wooster fee in advance of your visa interview, our Business Office can provide a letter of receipt for you to present to the officer as evidence of good financial standing at the College.
Please contact the OISA to confirm the results of your F-1/J-1 visa interview
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The F-1 and J-1 visas allow for entry to the U.S. up to, and not more than, 30 days before the start date on the I-20 or DS 2019. An entry attempt after the start date may be denied. Approximately 30 million nonimmigrants enter or leave the U.S. annually to conduct business, study, visit family, or tour the country. Security requirements will affect your entry experience, so be prepared to approach it with a positive attitude.
Carry the following items in your “carry-on” (NOT in your checked luggage):
- Passport with F-1 or J-1 visa stamp;
- SEVIS Form I-20 or DS 2019;
- Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee, Form I-797;
- Evidence of financial resources to support your academic program. Because feesare due prior to your arrival, you may request a receipt confirming payment;
- Evidence of student status (e.g., letter of admission, recent transcript); and
- Contact information for a Designated School Official at Wooster:
Anne Gates, Interim Assistant Dean of Students and Director of International
Student Affairs agates@wooster.edu, 330-263-2545.
During the flight, you will receive a CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form and an I-94 Arrival Departure Form. Ask for help if you do not understand the forms.
- Always use your full name, exactly as it appears on your passport.
- Report your address as: 1189 Beall Avenue, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio 44691-2363.
You will submit these forms to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at the first U.S. city in which you land. You must also claim your luggage, present your immigration documents, and pass through the “USA VISIT” procedures. You will be asked why you wish to enter the U.S., and you should inform the Customs and Border Protection Officer that you will be a student at The College of Wooster. An officer will take your fingerprints and your photograph. When the inspection is complete, the officer will stamp your SEVIS I-20 Form (or DS 2019) and the I-94 Card, and mark them “D/S,” which means “Duration of Status” (with an F-1 or J-1 notation). Staple the I-94 into your passport.
If your information cannot be automatically verified, you may be directed to a “secondary inspection.” In limited circumstances, you could be issued Form I-515A, Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor, which authorizes temporary admission and requires immediate action at the local Cleveland office. Failure to provide proper documentation could also result in a denial of your admission.
*SOME individuals will be asked to provide additional information as a Special Registrant under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS).
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Academic Documents. To request credit for advanced classes or work from another institution, you must submit official documents (e.g., syllabi, diplomas, certificates, transcripts). Documents should be presented prior to fall registration or as soon as possible within the first year of your program. Please contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@wooster.edu) with specific questions about credit transfer procedures. Additional information may be found in The College Catalogue.
Adapter. You may need an adapter for appliances from abroad. Electrical outlets in the U.S. provide 110-volt alternating current (AC) at 60 cycles. It may be easier and more cost effective to purchase electrical equipment here.
Alarm Clock. Bring a battery-operated alarm clock with you, to help you be ON TIME for the required Pre-orientation sessions and thereafter for classes and your other scheduled commitments.
Clothing. Students wear casual clothes most of the time – jeans and a sweatshirt are appropriate. You might also bring several semi-formal or formal outfits, as students do dress up for special events. Ethnic clothing is also very appropriate. Temperatures in Wooster range from 32?C to well below freezing. In August and September, it can be quite warm during the day and cool at night. The coldest months are January and February. If you are coming from a warmer climate, it might be wise to carry a few sweaters (light winter clothing) from the start of your journey to use as you acclimate to Wooster’s weather. Beyond that, it is fine to wait and buy winter clothing in the U.S.
Cultural Items. There are many occasions for students from abroad to share their culture and teach about their home country, both on campus and in the local community. We hope you will bring some favorite artifacts, photo books, a flag, or even ethnic fabric and clothing with you!
Food. Learn how to cook before you leave home. Bring recipes and favorite pre-packaged spices or snacks. Most meals will be taken in the dining halls, but you will have access to cooking facilities in your residence hall. Students often become “homesick” for food from home. If you stay on campus during winter, spring, or summer breaks, you will need to cook for yourself.
Money. You need money for books and other incidentals right away. We recommend that you carry with you approximately $700-$900. It is wise to use a combination of traveler's checks, cash, and/or bank checks in U.S. currency. We will help you open a local bank account during Pre-orientation.
Personal Items. We will take you shopping during Pre-orientation, but it is wise to carry a towel, a sheet, and a thin blanket for your first nights in the residence hall. You don’t need to bring items like desk lamps, paper, pens, or toiletries. These items are easy to buy here and take up precious packing space. All residence halls have electric washers and dryers for student use.
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COLLEGE FEES. Fees for fall semester are due on August 10, 2008. International students have the SAME billing timeline as domestic students, so do plan ahead. It takes time to transfer funds from abroad or to clear a check of a foreign denomination. The fee for late payment can be as high as $300. Access to room and meals will not be allowed if you have a due balance. Your fees cannot be paid with a credit card. If you need to confirm the amount of your due balance, or you have special questions or requests, contact Ms. Lisa Crawford, Accounts Receivable Supervisor, in the Business Office: 330-263-2321 or LCrawford@wooster.edu
“Billing & Payment Information” is posted on the Business Office web site.
HOUSING: The College of Wooster is a residential institution; students live on campus for all four years. Read about the residential environment at the Office of Residence Life, and be sure to submit your on-line “Housing Application,” “Signature Verification Page,” and “Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory” by June 1. **We encourage you to request the International Living Program, which houses approximately 100 students, both international and American. The student-run program works to encourage a positive cross-cultural living environment. International students have found it to be a great place to meet American friends.
HEALTH FORMS. The Hepatitis B and Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccine Form (due June 1) is required, and so is the Student Health Form (due June 15). You will not be able to register for classes without completing these forms. Bring with you any needed medications and an original of any prescriptions so you can get your medicine in the U.S. If you have questions, contact:
The Longbrake Student Wellness Center or Ms. Nancy Anderson, Director of Student Wellness.
*A Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test is required for all new students who have been living outside of the U.S. The test will be administered during Pre-orientation. A recent intradermal TB test with documented results from your home physician will exempt you from the test at Wooster. If your test is positive, you will visit the Wooster Clinic for a chest X-ray and further care as appropriate.
E-MAIL ACCOUNTS: The College will issue you an institutional e-mail account that typically will include your first initial, last name, 12 (representing your class year), followed by @wooster.edu. You will receive official notification of this from the Dean of Students, and you are responsible for accessing and using this account as soon as possible. Please note that we will use it to communicate with you before you arrive on campus! Your Wooster e-mail account is the primary vehicle through which the College will communicate with you throughout your time as a student.
MAIL: Students receive a Campus Post Office box upon arrival. Until then, letters may be addressed to:
Student Name
c/o The College of Wooster
1189 Beall Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691-2363 USA
Large packages sent prior to your arrival should be addressed to:
Student Name
c/o The Service Center
The College of Wooster
580 East Wayne Avenue
Wooster, OH 44691-2363 USA
The Service Center is not open on weekends, so you will not be able to pick up your packages immediately upon arrival.
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Exchange students are required to attend Pre-orientation and must complete the Pre-Arrival “to do list” as outlined above.
- The Business Exchange Initiative (BEI) is coordinated by the British Council. Students from Ireland / Northern Ireland are selected to study in the U.S. for one year. They are mid-program at their home university, and the preferred course of study while they are in the U.S. is Business / Economics.
- The Institute for International Education (IIE) facilitates an exchange program for students who have completed their “high school” equivalency but have not begun a university-level program. During this “gap year,” the students enroll at The College of Wooster.
- International Research and Exchange Board (IREX) is a new exchange program initiated in 2007-2008. Through IREX, administered by the U.S. Department of State, Wooster hosts mid-program students from Eurasia.
- The Japan Study Program, coordinated through Earlham College, brings to Wooster students who are enrolled at Waseda University in Japan and who are required to study abroad as part of their academic program. Participants are typically in their second or third year of studies at Waseda.
- The Witten Herdecke Exchange is facilitated through a friendship between The College of Wooster and The University of Witten Herdecke in Germany. Participants are required to enroll in a minimum of three courses, including Independent Study (I.S.). The I.S. project satisfies an academic requirement from the home university.
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Global Nomad: "A global nomad is an individual (of any nationality) who has spent pre-adult years living outside his or her country of passport because of his or her parents' career choice." (as defined by Norma McCaig, George Mason University)
Third Culture Kid (TCK): "A TCK is an individual who has spent pre-adult years living in a dominant culture that is different from the native culture of his or her parent(s)." (as defined by David Pollack) For a young person who self-identifies as a Global Nomad / TCK, “home” can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Your parents might be diplomats, international business people, educators and scholars, military personnel, missionaries, etc. A simple question of "Where are you from?" might be very difficult to answer!
Global Nomads/TCKs are encouraged to become involved with the OISA. They are invited to attend Pre-orientation, are included on the OISA listserve, receive the monthly COSMOS newsletter, and are welcome to apply for a host family through FIS. Global Nomads/TCKs are welcome to use the OISA for support, as are their parents who are living abroad. We celebrate the diverse experiences that Global Nomads/TCKs bring to our campus!
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Wooster hosts Language Assistants (LAs) in the Departments of Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. LA selection is facilitated by the individual department through the Institute of International Education (IIE). The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs handles the logistical details behind language assistant selection and hire. The OISA is also a source of support.
LAs are expected to participate in the Pre-orientation program, and they will complete employee paperwork in Human Resources during their first days on campus.
LA "to do list":
The OISA includes LAs on our email list and invites them to participate in and collaborate with the office in support of international programming on campus. International Education Week is in early November, for example, and we ask Language Assistants to become very involved in planning for that celebration. Each LA is encouraged to take the initiative to build alliances and find opportunities for the language suites to collaborate across campus!
- Language Assistants are required to enroll in two courses per semester, per their J-1 status.
- Health Insurance is through IIE, and documentation must be presented at the Student Wellness Center. Additional coverage, including dental or vision, may be purchased privately.
- Language Assistants are able to stay on campus during winter or spring breaks. It is important to register for break housing through the Office of Residence Life. There is no charge to remain on campus, but if your building (Luce Hall) is closed, you may have to move into a room in an open hall. Dining services generally are not available during winter or spring breaks.
- Most language assistants are “nonresidents” for tax purposes. The OISA website has a section on taxes in the U.S. We use CINTax, a non-resident tax return software program, and LAs are welcome to attend our tax advising sessions. IIE provides LAs with alternative tax assistance through GranTax.
- IIE is responsible for regulatory issues for LAs. To travel outside the U.S., LAs must receive the appropriate signature from IIE (on the DS-2019) to certify re-entry.
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