Before You Arrive

Students who wish to receive original documents can request an admissions package to be sent by express mail (five- to seven-day delivery). IUP is not able to pay for this service, but students can pay for express mailing using an online service that will allow you to receive your immigration documents through an express-mail carrier. You must use the website provided below—do not go through the DHL or FedEx websites directly.

UEMS Student Shipping Request: No student ID is required to complete this; simply enter all zeroes (000...).

Students can create a user name and password to set up an account. Then, select Indiana University of PennsylvaniaMain Campus, Office of International Education, as the university and office from which you wish to create a shipment. You will also need your mailing address, email address, phone number, and credit card information to complete this online request.

If you have questions or experience problems when using this online service, please use the "help" feature on its web page. Once your documents are mailed, you will be sent an email that will provide you with the tracking number and order details for your shipment.

In addition to the standard shipping charges, a "Restricted Access Country" service charge of $100 per shipment will apply for shipments to countries where US economic embargoes are in effect, which currently includes Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, Sudan, and Syria.

All accepted international students and scholars applying for an F or J visa will become part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) when an I-20 or DS-2019 is created for you. SEVIS is a national tracking/monitoring system that will allow the US government to monitor and track various events during your program of study. Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Office of International Education handles all SEVIS records for all international students and scholars. We are required to report your USA address, registration of classes, and any changes within your program at IUP. For more information, see Study in the States.

All F, M, and J visa applicants must complete Form I-901 and pay a SEVIS fee, $350 for F Visa and $220 for J Visa, to the Department of Homeland Security before applying for a new visa. Take the receipt to your interview. Dependents and spouses are not required to pay. The purpose of the fee is to cover the costs of administering and maintaining SEVIS. If you have questions, please visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program fee processing website for information on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website; call (from overseas) 011+ 785-330-1048; or email fmjfee.SEVIS@dhs.gov.

Plan as well in advance as possible. Contact your local embassy or consulate for an appointment. To find your closest US Embassy, go to the list of embassies on the US Department of State website. Visit your embassy or consulate's website for specific application procedures. IUP does not have any power to influence your consular officials, so please do not ask us to call or fax letters to your consulate or embassy. Please use the IUP letters in your acceptance packet.

As a student, you will be applying for an F-1 (I-20) or J-1 (DS-2019) visa. U.S. law states that F and J visas are given to persons who intend to remain in the U.S. temporarily and their primary purpose is for academics.

What you will need to obtain a student visa:

• I-20 or DS-2019
• SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
• Online Non-Immigrant Visa Application DS-160
  See your embassy website for more details and exceptions. Electronically submitting your DS-160 online application is only the first step in the visa application process. Once you have electronically submitted your DS-160 online application, you must contact the embassy or consulate at which you wish to apply to confirm whether you need to be interviewed by a consular office and to schedule an interview.
• Nonimmigrant visa fee payment 
• One passport photo (2" x 2")
• Valid passport
• Financial support letters and bank statements
• IUP acceptance letter
• Other documents are required by US Embassy or Consulate (TOEFL, GMAT, GRE scores or transcripts from previous institutions)

• Show all documents listed above.

• Be prepared to explain that you intend to return to your country and only remain in the United States temporarily.

• Use documents from a family business, property, or bank statement to show ties to your country. Showing ties in the United States is not helpful.

• Be prepared to explain your academic goals and planned course of study and why it is important for you to study in the United States as opposed to your country. Bring copies or official scores from standardized tests required for admission and transcripts from previous institutions. If you will be returning to a job in your country, a letter from your place of work would be helpful.

• Be prepared to explain how you will be financially supported while in theUnited States with documentation. You are required to show financial proof when applying to IUP. You should be able to show bank statements or letters from sponsors that match the information on your I-20 or DS-2019. Bring deeds, tax returns, pay stubs—the more documents showing financial support, the better.

• If your family is applying for F-2 visas, you will be asked to show proof of relationship to his/her spouse and/or children. It is preferable that families apply for visas at the same time.

• 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-immigrant Visa

If you have an F-1 or J-1 visa and have dependents who will accompany you to IUP:

• Please email or fax a copy of their passports, including family name, first name, date of birth, country of birth, and relationship to you. Send this information to intl-education@iup.edu or fax 724-357-2514 so we may issue an I-20/DS-2019 for dependents.
• Additional costs must be included on your I-20/DS-2019. The amounts for a nine-month period is $5,000 for a spouse and $3,000 for each child. You will need to provide documentation for these additional funds if your current financial statement doesn't include this.
• Please be sure to bring with you to IUP the English translation of the following documents for each child, or your child will have difficulty enrolling in school:
  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization records

You may check your visa application status by going to Visa Application Status Tracker.

Denial

If your visa is denied, you can apply again within the same year. If you decide to defer until the next semester, notify the Office of International Education in writing as soon as possible. You must defer within 60 days of your original start date to maintain the same SEVIS ID and avoid repayment of the SEVIS fee. If you defer in a timely manner, your SEVIS fee is valid for 12 months.

Approval

Please make plans for your housing and transportation.

• F-1 students
• J-1 students
  
  

Please follow these instructions for deferrals. Note that new acceptance packages will be mailed to students who have chosen to defer starting in mid-February for fall admission (late August) and early October for spring admission (January).

1. Please email intl-education@iup.edu with your name and IUP Banner ID @_____________. State which semester you want to defer to: fall or spring.
2. You will receive a confirmation email from the OIE regarding your deferral request.
3. If the Undergraduate Admissions office or the Graduate Admissions office needs more information from you, the staff there will contact you directly via email.
4. If your deferral is approved, you will receive a new acceptance package for the semester you requested.
5. If you obtained an F-1 visa with your previous I-20, please communicate that to the OIE so we can match your SEVIS number.

1. Get to know MyIUP
   You will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your MyIUP account the day after your admission (or the day after your deposit is processed for undergraduate students). MyIUP is the university portal. It is used for a wide variety of functions at the university. You will use MyIUP to register for classes, view your grades, sign up for on-campus housing, and much more. You will log in to MyIUP with your network username and password.
2. Learn more about student resources
   Visit the IT Technology Guide for students to learn about the technology available at IUP and how to use it. 
3. Get familiar with Desire to Learn (D2L).
   Most courses will offer some online presence through the use of Desire to Learn (D2L). You should take time to become familiar with this system as you will be required to utilize it throughout your academic career here at IUP. Please visit our "Getting Started with D2L" guide to get started.

1. Connect to the network
   • How to Connect to the Wired and Wireless Network with iconnect.iup.edu
   • IUP Wireless Network
   • IUP Resnet Setup Guide for those in university-owned residence halls or apartments.
   • Virtual Private Network for those with an off-campus Internet service provider.
2. Find the public computer labs
   Even if you have a computer, you may need to access a computer between classes. Public computer labs also provide printing capability and software that you may not have on your own computer.
3. Protect your computer
   • Use the latest versions of anti-virus software and anti-spyware software.
   • Run a full scan once a month.
   • Back up your files to portable storage devices (CDs, DVDs, USB drives).
   • Purchase a laptop security cable.
   • Never leave your laptop unattended in an unsecured area.
4. Protect your privacy
   • Learn how to identify fraudulent or phishing email messages that request personal information. Never send sensitive data via email. IUP personnel will never request your username, password, or other sensitive information via email.
   • Your email account is enrolled in the Anti-Spam Service. The Anti-Spam Service will flag most phishing messages, alerting you to their fraudulent nature. Flagged messages will appear in your Junk Mail folder on your email account.
   • Do not share your passwords or PIN with anyone!
5. Map your Network Drives
   • Once on campus, you will need to map your network drives. You can find information on the network mappings on our Network Drive page.
6. Sign up for the Emergency Notification System
   The Emergency Notification System is maintained solely for the purpose of notifying the university community in times of critical emergency situations. The system notifies registrants through university email accounts, voice and text messaging to cell phones, and voice messaging to home phones.
7. Learn more about technology at the IT Support Center.

Students wishing to live on campus can complete a housing contract through MyIUP. See instructions below. The on-campus residence halls at IUP are newly built and refurnished. There are a variety of types of rooms you can reserve. Visit the Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining for more details.

Wallwork Hall, our Global Awareness building, is the residence hall we suggest international students reserve because it is available during breaks and most international students will be housed here. The Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining cannot make a room assignment without your signed agreement. For general questions about housing, please see the Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining website, email IUP-OHRL@iup.edu, or call 724-357-2696.

How to Reserve On-Campus Housing

• Log in to MyIUP.
• Select Student Services.
• Select Housing Menu, and then Select or View Housing and Dining Information.
• Select the term that you will be attending IUP (fall 2020 or spring 2021).
• You will then be asked to create a Housing and Dining Application. Choose the residence hall you would like to live in and all other required information. We recommend Wallwork Hall.
• After you click Submit for the Online Housing Agreement, you will receive a message that your choices were saved successfully. Submitting this contract is the same as signing a housing contract and it cannot be canceled after submission.
• You will receive a confirmation email in your IUP email account verifying your Housing Agreement submission. To log in to your IUP email account, see the instructions in a letter from the IUP Registrar's Office included in your packet.
• Note: You are not required to pay the $80 housing deposit.

Housing Application Deadlines

All students must complete their housing contracts to IUP two months before arrival to guarantee housing. If your contract is submitted after these two months, IUP cannot guarantee on-campus housing, nor will we arrange off-campus housing.

Please note that an online on-campus housing contract is a binding legal agreement. If you sign a contract for fall, you are required to stay in the residence hall for fall and spring, unless you are a one-semester exchange student. If you sign a contract for spring, your contract ends at the end of the spring semester. Contracts are renewed every year and must be applied separately for summer sessions. Students are only permitted to live on campus while taking classes during summer sessions.

All lodging accommodations require advance reservations. Shared apartment and residence hall accommodations are available to graduate students without spouses or families. There is no on-campus housing for married couples or students with children.

Break Housing

Students living in IUP residence halls may stay in Wallwork Hall for free during holiday breaks (applications must be completed as well as other conditions being met). If an international student needs housing for winter, there is an estimated fee of $400+. Summer housing can only be applied for if students are taking classes during that term. Otherwise, they have to move out during the summer break. Cafeterias are closed during Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks. A student may stay after the fall semester (up to four days prior to returning student check-in) for a fee of $30 per night.

Many students enjoy living off-campus, particularly graduate students and those with families. Here are a few links to off-campus housing websites. Students seeking housing for IUP main campus should search for "Indiana, PA." Students seeking housing for IUP Pittsburgh East should search for "Monroeville, PA."

• RentCollegePads.com
• ApartmentGuide
• Zillow.com
• Rent.com

IUP is not affiliated with any housing company or landlords and is not able to make off-campus arrangements for students. It is important that you take the necessary steps to secure adequate housing before arriving at IUP. Most apartment managers and landlords will require signing a contract that is legally binding and will require a security deposit, which can sometimes equal one extra months' rent before moving in.

Note: In the United States, the written word is very strict. Read every document and make sure you understand it before signing any document such as a lease or contract. A lease is a binding legal contract between you and the property owner or landlord. When you sign a lease, you will typically be required to pay a "security deposit," usually equivalent to at least one month's rent, as well as the rent for the first month. The security deposit will be returned to you when you move out, provided you leave the apartment in good condition. Also, after signing the lease, if you decide that you no longer want to live in that apartment, your landlord has the right to keep your security deposit because you signed the lease. Never sign a lease unless you understand all of the terms and are completely satisfied with the apartment and surrounding property.

When you sign a lease, you are also obligated to pay the landlord monthly rent for the duration of the lease. Before you sign the lease, you should be reasonably sure that you plan to live in that location for the duration of your lease. With permission from your landlord, you may be allowed to find a tenant to take your place for the remainder of your contract. If you "sublease" your apartment to other tenants, however, you probably will remain responsible for their actions.

Meal plans are available for students and scholars attending a program at IUP Main Campus. Students living in IUP residence halls are required to purchase a meal plan. Students living off-campus can select a meal plan as well. A meal plan can be chosen through MyIUP.

Please be advised that there is always an adjustment period to the food and beverages in a new country or culture. The campus dining personnel will work with students who have special dietary requirements. No exceptions to or alterations of the meal plan contract will be allowed.

Meal plans will begin for all IUP students, domestic as well as international, with lunch/dinner on the weekend before classes. You should be prepared to pay for meals off-campus prior to that date. Please refer all dining questions to IUP-dining@iup.edu.

This is a listing of the most commonly purchased Insurance Plans for international students in the United States. Students must purchase insurance from a company in the US online with a credit card or request a brochure and mail a check or money order. Keep proof of insurance in your wallet in case of emergency.

• HTH Worldwide, 1-888-243-2358
• ISO, 1-800-244-1180 (Plans for IUP students www.isoa.org/Indiana_University_of_Pennsylvania)
• Buy American Insurance
• The Harbour Group, 1-800-252-8160
• International Student Insurance, 1-888-247-1387 ext. 103

Remember, healthcare is expensive in the USA, and international students are responsible for any costs associated with their physical or mental health.

IUP requires documentation from all new freshman and transfer students of all immunization dates. This includes the following vaccines:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Tetanus-toxoid
• Diphtheria
• Polio

Bring copies of your health and immunization history. You will be asked to complete an electronic record of your health and immunization history after you arrive and are registered for classes.

Additionally, IUP requires that all students, prior to moving into university-owned residence halls, must receive the vaccination for meningococcal meningitis or sign a document stating that the student has chosen to be exempt from receiving the vaccination.

All students will be billed for a health service fee. This fee allows you to visit IUP's on-campus clinic to obtain basic medicine for colds, visit a doctor, and receive referrals to other doctors. For a more complete list of services offered, see the Center for Health and Well-Being. This fee is not insurance. Students must also purchase a separate health insurance policy.

Those holding J-Visas are required by federal regulations to have insurance plus insurance for all J-2 dependents. Exchange visitors must select an insurance policy that is in compliance with the stated requirements below and turn in proof of insurance to their J-1 advisor.

22 C.F.R. 62.14 Insurance

In October 2014, the US Department of State issued a final rule that the requirements of J-1 insurance coverage were changed to:

1. Sponsors shall require each exchange visitor to have insurance in effect which covers the exchange visitor for sickness or accident during the period of time that an exchange visitor participates in the sponsor's exchange visitor program. Minimum coverage shall provide:
   1. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
   2. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
   3. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and
   4. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
2. An insurance policy secured to fulfill the requirements of this section:
   1. May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;
   2. May include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25 percent of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and
   3. Shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.
3. Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fill the above requirements must, at a minimum, be:
   1. Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of A-'' or above; an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd., (ISI) rating of A- i'' or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor's Claims paying Ability rating of A-'' or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above;a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of A-'' or above; a Moody's Investor Services rating of A3'' or above; or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or
   2. Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; or
   3. Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees

These new levels of coverage will come into effect on May 15, 2015, so students and scholars arriving after this date will need to meet these new requirements.

Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for travel alerts and guidance. For more information, visit the Health Service Hot Topics in Public Health.

• Money
  International money transfers to US banks will often be delayed, sometimes up to two months. Please prepare by bringing cash, traveler's checks, or credit cards that can be readily used in the US. However, please be aware that services such as hotels and transportation do not accept cash in the United States. Some banks may require you to call in advance about traveling notices. Make sure you are aware of the rules associated with your credit card so that you can make necessary purchases upon arrival.
  

• Banking
  PNC Bank, located in the Crimson Cafe, will assist interested students in opening an account during orientation. Banks often delay the payment of money that is transferred from foreign banks. It may take up to two months to cash a check or draft from a foreign bank. Banks also charge a separate fee for this service.

• Clothing
  Pennsylvania experiences all seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall). If you have been admitted for the fall semester and arrive in August, lightweight clothing is appropriate. Winter clothes can be purchased after you arrive. If you have been admitted for the spring semester and arrive in January, a heavy overcoat, gloves, and wool clothing will be necessary.

• Bedding
  You will be responsible for providing your own sheets, blankets, pillows, and towels whether you live in the IUP residence hall or off-campus. You can purchase them after you arrive, or pre-order these items (see the "DormCo" brochure in your admissions package or go to their website for more information).

• Cultural Clothing and Artifacts
  International students are invited to participate in cultural events and classroom presentations to share information about their country. Articles of clothing or something that represents your country for cultural events or presentations are most welcome.

• Medical Prescriptions
  If you take any medicines on a regular basis, you should bring at least a one-month supply. Have a pharmacist label the medication clearly for Customs inspections and bring them in your carry-on luggage. Medication is very expensive in the United States.

• Extra Eyeglasses, Contacts, or Eye Prescription (if you wear them)

• Power Adapter/Charging Plug
  In the United States, wall plugs for electronic devices only accept type A and type B power adapters. This means you may be unable to charge devices such as cellphones and laptops upon arrival. Universal travel adapters typically have at least one United States acceptable plug option.

• International Driver's License
  If you plan to rent or purchase a car soon after arriving in the US, we strongly recommend you obtain an International Driver's License in your home country which can be used for up to one year in Pennsylvania. Licenses from home countries can be used for some car rental agencies. It may take three to four months to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license. One-semester exchange students are not eligible for a Pennsylvania driver's license.

• Immunization and Health History Records

• Children's Birth Certificates and Immunization Records

• Final Transcripts from US or Institutions Abroad
  All students who have not turned in original copies of transcripts from all university classes taken must turn in final transcripts for evaluation. Turn them into the Graduate School or Transfer Services office for evaluation and advising.

New students who plan to live in a residence hall can mail packages addressed to themselves and c/o IUP Folger Post Office, 900 Maple Street, Indiana, PA 15705, USA. You may claim the packages later at the Post Office, located in the basement of Folger Hall.