Here are some useful informations for future students. Please do not hesitate to contact us at permias@msu.edu for more details.
Entry to the United States requires a valid passport, a certificate of eligibility, and a valid United States visa stamp. Upon entry, you will also be given an I-94 card.
Passport: Your passport, issued by your country of citizenship, should be kept valid at least six months into the future. To obtain or renew your passport, contact your home government authorities.
Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019): This immigration document corresponds to the immigration status you will be applying for. An I-20 is used to apply for an F-1 visa. A DS-2019 is used to apply for a J-1 exchange visitor visa. If you have dependents (spouse or children) traveling with you, they should also have an I-20 or DS-2019 to apply for an F-2 or J-2 visa stamp.
U.S. Visa Stamp and SEVIS Fee: If you are coming to MSU from outside the United States, you will need to obtain a visa stamp from a U.S. consulate or embassy in order to be admitted to the United States. Students and exchange visitors seeking an F-1 or J-1 visa will need to pay a SEVIS fee of $100 prior to visa issuance. For more information on how to pay the fee, please consult the consulate or embassy or visit www.fmjfee.com
Once your SEVIS fee has been paid, take your passport and apply for your visa (F-1 student visa if you have an I-20 or a J-1 exchange visitor visa if you have a DS-2019)
at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. In addition to your passport and either the I-20 or DS-2019, the visa officer will ask for documents verifying your financial resources, your letter of acceptance from the Office of Admissions at MSU, and passport-type photographs. It is best to check the website of the U.S. consulate nearest to you to verify what is required for a visa stamp: http://usembassy.state.gov.
Canadian citizens are exempt from the U.S. visa stamp requirements. At the port of entry, Canadian citizens will need to present their I-20 or DS-2019 along with proof of payment of the SEVIS fee and adequate financial support to the U.S. Immigration Inspector. If you are a Canadian landed immigrant entering the United States, you are required to obtain a U.S. visa stamp. Please contact the U.S. consulate in your area for more information.
The visa is the most commonly misunderstood immigration document. It is a stamp that the United States consulate or embassy gives foreign nationals in their passports and which they must have to enter the United States in the particular classification they request (J-1 or F-1). The validity of a visa stamp pertains only to the period during which it may be used for entry into the United States. It does not indicate how long you may stay in the United States. F and J visitors may remain in the United States with an expired visa as long as their certificate of eligibility is valid and the proper immigration status is indicated on the I-94 card. On the visa stamp, there is also an indication of the number of entries permitted, usually one, two, or M (for multiple). If a student or scholar uses up his or her entries and wishes to enter the United States again during the same validity period, he or she must obtain a new visa.
Entry to the United States: According to United States immigration regulations, F-1 and J-1 international students are not allowed to enter the United States earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.
Form I-94: You will obtain an I-94 card at the time of your entry into the United States. You should keep this card in your passport during your stay here. This is a very important document as it indicates the visa classification you are given upon entry to the United States and the length of time you may stay. It is your proof of legal entry into the United States.
Foreign Embassies: If you need information on how to contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the United States, please visitwww.state.gov/misc/10125.htm.
Transfer Students: If you are now attending a school in the United States and plan to transfer your visa status to MSU, you should check with the International Office at your current institution for the proper transfer procedure for notifying the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of your change in schools.
Travel Tips
What to Wear
The weather in East Lansing is quite variable. From September to May, temperatures range from 0˚ F to 60˚ F (-18˚ C to 16˚ C) with both rain and snow. In the summer, temperatures range from 60˚ F to 90˚ F (16˚ C to 32˚ C). It is mostly warm (often hot and humid) with generally clear skies. You will need both lightweight clothing and warm winter clothes in addition to an umbrella and raincoat. Of course, clothing for all types of weather is available in East Lansing stores, but you may find it expensive.
What to Pack
As you prepare for your trip, keep in mind that rooms in the residence halls and apartments are generally small. In order not to crowd your room (and possibly your roommate) and to avoid excess baggage charges, bring only essentials with you. Our current international students say they consider the following items most important:
• Frequently used and favorite books
• Educational instruments and supplies (calculators, paint brushes, etc.)
• Spare eye glasses or contact lenses
• Adequate clothing (including national dress for special occasions)
• Pictures, artifacts, and other items typical of your country
How to Ship Your Belongings
If you want to ship items from overseas, you should know that all shipped items must be cleared through U.S. customs at a U.S. port of entry. You can arrange to have a freight-forwarding company or customs broker take your baggage through the customs inspection and forward them to East Lansing, or you can take them through inspection yourself at the airport.
Canceling Your Plans
If your plans change and you cannot attend MSU or if you have to defer your enrollment to a different date, please contact the Offi ce of Admissions at (517) 355-8332 or admis@msu.edu.
Your Arrival in East Lansing
How to Get to East Lansing
There are no direct international flights to the Greater Lansing area, so you will have to arrange a connecting flight from a major airport such as Detroit or Chicago to the Lansing Capital City airport. We recommend flying to Lansing. Taxi service is available from the Lansing airport to the university. Bus and train service to East Lansing from other U.S. cities is available on the Greyhound line and Amtrak, respectively. (See the Useful Web Resources section at the back of this brochure for web addresses). Please do not hesitate to contact your nationality club for possible airport pickups: www.isp.msu.edu/oiss/iac.
When Should I Arrive in East Lansing?
Students who plan to live in MSU residence halls should refer to correspondence sent from the Office of Admissions or the University Housing Office for move in dates. Remember, immigration regulations state that international students are not allowed to enter the United States earlier than 30 days prior to the start date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.
Orientation
The international student orientation is a special program for you. It takes place before the fall semester. Shorter and less extensive orientations are offered at the start of spring and summer terms. International students have found the orientation program to be valuable for making new friends as well as understanding the academic requirements and support services available at MSU. Students will also receive important immigration information that will help them maintain legal status while they are in the United States. We urge you to participate in the orientation. Many current MSU students serve as orientation volunteers and assist with introductions to the campus and community. The orientation program also gives you a good opportunity to become acquainted with some of the students and staff with whom you will associate during your stay here. Please visit the orientation website at www.isp.msu.edu/oiss/orientation.
Reporting to OISS
After you arrive in East Lansing, you must check in with OISS. This process usually takes place during orientation. If you fail to attend orientation, make sure you check in at the OISS within 15 days of your arrival. Bring the following documents with you:
• Passport
• I-94 Card
• I-20 (for F-1 visa-holders)
• DS-2019 (for J-1 visa-holders)
MSU is required to check those documents to confirm your status in the United States. Failure to do so could result in loss of your legal status in the United States.
English Language Testing MSU English Language Tests (MSUELT) are administered every term during the international student orientation. Not all students are required to take the MSUELT. Only those who are provisionally admitted or those who are entering a major which requires the test will have to take it. You will receive more information about the MSU English Language Tests during the international student orientation check-in.
Advising and Registration
Advising on course selection, graduation requirements, and registration is done by academic advisors. Graduate students and undergraduates with declared majors will have an academic advisor assigned to them. Undergraduates who have not declared a major can obtain academic advising from staff in the Student Academic Affairs Office of the University Undergraduate Division (www.msu.edu/~uud).
Student Number
PID/PAN: This is your MSU Personal Identification Number (PIN). For degree-seeking students, your PID is included in your MSU admissions letter.
PAN: This is your secret Personal Access Number (PAN) that authorizes your network access. For newly-admitted undergraduate students, your PAN will be included in your admissions letter. Graduate students should expect to receive their PAN from their department or college. If you are a noncredit student, you will receive your PAN with your PID on the notification mailed from the Computer Lab. Note: If you lose your PID or PAN, contact the Virtual University Help Desk at: (517) 355-2345 or (800) 500- 1554 (toll-free).
Email Account
As a student of Michigan State University you will utilize various electronic resources and e-mail. Students MUST activate their NetID and email account at help.msu.edu/newstudent prior to their arrival at MSU. It is very important to do this even if you already have another e-mail account. Messages regarding immigration and federal regulations will be sent to your MSU email account only. If you use another email service, please forward your MSU emails to that account so as not to miss information that can affect your legal status in the United States.
Housing
Students admitted to MSU are eligible to live in university residence halls or university apartments. Because space in university housing is limited, it is not possible to guarantee you housing. If you have not submitted your housing application and appropriate fees, please do so immediately. Please visit the University Housing website atwww.hfs.msu.edu/uh.
Residence Halls
The University Housing department at MSU operates the largest residence hall system in the country, with 23 undergraduate halls, one graduate hall, and two apartment villages on the 2,200-acre park-like campus. Each residence hall is a unique living community, typically housing about 1,000 male and female students with continuous food service from 7am to 7pm weekdays and 24-hour-a-day reception desk service. Each hall has laundry facilities, fitness centers and many part-time employment opportunities so you can work where you live. Available in each room is cable hookup for television featuring MSU’s Channel 12, where you can see recent-release movies; ethernet hook-up for your computer for fast internet service; and voice mail service for all those friends who call while you’re away. Also available in selected halls are Sparty’s Convenience Stores for quick-stop shopping.
University Apartments
University Apartments provide a unique housing option that offers the convenience and affordability of campus living in a quiet academic setting. More than 1,800 apartments are available in two villages on campus, all owned and operated by Michigan State University. Each village has a distinctly communal feel, with a diverse mix of people from around the world, and on-site staff to attend to problems and coordinate a wide range of social activities. In many respects, University Apartments are ideally suited to students with children. University Apartments offer a clean comfortable environment, with a wide range of family activities and support services. Please note that University Housing cannot guarantee furniture in the apartments. Some furniture is available but you need to ask for it from University Housing when you check in. See the OISS website for more information and suggestions for obtaining furniture. For more information, including floor plans and rental rates, please visit the University Housing website atwww.hfs.msu.edu/uh.
Off-campus Housing
Students who want to live off-campus have many choices. Apartment buildings close to campus offer one and two- bedroom apartments for about $500 to $700 per month. For more information about living in East Lansing and the surrounding area, visit The ELmanac’s website atwww.elmanac.msu.edu.
Temporary Accommodations for Early Arrivals
Temporary accommodation may be available if you arrive on campus before the residence halls open. For more information, please contact the University Housing Office at (517) 353-9300.
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a networked computer system set up in the United States to track information on non-immigrant international students and scholars attending school in the U.S. The SEVIS requires authorized educational institutions, such as universities, laboratories, non-profit organizations and secondary schools, to monitor international students and scholars and maintain their records. The SEVIS can only be accessed by the Designated School Officials (DSOs), who are authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to utilize the system. The DSOs must keep records of any "reportable events" on international students and scholars, such as arrival/departure, school transfer, no-show, leave of absence, extension/termination of educational program, change of major, change of academic level, dependent/family information and work authorization among others. International students and scholars who violate their visa requirements become subject to investigation by the officials of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and possible removal (deportation) from the United States.
The City of East Lansing
MSU is located in East Lansing, which is part of the Greater Lansing area. East Lansing, a city of about 50,000 people, is a strong community of close-knit neighborhoods, excellent public schools, extensive neighborhood parks, and exceptional leisure time recreational facilities. The city’s public library is one of the finest in the state and is used regularly by students to study and do internet research.
Students also use the city’s many recreation facilities including the outdoor family aquatic center, biking and hiking trails, and championship soccer and softball fields. The East Lansing Hannah Community Center provides fitness facilities and a pool that many students use regularly. The Hannah Center can be reached via CATA bus service or a short walk from north campus. East Lansing’s downtown is a bustling social and commercial center where students mingle with residents, shop, dine and have fun. One of the city’s biggest assets is the MSU campus. It is a giant arboretum whose beauty can be enjoyed year round. The university offers students and residents a rich cultural life of symposia, concerts, theater, museums, and, of course, sports. The city works hand-in-hand with the university to provide a safe and supportive environment for all students. For more information, please visit the City of East Lansing’s homepage atwww.cityofeastlansing.com.