As a new international student, you are required to complete two orientation programs – International Student Orientation and New Student Orientation (NSO).
International Student Orientation will focus specifically on what you need to know as an international student while studying at Michigan State University.
New Student Orientation (NSO) is required for ALL new students*, not just international students. You will receive information about NSO directly from the New Student Orientation Office. Please contact NSO directly at .
*Graduate students are not required to do NSO but are required to do International Student Orientation.
Desire2Learn (D2L) is MSU's online learning system. Instructors use D2L to give students access to course materials, collaboration, submission of assignments, online testing, grades and other resources. Learning how to use D2L is an important step in getting ready to study at MSU.
The International Student Orientation D2L modules will consist of:
You will receive additional communication from OISS when the D2L modules are available as well as when they need to be completed.
As an international student you will be automatically added to our newsletter list. You will receive a biweekly newsletter in your MSU email. This newsletter will have important information and reminders to help you prepare for your arrival to East Lansing - make sure to read through carefully so you don't miss anything!
Click here for previous Welcome Weekly Newsletters!
Orientation Assistants
You will be assigned an Orientation Assistant. Your Orientation Assistant will be an international or domestic undergraduate student currently studying at MSU. They will be available to assist with your transition experience, reinforce important messages from OISS, share personal stories and advice, and support with in-person orientation activities as you arrive and adjust to campus.
OISS will have some in-person welcome events planned to help you adjust to campus and connect with other students. Participation is not required though it is highly encouraged.
Once you have provided all required documentation to the Office Admissions, please plan for 2-3 weeks for your I-20 or DS-2019 to be issued.
To check the status of your I-20 or DS-2019, after you have reached the 2-3 week timeline, please email .
To check the status of your admission to MSU, please contact either the Office of Admissions or The Graduate School directly.
The SEVIS fee is a one-time fee that covers the costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Regulation requires all prospective students to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before the Department of State issues you a visa.
To obtain your visa, you will need a printed receipt indicating that you have paid the SEVIS I-901 fee. This fee must be paid before you arrive for your visa interview. You should keep receipt of payment with your other immigration documents.
To pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, visit FMJfee.com
Check the Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee page from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for more information.
A visa is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport and is used only to seek entry into the U.S.
A visa alone does not guarantee entry into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes the final decision on your eligibility to enter the U.S. and can deny entry.
Canadian Citizens: Do not require a visa to enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 student status but do require an I-20 or DS-2019.
You must obtain a U.S. visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside of the U.S. It is recommended that you apply in your country of citizenship.
Although it is possible for students to apply for visas at U.S. consulates in Canada, Mexico, and other countries, the risk of denial may be higher. If a visa denial is received when a student applies in another country, the applicant is required to return directly to the home country to reapply at the local U.S. consulate. If denial or visa delay occurs, the applicant may not return to the U.S. before receiving a new visa.
View the estimated U.S. visa appointment wait times to review the current wait time for a visa interview.
You can find a list of required documentation on the Department of State website.
All applicants for a F or J visa are required to demonstrate their intent to return to their home country following the completion of their academic programs. The visa applicant is required to prove ties to the home country and establish "non-immigrant intent."
You can read more information from the U.S. Department of State about the requirement to demonstrate ties to your home country.
If you have a valid visa stamp in your passport, you may be able to use that stamp to enter the United States. You are encouraged to contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country to determine whether or not you may use that visa stamp to enter the United States.
As a new student, you are required to complete the MSU COVID-19 vaccine verification form to report your vaccination status to the university.
To complete the form, you either need to be fully vaccinated and boosted* against COVID-19 with a World Health Organization approved vaccine, OR apply for a medical exemption/deferral, before you can register for your Fall semester courses.
You must complete the vaccine verification form online before June 6, 2022.
You DO NOT need to be vaccinated to complete the vaccination form.
*A booster is a dose of vaccine given as a refresher to the original vaccine usually a few months after the original vaccine.
Read about the COVID-19 Requirements here: SPECIAL MESSAGE: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
For additional help, view this training on requesting a medical deferment.
On April 18, 2022, the U.S. government announced it will extend flexibilities for remote learning for F-1 students studying at U.S. academic institutions due to the COVID-19 through the end of academic year 2022-23. You can read the April 18, 2022 broadcast message here.
The academic year comprises the following academic semesters: Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and summer 2023. See the university’s published academic year calendar here.
F-1 international students entering the U.S. with an 'initial' status Form I-20 and a new SEVIS ID to attend MSU are required to enroll full-time and have at least one in-person or hybrid course. This includes students coming to the US for the first time and students returning to the US and MSU after an extended time away.
If you have questions related to your courses or course modalities, please contact your academic advisor.
Spring 2023 Early Arrival Health Insurance
Health insurance coverage for the Spring 2023 semester begins on January 1, 2023. MSU students entering the United States before January 1 should buy early arrival health insurance coverage to ensure they have access to health care the entire time they are inside the country. Early arrival coverage costs $6 per day and can be purchased for any number of days.
To apply for the early arrival coverage, please use this application form: Early Arrival Health Insurance – Spring 2023
When the application form is complete, you should send it to MSU Human Resources - .
IMPORTANT: You must send in your health insurance application from your @msu.edu email address and use the following subject line for the email: IS Early Arrival Application #encrypt
Using “#encrypt” in the subject line will protect the email message and the attached application form, which is very important since it will contain credit/debit card information.
Your academic department or college will email you with department or college specific orientation information. If you have not received an email from your department or college, contact them directly. Most departments and colleges have graduate program directors or secretaries. They are often the best person to contact for this information. You can usually find staff directories on department and college websites. A department and program directory is available to find appropriate contact information.
The earliest date that students with an initial I-20 or DS-2019 can attempt to enter the U.S. is 30 days before the program start date.
In order to enter the United States, students must present the following documents to the immigration inspector at the port of entry:
Documents Needed to Enter the U.S. in F-2 or J-2 Status:
International Students in F-1 and J-1 status must complete Immigration Check-In online with OISS. After arriving in the U.S. students will be required to fill out a check-in form online. A step-by-step guide to completing immigration check-in will be emailed to students for whom check-in is required. OISS staff will review your check-in submission and follow up with you by email if any further information is required.
OISS advisors are available to meet and answer your questions virtually via Zoom.
Students on F-1 and J-1 visas are assigned to a specific OISS advisor based on the student's birth month.
You can find your advisor on the OISS Advising Team page.
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