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On arrival

Be sure to review the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement fact sheet page "Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry...What a Student Can Expect". This information from US ICE details what to expect at the border, which documents you should keep on your person when traveling, and other important items.

Arrival date

There is no date upon which you must arrive for the Office of International Affairs (OIA) new student orientation--attendance is required, but orientation sessions are offered on an ongoing basis. However, you must arrive at OSU on or before the date listed on your I-20 form (Section 5). Note, as well, that you may not enter the country more than 30 days prior to this date.

The date in Section 5 is about two weeks prior to the start of classes and thus will give you sufficient time to attend the OIA orientation programs and become acclimated to Ohio State. Completion of the OIA orientation is mandatory; you will not be permitted to register for courses until you have attended an orientation session.

Documentation:

  • Predeparture Information This section of the EducationUSA web site provides details on what to bring on your person when you depart.

Before leaving your country, confirm that your passport and visa are still valid for entry into the United States. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay Master's degrees tend to take two years to complete, Ph.D. degrees take roughly five years).

Also, check to see that your visa accurately reflects your correct visa classification.

When you receive your nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the consular officer will seal your immigration documents in an envelope and attach it to your passport. You should not open this envelope! The Customs and Border Protection Officer at the U.S. port of entry will open the envelope.

When you travel, you should carry some specific documents on your person. Do not check them in your baggage! If your baggage is lost or delayed, you will not be able to show the documents to the Customs and Border Protection Officer and, as a result, may not be able to enter the United States.

Here are the documents you should carry on your person:

  • Passport (including attached envelope of immigration documents) with visa
  • SEVIS Form I-20 AB, I-20 MN, or DS-2019
  • Evidence of financial resources (this would include our offer of admission letter with promise of GRA funding)

In addition, it is recommended that you also carry the following:

  • Evidence of student status, such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts
  • Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee, Form I-797
  • Name and contact information for your “Designated School Official”, including a 24-hour emergency contact number at the school
  • Writing instrument (pen)

If you are traveling by aircraft, the flight attendants on board will distribute CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms and I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Forms for immigration, before you land at your initial point of entry in the United States. Complete these forms while you are on the aircraft and submit them to the appropriate Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your arrival. If you do not understand a form, ask the flight attendant for assistance.

Arrival at the US port of entry

A visa does not permit entry to the U.S. A visa simply indicates that an application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer determined eligibility to travel to the port-of-entry for a specific purpose. Only the U.S. immigration officer has the authority to permit entry into the United States.

First stop, USICE check point. After you exit your flight, please proceed to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) check point for non-US citizens. As you approach the inspection station, have ready your passport, SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019, proof of funding letter, Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record, and CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form. After reviewing your documents, the I-94 card will be stapled into your passport. You will be finger printed and a facial picture will be taken at this check point. Additionally, citizens of certain countries will be required to complete a special registration process.

Next, Customs. Pick up your luggage from the baggage claim area and proceed to the US Customs desk. There you will hand the Customs Officer the US Customs form and answer any questions he/she might have. Please check with the US Embassy in your country for a list of banned items. After exiting the Customs area, you will be permitted to recheck your luggage for your connecting flight.

[The information above is drawn from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement fact sheet page "Arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry...What a Student Can Expect".]

Arrival at Port Columbus Airport

Upon arrival in Columbus, arrange for transportation to your temporary or long term housing.

At Port Columbus Airport, follow the ground transportation sign near the baggage claim area (to view maps of Port Columbus). Taxis and vans will be parked near the door. The fare to OSU is approximately $30-$40. Ask for the fare amount in advance. (Taxi drivers expect a 10-15% tip. Payment in cash is required. Some taxis can accept Visa/Mastercard payments; ask the driver before entering the taxi.) Note: if you will be staying in a hotel, the hotel may provide free transportation from the airport.

Your nationality club and/or the International Friendships Organization may be able to help with airport pickup or other local transportation. Please make arrangements for pick up prior to your arrival.

Public Transportation from airport: You can take the city bus (called "COTA") from the airport to campus. The cost is about $1.50-$2.00 one way. Link to COTA web site for more details on routes.

The COTA site offers an "Trip Planner" which allows you to specify departure and arrival locations around Columbus. COTA will then e-mail you with directions regarding which buses to take.

  • If you are going to Jones Tower or the MSE dept. from the airport, you should specify "AIRPORT, INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY, OH" as the departure point and "JONES GRADUATE TOWER 101, CURL DR, COLUMBUS, OH, 43210" as your destination, as well as the date and time of your estimated departure. You'll want to exit the bus at the "North High St. and Lane Ave." stop.
  • Map of north campus Jones Graduate Tower is building #267, the MSE dept. is in Watts Hall, building #107, High St. runs along the bottom edge of this map.
  • If you are going to OIA from the airport, you should specify "AIRPORT, INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY, OH" as the departure point and "Oxley Hall" as your destination, as well as the date and time of your estimated departure.
  • Map of southwest campus OIA is in Oxley Hall, building #102, lower left corner of this map.

Arrival on campus

First stop, Office of International Affairs

Upon your arrival on campus, international students should first check in with the Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA is available:

Monday through Friday, 8 am -12 noon & 1 PM -5 PM

Oxley Hall
1712 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1219

Telephone: (614) 292-6101
E-mail: oia@osu.edu
Office of International Affairs web site

Map of southwest campus OIA is in Oxley Hall, building #102, lower left corner of this map.

During the two to three weeks prior to the start of classes, OIA offers a required general orientation, as well as a number of presentations concerning student life, housing, banking, safety, language requirements, health insurance, etc. OIA also offers trips around the Columbus area. You will be asked to schedule a health screening during your first quarter of enrollment (go to "International student health screening" on the Health & Medical page).

OIA English Placement Test When new international students check-in with OIA, they will be scheduled for any required placement tests. All international students are REQUIRED to take the English Composition Test (view English as a Second Language, ESL, exemptions--new window).

About the placement test. Students write a one-hour placement composition which is evaluated by trained English as a Second Language (ESL) staff members. The results of this test will not keep students from taking courses in their degree program, but will place them into an English Composition class which will help students succeed in their degree classes.

Students are placed in one of three levels corresponding to our courses: EDU T&L 106 (for undergraduates), 106G (for graduate students), or EDU T&L 107 (for undergraduates), 107G (for graduate students), or EDU T&L 108.01 (for undergraduates), 108.02 (for graduate students). Some students are qualified on the basis of the placement composition; these students are not required to take any ESL composition courses (view summary of the English Composition courses in new window).

Orientations

After OIA, go to MSE

All new MSE students are to schedule an orientation session with Mark Cooper, MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator. Please contact Mark at (614) 292-7280 or by e-mail at mse@osu.edu. These orientations are held in room 477 Watts Hall, 2041 College Rd. between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. The session provides information about the MSE dept., including:

  • registration for GRA employment,
  • establishing an e-mail account & dept. mailbox,
  • health insurance & OSU ID card,
  • enrolling in classes,
  • other general details

Watts Hall location--Watts Hall is building 107, lower right section of the map.

Graduate School orientation

The Graduate School and the Council of Graduate Students will host a university-wide orientation for all new 2008 graduate students (i.e., Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn arrivals). This orientation will be held on the Monday before the start of Autumn Quarter classes, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Independence Hall (Independence Hall location--Independence Hall is in the lower right of the map, building 338). This orientation is a very valuable introduction to the services provided by the Graduate School, the Graduate Student Council, and various offices across campus.

 

Next step, "After arrival"