SIUE International Power Point

Introductions and Guidelines

Graduate and International Admissions Team

SIUE.EDU/ADMISSIONS/INTERNATIONAL

INTLADM@SIUE.EDU

• Please use the Q&A feature to ask questions.

• A recording of this webinar will be made available.

Topics Covered in this Webinar

I. Current policies & important dates for Fall 2023

II. Tips for a successful visa interview

III. SIUE Cougar Commitment

IV. Registering for classes

V. Housing and arrival

VI. Next steps and questions

Current Admissions Policies

• Priority deadline for Fall 2023 was April 1. Most applications received after this date will be waitlisted and applicants will be encouraged to apply for Spring 2024.

• Admitted students must inform us of their intention to enroll at SIUE by June 15 and pay the $199 matriculation fee.

• Official academic records and other required documents must be brought to the admissions office upon arrival.

Important Dates

• Confirm your intention to enroll: June 15, 2023

• Secure your visa: August 1, 2023

• Arrive on campus: August 14-15, 2023

• Attend Orientation: Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

• Begin classes: Monday, August 21st, 2023

New international students cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the start of your program (July 17th, 2023).

New students should check-in virtually as soon as possible after arriving in the U.S.

Connecting with your Classmates

We have prepared an online community where you can connect with current SIUE students and other Fall 2023 admitted students.

• Chat online:

• with current students – campus life, student activities, Edwardsville area

• with incoming students – hobbies, interests, housing assignments

• with SIUE staff – general questions and support

• Add a photo and a biography.

• Make new friends to meet when you get here. Check your email for your invitation to join!

Visa Process

• I-20s are issued electronically and accepted at all embassies; DS-2019s have been sent via express mail.

• Pay your I-901 fee and schedule your visa interview as soon as possible.

• Use the SEVIS number on the I-20 issued from the school where you intend to enroll. Do not use SIUE’s I-20 if you plan to enroll at another institution.

• You may request an expedited appointment based on program start date, but SIUE does not issue expedited request letters.

• Embassies are adding appointment times, so check back frequently.

• Students unable to schedule an interview by August 1st should inform SIUE immediately and may need to defer your admission.

Visa Interview – What to Expect

Bring a printed copy of your I-20 or DS-2019 and any other documents such as your admission letter, scholarship/assistantship award, and financial statements. You will not have access to your phone or tablet!

 The interview will be conducted in English. You are not expected to speak perfectly but practice your conversational skills in advance and don’t memorize set answers.

 You may only have 2-3 minutes with the consular officer, so remember to be brief, be yourself, and be positive!

 Always answer all questions truthfully, including questions about relatives in the U.S. and previous visits.

Visa Interview – What to Expect

Be prepared to demonstrate the following:

1. You are a serious student – know the school, your program, and how your studies fit with your career plans

2. You are able to support yourself financially while in the U.S.

3. You have ties to your home country, career opportunities there after you graduate, and plans to return after your studies.

Remember you are applying for a visa to study in the U.S., not for an immigration visa.

Additional resources and tips for a successful interview can be found on our website: SIUE.EDU/ADMISSIONS/INTERNATIONAL/VISA.

Cougar Commitment

What’s next? You will receive an e-mail with a link to your application self service center that will guide you through the following steps:

1. Confirm your plans and your visa interview status

2. Activate your SIUE student ID

3. Pay the required matriculation fee

4. Prepare for course registration

5. Apply for housing

6. Complete your immunization form

7. Schedule airport transportation

8. Check-in virtually

You must complete the first 3 steps by June 15.

You cannot complete the final step until you have arrived in the U.S.

Confirming Your Intention

Let us know you have chosen SIUE!

Soon (within the next week!) you will receive an e-mail with a link to the Cougar Commitment. The link will allow you to access a step-by-step guide of the next steps you should take as an incoming student.

Step 1: Inform us of the current status of your visa interview request.

A scheduled visa interview is not required to complete this step!

We strongly recommend paying your I-901 fee and requesting an interview appointment by June 15th, as appointments are limited.

Connect to the University

Activate your electronic student ID (E-ID)

As an SIUE student, you will have both

• A student number (800#), and

• An electronic ID (E-ID)

You must activate your E-ID to access your university

e-mail account and a variety of university systems, including CougarNet for registration and billing, and Blackboard for orientation and course information.

 Be sure to use type your name exactly as it appears on your admission letter, but a maximum of 15 characters are allowed for your name.

 Activation is simple, and a link to instructions and a short video are provided on our website.

Paying your Matriculation Fee

All new international students are required to pay a $199 Matriculation Fee by June 15th

 The matriculation fee reserves your place at the university for the Fall 2023 semester.

 Payment is completed by Flywire which allows payments by credit card or wire transfer from 240 countries using over 140 currencies.

 Pay this fee even if you have not yet secured your visa.

• If your visa is denied, your fee will be refunded.

• The fee is not refundable for students who transfer.

 You may combine your matriculation fee and housing application fee together.

 Important! If your payment is not received by June 15th , your I-20 may be cancelled.

Registering for Classes

Once you have paid your matriculation fee, you are eligible to register.

Registration is completed in Cougar Net – two holds need to be lifted:

 Bursar’s hold: You must agree to the agreement entitled “Student Responsibility for Payment of Educational Services” to remove the financial hold before you can register. You will be prompted to log into Cougar Net to complete this step.

 Advising hold: You must speak to an advisor to get the advising hold removed.

Undergraduate students:

You will be pre-registered for some courses; you can contact the Office of Academic Advising to set up a Zoom advising appointment to adjust your schedule: SIUE.EDU/OAA

Graduate students:

You will be advised by the graduate program director in your academic program: SIUE.EDU/GRADUATE-PROGRAM-DIRECTORS

Note: Current immigration guidelines allow students to take only one online class per semester toward their full course of study.

Selecting Your Courses

• Undergraduate students must take a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 18 credits.

• All first-year students are required to take a one credit First Semester Transition course.

• Make sure your advisor knows your planned field of study – although it is possible to change your major, it can result in additional course requirements.

• You can review a sample curriculum by choosing your program of study in the Undergraduate Catalog –SIUE.EDU/ACADEMICS

General Education Requirements

In the U.S. higher education system, students generally take only half of their courses in their chosen field of study.

Additional required coursework is known as “General Education” or in Illinois as the “Lincoln Program.”

Students must take:

• Foundations: Written and oral communication, logic, and quantitative literacy (i.e., math)

• Breadth Areas: Arts and humanities; life, physical and social sciences

• Experiences: Culture, health, laboratory and interdisciplinary studies

Good News! There are a great variety of general education classes, and you can choose classes that meet your interests (with some limitations).

Selecting Your Courses

• Graduate students work with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) or designated advisor from your department to choose courses for the first semester.

• Each department has different methods for advising and registering students before or during orientation week.

• You must work with the GPD or advisor to get your advising hold lifted.

• Graduate students may not change majors. To change your field of study, you would need to apply for admission to a different program for a future semester.

Find your GPD’s contact info at SIUE.EDU/GRADUATE-PROGRAM-DIRECTORS

Graduate Assistantships

• To apply for a graduate assistantship, review the current postings at SIUE.EDU/GRADUATESTUDENTS/ASSISTANTSHIPS

• Most teaching and research assistantships are offered through the academic departments; general assistantships may be available. Students must apply separately for each posting.

• Assistantships are considered employment opportunities; submit all documents requested in the posting.

• Graduate Assistants must sign a contract, submit tax forms to the graduate school, and complete an online orientation.

Housing

Apply for On-Campus Housing at SIUE.EDU/HOUSING

• First-year student residence halls and apartment-style housing at Cougar Village is available for all international students.

• Students under 20 years of age must live in on campus housing for their first year unless eligible for an exception (see residency requirement information on website).

• There is a $125 application fee/deposit required to reserve your unit which can be paid with your matriculation fee.

• Students may begin moving in on Monday, August 14th. Early move-in options may be available for a small cost per day with advance notice only.

• Housing is open all year, but during academic breaks, students in residence halls may need to temporarily change rooms. (This does not apply to Cougar Village.)

• International students may choose off-campus housing, but SIUE cannot assist with this option.

Health Services and COVID Protocols

A health clinic is available on campus to provide all students with healthcare services:

• Immunizations and assistance with vaccinations

• Physician care for minor illnesses and referrals as needed

• Laboratory tests (including COVID)

 Students are required to provide proof of a COVID vaccination prior to boarding their flight to the U.S.

 Health insurance is mandatory and will be charged to your student account.

 Students must provide immunization records in English before classes start.

SIUE.EDU/HEALTH-SERVICE/IMMUNIZATIONS

Orientation and Airport Pickup

International Student Orientation is mandatory and students must attend on Wednesday, August 16th.

• Plan to arrive on campus 1-2 days prior to orientation and check in with the ISSS office virtually when you arrive.

• Arrive at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). If you need transportation to campus, complete the airport pick-up request form on the ISSS website: SIUE.EDU/ISSS/ARRIVAL

If you are living on campus, be sure to make university housing aware of your arrival date by emailing HOUSING@SIUE.EDU.

Your Next Steps

Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee and schedule your visa interview appointment.

• If your interview is scheduled after August 1, contact admissions at INTLADM@SIUE.EDU.

Watch your e-mail for a link to the Cougar Commitment and follow the steps to notify us of your intention to enroll at SIUE for the Fall semester.

Activate your e-ID at SIUE.EDU/E-ID to connect to the university.

Pay your matriculation fee by June 15th .

Apply for housing at SIUE.EDU/HOUSING.

Join the conversation with new and current students in our online community!