International Graduate Student Services
Prearrival Information for New International Students

Welcome to Virginia Tech!

This webpage is designed to assist you with your preparations for coming to the United States and help you through the first couple of weeks of adjustment and settling down in Blacksburg. We hope that you will find the information on these pages useful and will not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions after looking at the information presented here. We will be happy to assist you!

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New Student Handbook
Basic information and important procedures for all new graduate students.

General information about Virginia Tech

Information about the Blacksburg community, education, people, government, health and other issues

How to Get an I-20 or DS-2019 Form

Requirements

• Be accepted into an academic program by the academic department and the Graduate School. You will receive the admission letter from the Graduate School.
• Show proof of having sufficient funds to cover all educational and living expenses for the first year (estimated to be at $24,000); one or a combination of documents in the list below is accepted as proof:
  • Bank statement showing a balance of at least $24,000, accompanied by a letter of support from sponsor stating the amount and time period of support ;
  • Assistantship agreement signed by the academic department;
  • Written confirmation from the sponsoring institution of a scholarship, fellowship, or other type of funding.
• Be in legal status, eligible for transfer, if already in the U.S. Submit transfer information form signed by current international student advisor.
• All documents must be original and less than 6 months old.
• Complete the Immigration Information Form. Provide a copy of your passport ID page, and fill out the Immigration Information Form with your name as it appears on your passport. Data consistency with immigration documents is critical, so please refer to the Fact Sheet: F/M/J Nonimmigrants: Managing Information that the U.S. Government Needs About Nonimmigrants During Their Visit. This will help you to understand why it is important that ALL of your documents--passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94 card, Social Security card and driver's license--use the same name consistently.

Receiving Your I-20 or DS-2019 Form

Once we receive all the required documents, an I-20 or DS-2019 form will be issued and mailed. Forms generally are issued within 3-4 days of receipt of complete request. Forms are mailed by IGSS by bulk airmail (allow 30 days for delivery). Please allow 3-4 months for the visa application and approval process from the date you receive the I-20 or DS-2019 form.

Travel Tips for F-1 and J-1 Students

• Hand carry (do not check) the following documents:
  • Your passport;
  • Your I-20 or DS-2019 form;
  • Evidence of financial resources;
  • Evidence of student or exchange visitor status, such as transcripts or letter of acceptance;
  • Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee (if applicable);
  • The name and contact information of your designated school official or sponsor
  • Important Note: If you are a new student or a new exchange visitor participant, remember to carry with you the sealed envelope given to you by the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Officer -- attached to your passport. It is important that you do not open this envelope.
• Inform the CBP Officer at the port of entry that you are a new or returning student or exchange visitor.
• Report to your school or program upon arrival so that your school official can validate your participation in SEVIS.
• Maintain contact with your designated school or sponsor official throughout your stay to ensure your SEVIS data is updated and accurate.

Mandatory Check In After Arrival

All international graduate students must check in with International Graduate Student Services (IGSS) in the Graduate School after arrival (Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown). Please bring your passport, I-94 card, I-20 or DS-2019 form with you for this process. Your SEVIS record will be activated only after you check in with the IGSS. Failure to check in may result in the de-activation/cancellation of your SEVIS record and could potentially cause problems with your ability to stay in the U.S.

Health Insurance Requirements

All international students are required to have adequate insurance coverage for the duration of their stay in the United States. This requirement protects students in cases of medical emergencies. Health care is very expensive in the United States, and without insurance coverage one could not afford paying for many services.

GM-Southwest is the company under contract with Virginia Tech to provide insurance coverage for students for 2007-08 which meets the minimum university requirements. Students must be enrolled full-time to qualify for this insurance policy. Questions regarding the insurance policy, eligibility and costs may be referred to:

Student Medical Insurance (0361)

110 New Student Services Building
Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA 24061

Telephone: (540) 231-6226 or 888-234-0298

studentservices@gmsouthwest.com

Students who do not purchase GM-Southwest insurance must complete the Alternative Insurance Compliance Form, have it endorsed by their insurance provider and submit it to the Student Medical Insurance Office. Failure to provide proof of sufficient insurance coverage may result in the blocking of your records for registration, transfer or other academic actions. Additional details may be found on the Insurance Requirements for International Students web page.

Orientation Programs

Orientation programs are offered for all new students. The orientation program for new international students for the fall semester is always Wednesday through Friday of the week immediately preceding the beginning of classes. For the spring semester there is a smaller orientation program that covers the basics. This program is usually on Friday before classes begin.

We are glad that you chose Virginia Tech for your academic pursuits. We look forward to you joining the Virginia Tech community.