Admitted International Students

International Students – Spring, Summer 2008

Information for Admitted International
Undergraduate Students Spring, Summer 2008

Welcome to the University of Michigan! We hope to make your transition to life in our University community as pleasant as possible. This brochure provides information to help you make essential arrangements to attend U-M.

Certificate of Eligibility for a Student Visa
Passports and Visas
Travel to Ann Arbor
Climate
University of Michigan International Center
Orientation Program
Living At Michigan & Recommended Arrival Dates
Financial Arrangements
University Calendar

Certificate of Eligibility for a Student Visa

International Students who hold, or plan to obtain, the F-1 or J-1 student visa should complete the Financial Resources Statement form at www.admissions.umich.edu/frs. Return it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions along with the supporting documentation soon after confirming intent to enroll. Include your UMID on all submitted materials. Upon receipt of the required financial documentation, the certificate of eligibility, (form I-20, for the F-1 visa status, or DS-2019 for the J-1 visa status,) will be issued.

Passports and Visas

Generally, international students must obtain a passport from their government and a visa from a United States Consulate or Embassy to be eligible to enter the United States. The University enrolls many students in various temporary (non-immigrant) visa statuses. The most common categories are Student (F-1) and Exchange Visitor (J-1, student category). If you request the F-1 student status, we will issue you a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20). If you require the J-1 Exchange Visitor status, you should expect to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (Form DS-2019) either from the University or from another appropriate program sponsor.

In order to apply for either visa, you must first pay a SEVIS fee and obtain a receipt. This can be done at www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm. (Note: if section 3 of your Form I-20 says “Transfer Pending” you are not subject to the SEVIS fee rule.) Then, make an appointment at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy. More information about visa processing times and procedures for U.S. embassies and consulates can be found at travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php#copy. At your appointment when applying for your visa, take your passport, your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019), your SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting documentation (such as your letter of admission and proof of financial resources) with you. Canadian citizens: please see the “Canadians” section below.

You are strongly encouraged to apply for your U.S. student visa as soon as possible after you have received your Certificate of Eligibility document from the University of Michigan, as visa processing may take significant time. Please also allow sufficient time to plan for your travel to the United States. You should plan to obtain your visa and arrive on campus in time to attend the Orientation program.

Please note that you are not permitted to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the start date in item 5 of your Form I-20 or item 3 of your Form DS-2019.

NOTE: You will also need documents at the U.S. port of entry including your passport, I-20/DS-2019, and financial documents. Make sure they are easily available to you as you enter the U.S. Do not leave them in your luggage or in your home country.

Students currently in B-1, B-2, or F-2 Immigration Status

IMPORTANT: If you are currently in B-1, B-2, or F-2 immigration status, it is a violation of status to enroll in an academic program at the university/college level.

If you plan to change status while in the U.S., please note that this is a lengthy process that could take 2-6 months. Your other option is to leave the U.S. and re-enter in your new status.

Enrolling at the University of Michigan before your change of status is approved is a violation of your F-2, B-1, or B-2 status [8 C.F.R. Section 214.2(f) (15)(ii) and 8 C.F.R. Section 214.2(b)(7)]

Refer to these pages for additional information: Change to F-1 status:
internationalcenter.umich.edu/immig/fvisa/f_chngstatus.html
Change to J-1 status:
internationalcenter.umich.edu/immig/jvisa/j_chngstatus.html

Canadians

Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a visa, but must pay the SEVIS fee in advance, as it cannot be paid at the port of entry. At your U.S. port of entry, you will be asked to present your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019), your SEVIS fee receipt, evidence of Canadian citizenship, and evidence of adequate funding for your proposed program of study. When you are admitted to the U.S., you will be issued an I-94 card which is your permit to stay in the United States. Please remember that Canadian citizens are subject to all F-1 or J-1 regulations. Also, like other international students, Canadian citizens must comply with University health insurance requirements.

REMINDER: Please keep the I-94 card, which you will receive when you enter the U.S., in your passport. This is an important document and is expensive and time-consuming to replace.

Student Visa (F-1)

The regulations that govern F-1 immigration status are on page 2 of the original Form I-20. Of special concern are:

If you have been issued Certificates of Eligibility (Form I-20) by more than one school, be sure to use the I-20 issued by the school you plan to attend to obtain your student visa. Please also be sure to present the I-20 issued by the school you plan to attend to the border official at the port of entry to the U.S.
You must pursue a full course of study, 12 credit hours for a full term and 6 credit hours for a half term, for 8 months of the calendar year. Students must be enrolled full-time for the term for which they are admitted.
An enrolled F-1 student may accept on-campus employment for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during vacation periods.
Immediate family members (spouse and/or children under 21 years old) of an F-1 student may obtain F-2 dependent visas, but regulations prohibit the acceptance of any form of employment. F-2 dependents may not enroll in a college or a university; only part-time recreational or avocational study is allowed.
If you have attended another U.S. educational institution immediately before attending the University of Michigan, you are required to complete an F-1 immigration transfer. Please notify an International Student Advisor at your current school that you plan to transfer to the University of Michigan, and ask the International Student Advisor to complete the “transfer form” mailed to you by the University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Once the information provided on the transfer form has been evaluated, you will receive additional instructions. Please remember that your immigration transfer will not be complete until you have visited the U-M International Center so that an International Student/Scholar Advisor can complete your immigration transfer.

Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1)

The regulations governing this status are specified on the Form DS-2019. Of special interest are:

If you are in this sub-category of “student,” you must pursue a full course of study, 12 credit hours for a full term and 6 credit hours for a half term, for 8 months of the calendar year. Students must be enrolled full-time for the term for which they are admitted.
You may accept on-campus employment for up to 20 hours per week during the academic term and full-time during vacation periods.
You are not eligible for a J-1 student visa if you have substantially private, personal, or family funding. You must have substantially public funding to be eligible for a J-1 visa.
Immediate family members (spouse and/or children) of a J-1 exchange visitor may obtain J-2 dependent visas. A J-2 spouse may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permission to work, provided that the income from this employment will not be used to support the J-1 Exchange Visitor.
J-1 students may be eligible for sponsor-authorized permission to work in their field of study (academic training). The length of that academic training period will depend upon the sponsor and length of time as a student. Sometimes, a J-1 student is required, at the conclusion of the program, to return home for two years before becoming eligible to change to certain other visa categories. More information about this requirement is available at travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html.
Permission to transfer your SEVIS DS-2019 between academic institutions must be sought through your current program sponsor.

Other Temporary Visa Statuses

If you are in some other temporary visa category, such as A-2, E-2, G-3, H-4, L-2, etc., you are bound by the regulations of your particular status and will not be sent any visa eligibility form unless you request one as preliminary to a change of immigration status.

Changes in Visa Type

Once you enroll, report any change in visa type by bringing documentation to the Registrar’s Office, 1207 LSA Building, 500 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382, or B430 Lower Level, Pierpont Commons on North Campus. Prior to enrollment, please notify the Admissions Office.

Travel to Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is 40 miles west of Detroit, Michigan, and 25 miles west of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. If you arrive at Detroit Metro Airport, you can take a taxi to Ann Arbor. You can expect to pay $40-50 one-way, and reservations are not required. You can also travel to Ann Arbor from the airport by taking an airport shuttle. Information about various airport shuttle services is available at www.onsp.umich.edu/orientation/directions/airport.html.

If you arrive during University business hours, you have the choice of going directly to your residence hall, to Temporary Housing (www.housing.umich.edu), to a hotel if you arrive before the residence halls open, or to the International Center. The International Center is located in the South Wing of the Michigan Union, 603 East Madison Street, and can be reached by telephone at 734.764.9310. Taxis, shuttles, and airport limousines will stop upon request at any University residence hall or at the International Center.

If you do not arrive during University business hours, go directly to your residence hall, to Temporary Housing (www.housing.umich.edu), or to a hotel if you arrive before the residence halls open. When the International Center is closed, assistance with urgent problems is available from the Department of Public Safety, telephone 734.763.1131. The emergency number is 911 and can be dialed from any public phone without charge.

Climate

Weather in Ann Arbor varies throughout the year. Average summer temperatures vary from 15° to 28°C (58° to 82°F). During the winter, average temperatures vary from about -15° to 3°C (5° to 37°F). All buildings have central heating.

University of Michigan International Center

International students arriving for Spring or Summer Term are required to visit the International Center on the first business day after their arrival to sign up for the required “International Student/Scholar Check-In.”

Services

The International Center (internationalcenter.umich.edu) provides support services, general information, programs, and advice about visa and immigration issues, employment, cross-cultural issues, health insurance, and other practical concerns. During August, the Center offers special orientation workshops and social events for new international students, and international undergraduate students are invited to attend these workshops and social events in addition to International Undergraduate Orientation if they would like to do so. The workshop schedule will be available at internationalcenter.umich.edu/events/orientation_events.html in late May or early June, 2008. The International Center’s International Student Associations webpage http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/intlstudents/orgs.html also links to information about a number of international student organizations that provide a variety of services to their members. You may contact the Center by phone at 734.764.9310, by email at icenter@umich.edu, or by fax at 734.647.2181.

Temporary Mailing Address

You may have mail sent to the following address:
Your name, c/o International Center
University of Michigan
603 E. Madison St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1370
USA

Mail received at the Center during the first two months of your stay will be held for you. After that, mail will be returned to the sender.

Orientation Program

Conducted by the Office of New Student Programs for the schools and colleges, Orientation is required for all undergraduate students admitted to a degree program. New undergraduate international students should also check in at the International Center at some time during the orientation period. Orientation is held immediately before the start of classes and includes distribution of registration materials and academic catalogs, academic advising, and discussion sessions to assist you in adjusting to the University community. You may contact this office by phone at 734.764.6413, by email to onsp@umich.edu, by fax at 734.764.6291, or at www.onsp.umich.edu.

Living at Michigan &
Recommended Arrival Dates

Students Planning to Reside in Residence Halls

You should plan to arrive when residence halls open as noted in the 2008 calendar. If you arrive before the residence halls open and need to stay in a hotel, you can find hotel information at www.umich.edu/~info.

Students Planning to Obtain Off-Campus Housing

Off-campus housing listings are available on the University Housing Information Office website at www.housing.umich.edu.

Financial Arrangements

You will need approximately $20,300 for initial expenses including the first tuition payment (approximately $14,500 for first- and second-year students and $15,500 for third-year students). You will also need money for the on-campus housing payment (approximately $3,900), books and supplies (approximately $500), and costs for transit and items for settling in. Students admitted to Spring or Summer Terms should reduce initial costs for tuition and on-campus housing by one-half. If you will be living off-campus, your initial rent and damage deposit could range from $500 to $1,300 for a single student.

To have money immediately available, you may arrange with your bank to wire a deposit, in U.S. dollars, to an Ann Arbor bank. This transaction usually takes five or fewer days. You could also use U.S. traveler’s checks. Due to the risk of loss or theft, even from hotel rooms, carrying large amounts of cash is not advisable.

Basic Expenses

Any increase in University housing costs, which would become effective for the Fall Term of 2008, will be known by March 2007; increases in tuition will be known by late July 2008.

Additional Expenses

Costs for items such as winter clothing, furniture, luxury housing, an automobile, and extensive travel in the United States are not included in the minimum estimates. Plan an additional $300 – $900 for self-support during the two-week break between Fall and Winter Terms. Allow $700 – $1,000 per month for off-campus living costs in Ann Arbor. Married students should allow an additional $850 per month to support an accompanying spouse and $450 per month to support each child. In addition, students with accompanying families should plan for the cost of health insurance.

Medical Costs and Health Insurance

Due to the extremely high cost of health care in the United States, the University requires international students and their families to have adequate health insurance. All University of Michigan F-1 students and any accompanying F-2 dependents will be enrolled in the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan as part of the Required Check-In process. All J-1 students whose Certificates of Eligibility (Forms DS-2019) were issued by the University of Michigan and any accompanying J-2 dependents will also be enrolled in the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan as part of the Required Check-In process. Students who already have health insurance will subsequently have the opportunity to apply for a waiver of the health insurance requirement. Please remember, however, that students whose health insurance does not meet the University’s minimum requirements listed at internationalcenter.umich.edu/healthins/waiver.html will have to remain enrolled in the University Health Insurance Plan. If you plan to apply for a health insurance waiver, please read the information on the above website very carefully so that you will understand the procedures you will be required to follow. Current yearly costs for the International Student/Scholar Heath Insurance Plan are $972 for individuals, $4,020 for a student with one dependent, and $7,068 for a student with two or more dependents. Insurance rates generally increase each year, so costs may be higher for the 2008-09 academic year.

Health insurance purchased during pregnancy offers very limited coverage. Uninsured couples expecting a baby after arrival in the United States should expect to pay at least $15,000 for a normal childbirth.

Only University of Michigan F-1 and J-1 students whose Certificates of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) were issued by the University of Michigan are eligible for the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and other students who are not eligible for the International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan and do not have their own health insurance are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Michigan Student Assembly Student Accident and Health Insurance Plan described at www.uhs.umich.edu/insurbill/msa.html.

The University now requires certain entering international students to be screened for tuberculosis. Screening will be offered free on campus after a student enrolls. See www.uhs.umich.edu/tbscreen or send an email to tbscreen@umich.edu for more information.

Payment of Tuition and On-Campus Housing Costs

Tuition and on-campus housing costs are due at the end of the first month of each term. A late fee is assessed if payment is not made by the payment due date. If your government requires certification of your enrollment before authorizing U.S. dollar exchange, you may request the necessary documentation by presenting proof of your registration to the International Center.

Penalties for Nonpayment of Bills

Unpaid University bills, including those for health care, can result in the loss of the privilege to register and the imposition of a hold on the release of an individual’s transcript and diploma certificate.

UNIVERSITY CALENDAR

Spring Term 2008

Check the Housing website in March 2008 at www.housing.umich.edu for specific move-in dates and information.

Monday, April 28

Orientation check-in 8:00 a.m.
Check-in at the International Center at your convenience between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29

Spring classes begin.

Summer Term 2008 Check the Housing website in March 2008 at www.housing.umich.edu for specific move-in dates and information.
Sunday, June 22	Orientation check-in for freshmen, 8:00 a.m.
Monday, June 23	Check-in at the International Center at your convenience between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24	Orientation check-in for transfers, 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, June 25	Summer classes begin.

University offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.