You should let International Studies know whether you prefer on-campus or off-campus housing by completing an Enrollment/Housing/Transportation form. If you would like to live in the International House, you will need to indicate this on your form. An advisor in the International Studies Office will then reserve a room for you in I-House. You do not need to sign a housing contract or send money before you arrive. However, on your first day of Orientation, you will sign a housing contract and pay a $300 housing deposit.
If you will live off campus, you will need to make your own arrangements. You can contact University Housing about university apartments. You can also visit the Pantagraph Newspaper Web site and the Apartment Finder Web site to see advertisements for apartments.
Because housing arrangements must be made by our office and the Housing Office right up until the time of Orientation Week, it is usually not possible to know who your roommate is before you arrive.
If you would like someone to meet you when you arrive in Bloomington-Normal, please indicate this on your Enrollment/Housing/Transportation form. We have a friendly group of volunteers who enjoy meeting international students and will pick you up at our local airport (Central Illinois Regional Airport), bus stop at the university's Bone Student Center, or the Amtrak train station. Since Illinois State is located about three hours from Chicago O'Hare Airport or Midway Airport, it is not possible to pick students up in Chicago. You will need to arrange your travel plans so that your final travel destination is Bloomington- Normal, Illinois.
While there are several cities named "Bloomington" around the United States, you must come to Bloomington in the State of ILLINOIS.
No, or you can expect to pay a fortune because ISU is a 3-hour drive from Chicago!! The best ways for you to reach Illinois State from Chicago are by: 1) Peoria Charter Bus which arrives at the university's Bone Student Center or 2) flying into our local Bloomington airport (the Central Illinois Regional Airport).
There are direct flights from Chicago to our Central Illinois Regional Airport. This airport is located in Bloomington, Illinois and is currently served by AirTran, Northwest Airlink, American Eagle, American Connection (formerly Trans World Express), and United Express. It takes about 30 minutes to fly from Chicago to Bloomington-Normal.
The Peoria Charter Bus provides transportation from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to Illinois State University. Many faculty, staff, and students traveling to and from O’Hare use this bus service. The cost is about $30 and the trip takes about 3 hours. You may review schedules and costs at the Peoria Charter Bus Web site. The bus leaves the O’Hare Bus/Shuttle Center – Door #4 at 10:15 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. and leaves Terminal #5 – Door 5E at the Center Curb about 5 minutes later. It arrives at Illinois State University at 12:55 p.m., 5:40 p.m. 9:40 p.m. and about 12:30 a.m.
We recommend that you have access to at least $2,000 for your travels and first days here. This should cover any unexpected hotel and food expenses caused by flight delays; food expenses during Orientation Week; and buying books, clothes and supplies. Some students prefer to use a bank card so they can still withdraw money from their home bank rather than carrying large sums of money in cash.
** Please note that even graduate students with full assistantships must come prepared with extra money because your first paycheck may not be issued until the end of February.
International students usually receive bills from the university before they arrive. A "bill" is a notice that says what you must pay to the university. It arrives by mail to your home address. The Student Accounts Office is the place on campus that sends out the bills and tells you how much you owe.
If you are an Exchange Student, remember that you do not need to pay for tuition, even though your ISU bill may show it. Your tuition is paid for by the International Studies Office according to the exchange agreement with your university at home. It usually takes a few weeks after the semester starts for the payment processing to be completed, but you can be confident that you will not pay for tuition. If your bill appears confusing or incorrect, please see Stephanie Gonzalez in International Studies.
The Student Accounts office provides detailed information on how to pay your bill.
If you receive a bill at home, try to process the payment in United States dollars, and return it by the deadline stated on your bill. If that is not possible, please bring the payment with you on Monday or Tuesday of International Student Orientation Week. We will take you to the Student Accounts Office so that you may make your payment.
There are a number of important Immigration laws that international students must know. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that it is usually illegal in the United States for international students to work off campus.
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