PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION FOR SPRING 2010 EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Stephanie Gonzalez is the primary advisor for exchange students. She guides universities through the application process; prepares Immigration documents, budgets, class schedules, and pre-arrival materials. She also advises students on academic, Immigration, cultural, billing, social and housing matters. Please contact her with your questions: (309) 438-5112.
Charlee Zingraf is the Interim Study Abroad Coordinator and maintains exchange agreements and balances. Should you have questions, please contact Charlee at (309) 438-5276.
Thank you for your interest in partnering with Illinois State University. This part of the International Studies website is designed to be a ready resource for international exchange school directors who advise students interested in coming to ISU. The following information covers what to send with students' applications, and what exchange students need to know about Immigration, budgets, and living at our International House. Should you have questions, please feel free to contact Stephanie Gonzalez, exchange student advisor.
When exchange students apply for admission to Illinois State, there are a number of items they must submit. Please visit the links below for instructions and the items that students' applications must include.
Exchange students, like other international students in the United States, must be aware of Immigration laws that apply to their visa type (J-1). You may read about these rules and the process for applying below:
The U.S. Department of State requires all exchange visitors to have specific types of health insurance during their stay in the U.S. These terms are outlined in the following links:
All exchange students are now required to buy medical insurance from Illinois State University. This policy exceeds all of the Department of State requirements. You may read about ISU's insurance before you arrive.
The International Studies Office reserves spaces for exchange students to live on campus in our International House or "I-House" as residents fondly call it. I-House occupies several floors in Manchester Hall and offers a variety of social and cultural programs and activities to enrich students' experiences at Illinois State. When possible, we try to place international students in rooms with American students. This helps to enhance students' opportunities to practice English and become acquainted with American culture. We also match students together from different countries. Read what the University's Housing Office also has to say about International House!
The following links present more information about university services and facilities:
After the end of each semester, the International Studies Office will mail exchange students’ academic transcripts (grades) to their home university's International Office. It is a university policy that we may not order a student's transcripts until he or she has paid everything owed to ISU. Therefore, students must have $0 balances by the end of each semester to have their grades mailed overseas in a timely manner.
The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services requires that students prove enough funding to pay for all expenses while studying in the United States. Students will be mailed a budget sheet (depending on their exchange agreement type) in their pre-arrival packet before they come to ISU. While actual costs have not yet been determined, the budget should provide a fairly reasonable estimation of the funds that students will need. Should you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Gonzalez.
After exchange students are admitted to ISU, we will send them a welcome packet containing information about applying for their visa, traveling to ISU, registering for courses and a variety of other information. Students' packets will also contain the Immigration document they need (DS2019 Certificate of Eligibility) to apply for their J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa.
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