Read this rst!
This brochure is for admitted international students who
have paid their Ohio State acceptance fee and received
their I-20. If you still need to complete these steps, visit:
First-year students: undergrad.osu.edu/intl-admitted
Transfer students: undergrad.osu.edu/intl-TR-admitted
Here’s what happens next!
This brochure is for students who have their 1-20 and are ready for
the next steps in the process of attending Ohio State.
Contact Undergraduate Admissions (see Page 6 for contact
information) to:
• Correct an error on an I-20
• Ask questions about transferring college credit
• Arrange to begin in a different term: If you do not plan to attend
Ohio State during the term for which you have been admitted,
you may update your application to be considered for another
term. You will need a new I-20 but you may not need a new F-1
visa if you already applied for one with Ohio State’s I-20. You
must contact Undergraduate Admissions before the admission
application deadline for the term for which you wish to be con-
sidered. A new application and/or fee may be required.
Ofce of International Affairs (OIA)
OIA serves international students in many ways, including helping
them transition to the university. You are required to check in with
OIA after you arrive in Columbus (more on Page 3).
Staff at OIA are available to assist you now and throughout the aca-
demic year — see Page 6 for contact information and hours.
Nationality clubs
Nationality clubs are a great source of information and support for
new students. They can provide assistance once you arrive in
Columbus, helping you settle in and get involved with campus life.
For a list of clubs, visit go.osu.edu/student-orgs.
Table of contents
Actions you must take before arriving........................................2–4
1. Check your BuckeyeMail for email communication from OIA
2. Apply for your student visa
3. Arrange for housing
4. Make plans to arrive early
5. Learn about mandatory Immigration Check-In and Orientation
6. Take required placement tests
7. Complete vaccination requirement
Actions you must take after arriving .................................................4
1. Immigration Check-In with OIA
2. Complete International Student Orientation
3. Attend welcome events
Additional information to help you plan and prepare
Arriving in Columbus ...................................................................... 5
When to arrive
Getting to campus from the airport
Living expenses ............................................................................... 5
Packing for Columbus .................................................................... 5
Columbus weather
What to pack
Health insurance .............................................................................. 6
Helpful contact information
............................................................... 6
Checklist for new international students
....................................... 6
What happens next? 2024–2025
Important information for new international undergraduates
2
n Proof of additional funding for family members who will
enter the U.S. on the F-2 visa, and marriage or birth
certicates of family members applying for the F-2 visa
(accompanying family members need their own I-20 in order to
get a visa and enter the United States)
n Receipt for payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee; visit go.osu.edu/
SEVISFee for details
n A copy of your Ohio State notice of admission email
n Be sure to check the embassy or consulate’s website for other
documents that may be required
Note for Canadian citizens: Canadian citizens do not need a U.S. visa.
At the port of entry you will be asked to show your I-20, Canadian
passport, receipt of SEVIS payment and proof of nancial support.
Make sure to obtain an admission stamp (F-1 ) on your passport at
the port of entry.
Important visa issues
• In addition to the documentation listed in the previous column, you
will need to demonstrate to the U.S. consular ofcer that you have
a home address that you do not intend to abandon, that you have
substantial ties to your home country and that you will return
there when you’ve completed your studies.
• Be sure to enter the United States on the F-1 visa. Those entering
on the visa waiver program or on a B-2 tourist visa cannot change
status in the United States.
• Apply for your F-1 visa using the I-20 for the university in which
you intend to enroll. If you have been admitted to and received an
I-20 from a university other than Ohio State, please be aware that
if you apply for the visa and enter the United States on that
school’s documents, you will be required to attend that school.
Information on U.S. consulate policies, procedures, requirements and
visa wait times can be found at the U.S. Department of State website:
travel.state.gov.
If you have questions about obtaining your student visa, please
contact OIA (see contact information on Page 6).
Actions you must take before arriving
1 Check your BuckeyeMail account for
email communication from OIA
Prior to your arrival, Ohio State’s Ofce of International Affairs (OIA)
will send weekly emails with important information to help prepare
you for your arrival at Ohio State. These emails are also archived at
go.osu.edu/Pre-arrival. Haven’t set up your BuckeyeMail email
account? Visit undergrad.osu.edu/how2buckeyemail.
2 Apply for your student visa
If you need a student visa (F-1) to study at Ohio State and …
… you are currently attending an institution in the United States:
Instructions for accessing your International Student Transfer Form
will be emailed to you. Ohio State will instruct you to download your
visa eligibility document (I-20 for the F-1 visa) after your SEVIS
record is released from your previous school. If you will be traveling
outside the United States prior to the start of classes, you must
contact Ohio State’s Ofce of International Affairs (OIA) to receive
your new document prior to re-entering the United States. If you are
staying in the U.S. between programs, your documents will be mailed
or emailed to you. Please follow the instructions on the International
Student Transfer Form to ensure you receive your visa eligibility
document at the appropriate time. Read “Important visa issues” on
this page.
… you are currently attending Ohio State in another program:
Ohio State will instruct you to download your visa eligibility
document (I-20 for the F-1 visa) prior to the start of your new
program. If you will be traveling outside the United States prior to the
start of your new educational level, you must contact Ohio State’s
Ofce of International Affairs (OIA) to receive your new document
prior to re-entering the United States. You must also ensure that you
receive the I-20 for your new program within your 60-day grace
period following the completion of your current program. Read
“Important visa issues” on this page.
… you are currently attending school outside of the United States:
You must make an appointment with the nearest U.S. consulate or
embassy to apply for a visa. (Read “Important visa issues” on this
page.) As listed below, you’ll need your visa eligibility document (I-20
for a F-1 visa), which you’ll download when prompted by
Ohio State.
To obtain a visa, take the following documents to your visa
appointment:
n Passport (must be valid for at least six months into the future)
n I-20 (for F-1 visa)
n Proof of nancial support (private sponsor’s Visa Request Form
and bank statement, or support letter from academic
department or letter from sponsoring agency or government)
Are you coming from another U.S. school?
If you are an F-1 student enrolled at another U.S. high school,
college or university, you are required to follow the SEVIS
transfer process. Complete the International Student Transfer
Form, which you will receive via email, and submit it to the
international student advisor at your current institution prior to
your last day of enrollment. Your advisor will release your
SEVIS record to Ohio State. The International Student Transfer
Form describes how to obtain the I-20 from Ohio State.
3
3 Arrange for housing
All unmarried, full-time students within a year of high school are
required to live in the residence halls for their rst two years, unless
they will be living locally with family.
Housing information is emailed to students’ BuckeyeMail
accounts (beginning in mid-March for freshmen admitted for autumn
semester) in the order acceptance fees are received.
After receiving this information, apply for housing online as soon as
possible. On-campus housing space lls quickly. In some cases,
housing may not be available for students who do not return the
contract in a timely manner.
Transfer students who graduated from secondary school in
2023–24 are required to live on campus; housing is dependent upon
space availability and is not guaranteed for all other transfer
students.
Contact Housing for details (see contact information on Page 6).
On-campus housing
Traditional residence halls
A few notes about residence halls:
• Each room is furnished and includes a small microwave oven and
refrigerator (woks, electric burners and other small appliances
may not be used in the rooms). Some residence halls have limited
shared kitchen cooking space.
• A variety of meal plans and types of food are available in the
university dining halls. Learn more: dining.osu.edu/dining-plans/
columbus-campus-dining-plans.
• Most undergraduate students in residence halls have three
roommates.
• Housing fees include all utilities, including internet connections.
• The entire campus — including residence halls — is tobacco-free.
Living-learning community residence hall
I-House is an undergraduate residential community where
international and domestic students live together. Residents
participate in educational and social programs. To learn about
I-House, visit housing.osu.edu and click on Learning Communities.
The application for learning communities is April 15.
Off-campus housing
Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement provides
resources and information for students who live off campus,
including apartment/roommate searches, general lease information
and legal referrals. Visit offcampus.osu.edu or contact this ofce
directly (see contact information on Page 6).
4 Make plans to arrive early
OIA recommends that you arrive in Columbus at least two to three
weeks before classes begin. Plan to remain in Columbus during that
time so you can take care of university business (see the checklist on
Page 6).
Early arrival housing
Make arrangements with Housing to move into your autumn
semester housing assignment in early August (for other terms, a
limited number of spaces may be available).
• If you have signed a housing contract, use the link sent to you
with your housing assignment to make arrangements for arrival.
You also have the option of arranging host housing or booking a
hotel.
• If you have not signed a contract with Housing, you will not
have access to early-arrival housing in the residence halls. You
must arrange for host housing or book a hotel.
Host housing
Your nationality club may be able to help with temporary housing.
For a list of clubs, visit go.osu.edu/student-orgs.
Hotels
Area hotel rates range from $70–$140 per night for a single person
room. Check rates online before making a reservation,
and call the hotel to ask about special discounts for Ohio State
students. For a list of hotels near the university,
visitexperiencecolumbus.com/hotels/near-ohio-state-university.
5 Learn about mandatory immigration
check-in and orientation
Immigration check-in and orientation are required for all new
international students. Learn more at go.osu.edu/Pre-arrival and
go.osu.edu/ImmigrationProcess.
6 Take required placement tests
To ensure appropriate placement in Ohio State courses, most new
international students are required to take placement tests in ESL
and/or math online prior to arriving on campus.
• ESL placement tests: Go to ielp.ehe.osu.edu/assessments to read
more about the ESL Composition (ESLC) program, including
placement requirements.
• Math placement test: If you are asked to take the math
placement test, you will be given instructions to complete the test
online. If possible, students should complete the test at
orientation.osu.edu/placement prior to their arrival.
Actions you must take before arriving
4
Actions you must take after arriving
Ohio State staff members from a variety of ofces participate in
orientation to introduce themselves to you and share information
about the services their departments provide. Orientation activities
provide students with an opportunity to get acquainted with campus
and get to know new and current international students.
Orientation dates:
Semester Orientation Classes begin
Autumn 2024 Multiple dates August 20, 2024
Spring 2025 January 2025 January 6, 2025
Visit go.osu.edu/Pre-arrival for learn more about orientation.
3 Attend welcome events
Ohio State will have welcome booths at the John Glenn Columbus
International Airport (CMH) and at the Ohio Union on campus before
classes begin.
During your rst weeks at Ohio State, there will be events to help
you acclimate to Ohio State and Columbus. The Welcome Booth at
the Ohio Union will serve as the meeting place to take advantage of
shopping, arts and culture, food, sports, and Ohio State and campus
resources. Orientation leaders will also be available at the booth to
answer questions and provide information.
Immigration check-in and orientation are required for all
new international students. Most students can complete
immigration check-in, orientation, testing and class registration
within two weeks.
1 Immigration check-in with OIA
All international students must check in with OIA when they arrive
on campus. You are required to complete your check-in not more
than one week after your arrival in the United States to comply
with U.S. immigration regulations. It is very important that you read
OIA’s pre-arrival emails for detailed information on the immigration
check-in process and how to register for a check-in date and time in
advance.
2 Complete International
Student Orientation
All new students are required to complete OIA’s orientation
program, which addresses topics such as:
• Cultural adjustment
• Campus safety
• University procedures
• Immigration regulations
• Academic standards and expectations
• Tuition and fee payment
• Campus involvement
• Health services and insurance
7 Complete vaccination requirement
Ohio State requires verication that you are up to date on
certain vaccines (immunizations). Complete information on the
requirement can be found at shc.osu.edu/services/vaccinations/
vaccination-requirement.
• Step 1: Enter the dates of your vaccinations into MyBuckMD, your
secure health portal at Student Health Services. You’ll need to log
in with your Ohio State username and password.
• Step 2: Download and complete the vaccination document found
at shs.osu.edu/vaccinations1/completing-university-
vaccination-requirement and have it signed by your doctor. When
the form is complete, you will need to scan it and upload it to
MyBuckMD.
If you’re not able to receive, or verify that you have received, all
of these vaccinations prior to arrival, you can receive them all at the
Student Health Center once you’re here, and the cost will be covered
by your Ohio State health insurance. Questions should
be addressed to vaccination@osu.edu.
5
Arriving in Columbus
When to arrive
Federal regulations require that F-1 students arrive no more than 30
days before the start date on the I-20. We recommend you arrive in
Columbus at least two to three weeks before classes begin, and
remain in Columbus during that time so you can take care of
university business.
Getting to campus from the airport
Ohio State provides a limited number of free transportation
vouchers at the Ohio State Welcome Booth in the John Glenn
Columbus International Airport (CMH) upon arrival.
It’s easy and safe to take a taxi from the airport to campus. Follow
the ground transportation sign near the baggage claim area. Taxis
and vans will be parked near the door. The fare to Ohio State is
approximately $25–$30 (ask about the cost in advance). Taxi
drivers expect a 10–15 percent tip.
Another transportation option to consider is to use ridesharing
applications like Uber or Lyft.
Your nationality club may also be able to help with airport pick-up or
other local transportation. For a list of clubs, search the
directory at go.osu.edu/student-orgs.
Prior to your departure, learn more at go.osu.edu/Pre-arrival.
Living expenses
The cost of tuition, fees and other living expenses is listed on the
I-20 (cost for one year). Students should plan for a 5–10 percent
annual increase for all costs.
Additional living expenses for family members for the 2023–2024
academic year are estimated at:
Spouse $10,806
Each child (under 13 years old)* $5,403
*For children over 13 years old, the living expenses match those
of spouses.
Please be aware that…
• Student fees are typically due one week (seven calendar days)
before the rst day of classes each term unless otherwise noted
on your Statement of Account. Fees are paid each term; you may
not pay fees for the entire year at one time.
• There are limitations on the types of employment F-1 students
may accept while studying in the United States. You will learn
more about your eligibility to work on and off campus when you
check in with OIA. Keep in mind that before beginning work off
campus, you must always contact an OIA immigration
coordinator. Note: F-2 dependents may not apply for
authorization to work in the U.S.
• You should plan to have sufcient funds in the form of traveler’s
checks in U.S. dollars, as there may be a delay in clearing funds
from overseas banks. Do not keep large amounts of money in the
form of cash.
• Taxes are deducted from workers’ salaries, so the amount of
money available to spend is lower than the amount indicated in a
job offer.
Packing for Columbus
Columbus weather
Columbus experiences four distinct seasons. Here are typical
temperature ranges:
Season Temperatures What to expect
Summer Day: 75–95 F / 24–34 C Humid and hot;
June 21 to Night: 60–75 F / 16–21 C stormy
September 20
Autumn Day: 35–65 F / 2–18 C Cool – temperatures
September 21 to Night: 20–50 F / -7–10 C change quickly;
December 20 rainy and windy
Winter Day: 15–45 F / -9–9 C A little snow; very
December 21 to Night: 5–35 F / -15–2 C cold; wear a heavy
March 20 coat, hat and gloves
Spring Day: 45–75 F / 7–23 C Mild and rainy –
March 21 to Night: 30–50 F / -1–10 C carry an umbrella!
June 20
What to pack
Weather-appropriate clothes: As you can see from the chart above,
you will need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. Humid
summers require light clothing; the cold winds of winter
call for a heavy coat. Of course, any type of clothing you need
can be purchased in Columbus.
Medical information: Bring your medical information (with
English translation) and information about any long-term health
problems you may have (for example, prescription information,
previous chest X-rays, etc.). Ohio State requires a health
screening, which will happen at orientation. During your health
screening you will need your completed vaccination requirement
documentation. See Page 4, step 7 for details on how to complete
your vaccination requirement.
Immigration documents: Make two copies of all your immigration
documents (passport, I-20, proof of funding): one to leave at home
and one to bring with you on the plane, along with the originals. Also
bring on the plane the address of your destination (you can use the
contact information for OIA on Page 6).
Don’t pack: fresh fruit, produce, meat, prepared food or spices. U.S.
customs will not allow you to bring these items into the country.
Additional information to help you plan and prepare
6
Checklist
Before arriving
n Activate your Ohio State email account.
n Download your I-20 visa eligibility document when prompted by
Ohio State.
n Read pre-arrival emails from OIA.
n Pay your I-901 SEVIS Fee at FMJfee.com.
n Apply for your F-1 student visa. Canadian citizens do not need a
U.S. visa.
n Make plans to complete Immigration Check-In and International
Student Orientation.
n Plan to arrive early. We recommend 2–3 weeks prior to classes.
n Make arrangements for early-arrival and permanent housing.
n Complete the Student Health Services International Student
Vaccination Requirement:
shs.osu.edu/services/vaccinations/
vaccination-requirement
n Take required placement tests online in ESL and/or math.
n Make ight arrangements to Columbus, Ohio (CMH).
n Purchase interim student health insurance available through
Ohio State’s Student Health Insurance Program for coverage from
the time you arrive through the start of classes.
n Consider attending programs offered before the start of classes.
Visit go.osu.edu/Pre-arrival for more information.
Arriving in Columbus
n Visit the Ohio State Welcome Booth at the Columbus airport.
While there, pick up a free transportation voucher for
transportation to campus (limited availability).
n Arrive at your residence hall, off-campus apartment or temporary
accommodation. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Arriving at Ohio State
n Receive welcome packet of resources and learn more about:
• Obtaining your BuckID (Ohio State student identication card).
• Opening a bank account
• Purchasing mobile telephone service
• What to expect at orientation
• Welcome events
n Review the assigned orientation program details and learn more
about registering for classes, paying tuition and fees, transferring
academic credit (if applicable), cultural adjustment and academic
expectations.
n Attend meetings, orientations and scheduling appointments
required by your college/department.
Health insurance
All international students who will be arriving in the United States are
required to purchase Ohio State’s student health insurance, unless their
government purchases them an insurance policy that meets Ohio
State’s minimum health insurance criteria (in which case a waiver must
be led with the Student Health Insurance ofce).
Students with F-2 dependents are strongly encouraged to add
these family members to their plan as dependents.
As part of tuition and fees, students currently pay $3,592 per
academic year for Ohio State health insurance. This gure is included
in the costs listed on the I-20. Learn more about the
Ohio State student health insurance policy at shi.osu.edu.
There are additional yearly costs for Ohio State student health
insurance coverage for family members. The rates below are
for the 2023–2024 academic year; plan for a 5 to 10 percent annual
increase for all costs.
Spouse or child $7,184
Spouse and 2+ children $10,776
Spouse and family $14,369
For coverage before classes start, we recommend that you
purchase interim insurance. For more information, go to
shi.osu.edu/shi-benets-plan/early-arrival-coverage.
Although updated at time of publication,
all information is subject to change.
UAP2400080
Helpful contact information
Off-Campus and Commuter
Student Engagement
Ohio Union
1739 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
+1-614-292-0100
Email: offcampus@osu.edu
offcampus.osu.edu
Ofce of International Affairs
(OIA)
Enarson Classroom Building
2009 Millikin Road
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
+1-614-292-6101
Email: iss@osu.edu
oia.osu.edu
To learn more about advising
hours and how to schedule an
appointment, visit
oia.osu.edu/advising.
Undergraduate Admissions
Student Academic Services
Building
281 W. Lane Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
+1-614-292-3980
Email: int.undergrad@osu.edu
undergrad.osu.edu
Housing and Residence
Education
350 Morrill Tower
1910 Cannon Drive
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
+1-614-292-8266
Email: housing@osu.edu
housing.osu.edu
