There are three important events you are required to attend on campus during the three-week period before classes start: Immigration Check-In, the Exchange Student Meeting, and New International Student Orientation.
(1) All new international students, including those coming on exchanges, must attend Immigration Check-In with the Office of International Affairs. Check-In allows us to verify that you have physically arrived on campus, and register your J-1 record in SEVIS, the government’s database. At Check-In we review and make electronic copies of your immigration documents, give you a checklist of everything to do prior to the start of classes, provide you with information on the events going on during that time, and answer any questions you have.
Items/InformationI ok to bring with you to Check-In include:
- Passport (if you have citizenship of more than one country, bring both passports if possible, and definitely that for the country shown on your DS-2019)
- J-1 visa in passport
- I-94, arrival/departure record (can be printed on the Customs and Border Protection website); if you cannot access a printer prior to Check-In don’t worry, we can do it for you there.
- Form DS-2019
- Information and BuckeyePass access for completing OIA’s Student Record Form, which you’ll fill out electronically at Check-In
- Know emergency contact information (names, telephone number, e-mail address and living address) for one person in the U.S. and one person outside the U.S.
- To be able to complete the Student Record Form you will need to have already registered for BuckeyePass access on an electronic device, such as a smart phone or tablet, and you must bring that same device with you to Check-In. To register, follow the instructions found in the “How?” section of this website.
Autumn Semester 2020 Check-In Dates: August 3 – 18, 2020 (2nd Floor, Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St.). You will register for a date and time on this page of the OIA website (registration will become available in June 2019).
(2) All new exchange students must attend an initial Exchange Student Meeting, where you will meet each other and your Exchange Partner for the first time, and go over important information to prepare you for a successful semester at Ohio State.
Autumn Semester 2019 Exchange Meeting Date: Thursday, August 20, 3:30 p.m. (160 Enarson Classroom Building)
(3) New International Student Orientation is your introduction to life at Ohio State, and is also required for all new students. It is a one and a half day event for exchange students (three days for degree-seeking students). At Orientation you will hear presentations from offices across campus, on topics including immigration regulations, academic preparation, safety, campus involvement, and more. Your health screening is also incorporated into Orientation. Free lunch is provided.
Autumn Semester 2020 Orientation Date Options (exact location and times will be provided at Immigration Check-In):
Option 1: August 10 – 11
Option 2: August 12 – 13
Option 3: August 17 – 18
Option 4: August 19 – 20
For further details on Check-In and Orientation, see this page of the OIA website.