There are three programs required of new incoming international students:

Penn State Global Welcome Webinar (graduate and undergraduate students): This online session will provide information on immigration, campus safety, avoiding housing scams, tuition and financial matters, and health insurance. Offered in May, June, and July. You will receive an email with registration instructions.

New Student Orientation (NSO) for International Students (undergraduate students only): This online session will provide introductory information on the Penn State experience. All incoming undergraduate Penn State students attend an NSO. You must complete your NSO to enroll in classes. Offered in June, July, and August. You will schedule your NSO as part of your NSO Tasklist.

International Student Welcome (graduate and undergraduate students): This in-person, on-campus program introduces you to your campus resources and experience. ISW specifics depend on campus, but they often include campus tours, social events with other new students, immigration information, and learning about various campus offices. You will receive an email with registration instructions.

Please note that there might be additional orientation programming required by your academic program or other groups.

Visit our International Student Welcome website for more details.

*Answer for 2023-2024 Academic Year

Registration for International Student Welcome will depend on your campus.

Contact your Global Engagement Coordinator to learn more about your ISW requirements.

All sessions during your Welcome Day are mandatory. Missing or skipping sessions may disrupt your transition to Penn State. For exceptions and other circumstances, please contact the Global Engagement office in advance to discuss your situation. 

Please email globalengagement@psu.edu if this scenario happens. In these rare cases, Global Engagement will help you determine how to prioritize your time to be able to attend the most important parts of both orientations.

The following transporation services provide travel from major regional airports to several Penn State campuses. Please review the tickets and schedules closely to identify which transporation service travels to your Penn State campus.

Bus Services:

Fullington Trailways

Greyhound

Megabus

Train Services:

Amtrak

*Answer for 2023-2024 Academic Year

For University Park students, we do not provide housing accomodations during Welcome Week.

For Commonwealth campus students, please contact your Global Engagement Coordinator to learn more about your orientation accomodations.

All incoming international students, regardless of current visa status, need to complete the New Student Visa Documentation Process.  There is an optional form called “I don’t need an Penn State I-20/DS-2019.” if that applies to you.

Only students who are requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 need to upload proof of funds, but all students are asked to complete the required forms in this iStart process.

Helpful Link on Attending Penn State in Another Visa Status

For further questions contact: International@psu.edu

ISSA does not have a deadline for submitting materials required for the issuance of an I-20/DS-2019. However, we recommend you do not delay.  The I-20/DS-2019 is required for the visa application process.

The form I-20 for F-1 visa requires students to show proof of adequate funds to cover the first 12 months of a student’s program and written support for future years of a student’s program of study.

The form DS-2019 requires proof of funding for all years of the student’s program of study.

Acceptable financial guarantee information can be found at the following link:  Financial Guarantee Requirements

Financial guarantors must clearly state in their own words the length and duration of the sponsorship.

The commitment on the support letter should have specific language. For example, a support letter written by a parent which states, “I will cover all of my son’s expenses for five years” is too general, whereas one which states “I will provide my son with $70,000 each year to cover his school-related expenses for up to four years” is more specific and clearly details the sponsorship.

If the student is sponsored by a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, financial guarantee documents must be accompanied by an I-134 (Affidavit of Support).

Helpful Links:

Certification of Financial Support (PDF)

Certification of Financial Support (Word)

I-134

Yes. ISSA cannot create an I-20 or DS-2019 for you until you have finished the admission process and accepted your offer of admission.

Residency country means the country in which you are a legal permanent resident. Often this field will simply be the country of your citizenship.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires us to use the given name for the surname for individuals who do not have a surname. Therefore, on the I-20/DS-2019, when there is no surname, we will use the given name in the place of the surname. Other offices in the U.S. may use last name unknown (LNU) or first name unknown (FNU), but inconsistencies with the I-20/DS-2019 and are not permitted by the DHS. It is not possible to live in the U.S. without a surname name. Even Beyonce and Lizzo have a surname. You should realize that FNU or LNU will become your name because most people do not understand these abbreviations.

In all instances, surname, given name and middle name should all match what is on the passport. We cannot enter special characters such as hyphens and accents on the I-20/DS-2019 as these characters are not recognized.

ISSA will issue the I-20/DS-2019 with the name the admissions office has on file or we will recommend a change based on your passport. It is important for many reasons that you are consistent in the name you use. This will affect your living in the U.S. such as driver’s license applications, social security number applications, etc.

Most offices at Penn State build their estimates on a single set of figures provided by the Office of Student Aid. The reason the estimates differ between offices often has to do with the type and purpose of the estimates. The estimated for international students includes out-of-state tuition estimates and will be in the U.S. for 12 months. In addition, health insurance is mandatory for all international students.

This eForm is to be completed by the student who:

• is new to Penn State;
• has been in the U.S. within the last 5 months on an F-1 or J-1 visa;
• is eligible to maintain the current SEVIS ID;
• or may be currently engaged in a period of academic or practical training (J-1 academic training or OPT).

If you meet the conditions listed above, it should be possible to complete a SEVIS transfer and maintain the same SEVIS ID. This is the preferred method for maintaining your immigration status within the U.S.

Contact your current school’s international advising office to inquire if SEVIS transfer is possible.  If you are eligible for a SEVIS transfer, please complete the SEVIS Transfer Request eForm located within the New Student Visa Documentation Process.

Helpful link on SEVIS Transfer

Request to have your SEVIS Record transferred to the Pennsylvania State University within 60 days of ending your last program or the end of your OPT employment. You must complete both a ‘transfer-out process’ with your current school and the SEVIS Transfer Request eForm within the New Student Visa Documentation Process.

The student will be sent an electronic copy of the I-20/ DS-2019 to their personal email. The electronic copy is an original copy which the student must print, sign, and keep with them.

It may take up to 3 weeks to process I-20/DS-2019 requests during peak months of April to July. Once an I-20/DS-2019 is issued, it will be immediately sent to the email address on file. You will need to print it out and sign and date in ink on the first page.

ISSA is required to use the standard length of the program determined by your academic department. We work closely with admission teams to determine the standard by when most students complete the program of study.  If you cannot complete your program within the time noted on the I-20 or DS-2019, you can apply for an extension.

ISSA does not have a deadline for submitting materials required for the issuance of an I-20/DS-2019. However, we recommend you do not delay.  The I-20/DS-2019 is required for the visa application process.

Please refer to “Administrative Processing Information” at the State of Department site.

Provide the U.S. Consulate with any documentation requested of you. If they ask for academic information, work with your department for letters. (ISSA is not involved in the academic side of your Penn State experience.) Your graduate program faculty may be of assistance in helping you with any requested documentation.

If you are not able to arrive for the start of in-person classes at Penn State in your admitted semester, please work with your department to defer your admission to the next available semester.  After that has been approved, you’ll need to complete the form Redate my I-20/DS-2019 to a Future Semester in iStart to receive an updated I-20 or DS-2019.

New students who have not previously studied in the U.S. must enter the country with an I-20 from the school listed on their visa. Students transferred with SEVIS record to Penn State from a different school may continue to use their unexpired visa.

Please review the website for the embassy in your area to be aware of the expedited appointment process at that specific embassy.  Most embassies have information on their website regarding applying for expedited visa processing.  In some areas, expedited appointments are limited to students and exchange students who are within 60 days of their start date.  The embassy representatives are required to look at data in SEVIS to confirm the program start for each student. Be sure to take the Penn State I-20 with you to the visa appointment along with the receipt of payment for the SEVIS I-901 fee.

The following documents are required to enter the U.S.:

• Valid I-20 or DS-2019
• Unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa
• Passport with validity for at least 6 months from the date of entry

ISSA recommends students carry the following documents. These documents are not required and should only be shown if asked by Customs:

• The I-901 receipt
• Your Admission Letter

Citizens of Canada or Bermuda are U.S. visa exempt. They must show evidence of the I-901 (SEVIS fee payment) receipt. Please contact ISSA for more details.

The earliest date you can enter the U.S. is 30 days before the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019 on page 1 (Program of Study box on I-20 / 3. Form Covers Period on DS-2019).

Please see Customs and Border Patrol’s list of items that cannot be brought into the US:

Prohibited and Restricted Items | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)

After you enter the U.S., there are no restrictions when traveling within the country. Students are not required to show their I-20 or DS-2019 when traveling within the U.S., however, we recommend students always carry their immigration documents with them while traveling.

As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S. arriving by air, land or sea are no longer required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There are currently no COVID testing requirements at Penn State, so testing is at your discretion.

After you enter the U.S., you will be able to retrieve your most recent I-94 arrival record within 24 hours from the Customs and Border Protection I-94 website.

The I-94 will have an admission number listed on the document.  Each time you enter the U.S. you need to retrieve the most recent I-94.  Each I-94 will have a different admission number.

Helpful Links: 

Preparing to Enter the United States – Custom Border Protection | Global Penn State (psu.edu)

Late arrival for a semester requires approval from your academic unit before we can alter the dates on your I-20 or DS-2019. Please note that Penn State Global is not involved in academic decisions.  Pre-Arrival Advising cannot guarantee approval for late arrivals or future funding.  Arriving late comes with a host of issues for a student: jetlag, orientation to a new culture, start-up processes like Housing, Banking, Immigration Check-In, Onboarding, AND ESPECIALLY make-up work for your academic courses.

Penn State residential courses cannot accommodate a hybrid start online until you can arrive in person.

Please contact international@psu.edu and we will provide you with access to the late arrival request form in iStart.

Undergraduate students:

• Are not permitted to arrive past the drop/add period, which is the first Friday after classes begin.
• Must have 12 credits scheduled upon arrival (at least 9 credits must be in-person).
• If you are not permitted to arrive late, please cancel your classes before you accrue charges, and contact admissions@psu.edu +1-814-865-5471 to request a deferral of your admission to a future semester.  After that has been approved, you’ll need to complete the form Redate my I-20/DS-2019 to a Future Semester in iStart to receive an updated I-20 or DS-2019.

Graduate students:

• Should not arrive more than 2 weeks late.
• Must have 9 credits scheduled upon arrival (at least 6 must be in-person)
• If you cannot start your classes this semester, please work with your department to request a deferral of your admission.  After that has been approved, you’ll need to complete the form Redate my I-20/DS-2019 to a Future Semester in iStart to receive an updated I-20 or DS-2019.

Penn State is a public university funded primarily by government and taxpayer money. U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency is a requirement for federal funds and Pennsylvania residency is a further requirement for state funds.

Financial aid is not available for international undergraduate students.

Graduate level students can contact the academic program directly to inquire about available assistantships.  Programs vary considerably in the amount of assistance available, application deadlines and procedures.  You can obtain a list of programs offered by visiting the Graduate Admissions website.  Each academic department has its own requirements and has sole discretion in awarding assistantships.

Look for scholarship funding through organizations that specialize in financially assisting international students to study in the United States.  Many organizations have listings in financial reference manuals that can be found in public and university libraries.  Additional listings can also be found on the web.

Helpful Links:

Other Sources of Scholarships and Financial Help | Penn State Global (psu.edu)

NAFSA Resources for Financial Aid for International Students

The Bursar’s Office will email a semester bill to your PSU email address detailing payment methods on or around the first week of classes. It is important to note you will not receive a paper bill.

Helpful Links:

Bursar’s Office

International Students: Introduction to Your Bursar Account

Payment Options

You can enter the U.S. only 30 days before the program start date on the I-20 or DS-2019. You may begin work 30 days before the first day of classes if you complete Immigration Check-In, are registered as Active in SEVIS, apply for a social security number and complete the onboarding tasks with Human Resources. J-1 students (with DS-2019) MUST obtain a written permission from ISSA before they start working on-campus (Submit a form “Permission for J-1 On-Campus Employment” in iStart).

Human Resources (HR) has a database of available jobs for students, Careers | Human Resources (psu.edu). Additionally, you can contact departments or offices (like Residence Life) directly for available job opportunities.

Contact the Graduate School on how to apply for an assistantship.

You must have a job on campus or approved for work authorization to be eligible for a social security number. See our website for more information on the steps to apply for a number: Social Security Number for International Students.

Within one week after you arrive to the U.S., you must complete the Immigration Check-In process in iStart. You will need to upload immigration documents including I-94 and add your contact information (U.S. address & phone number; international address & phone number) in Account Management. This is mandatory for all students in F-1 or J-1 status who will study at Penn State for the first See more details on the check-in process at ISSA’s website.

Students gain access to their LionPATH and email account at various times.  Undergraduates will activate the Penn State email a few days prior to their scheduled NSO Virtual orientation. Graduate students will activate the Penn State email after their immigration documentation is approved by ISSA Pre-Arrival Advising.

Helpful Resources:

Penn State Account Management (psu.edu)

Access to LionPATH (psu.edu)

How and when do I get access to the resources I need? | Office of Information Security (psu.edu)

Immunizations offer safe and effective protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. The United States is experiencing a re-emergence of many diseases, in part due to factors such as non-immunized and under-immunized persons and global travel. Penn State, along with University Health Services, strongly supports the use of immunizations to protect the health of individual students and the campus community.

For the safety of our campus community, students who do not supply proper evidence of immunity may be removed from campus during a communicable disease outbreak.

For a list of required and recommended immunizations and to see how to upload your immunization records, please visit the Student Health Services website. You can email uhs-him@psu.edu with additional questions.

All international students in F-1 or J-1 status studying at Penn State must have health insurance for the entire period of study. Any F-2 or J-2 accompanying dependents must also carry health insurance.  Your health insurance must meet the Penn State requirements. Also, the US Department of State requires all J-1 exchange visitors and their dependents to maintain health insurance. Violation of this mandate requires termination of the J-1 status.

Students must purchase the Student Health Insurance plan or apply for a waiver by providing evidence of having health insurance that meets the waiver standards. The charge for health insurance will be placed on the student’s Bursar account.

The financial guarantee required to obtain the I-20 or DS-2019 includes the amount for health insurance. Questions regarding insurance or waivers should be sent to: uhs-insurance@psu.edu.

Penn State’s Student Health Insurance Office is responsible for administering the health insurance plans for all Penn State students. Please visit the University Health Services (UHS) website for more information. With specific questions about insurance, you may contact uhs-insurance@psu.edu.

Your family and friends may come visit you in the U.S. if hey have a valid entry visa. Unfortunately, ISSA is not able to provide letters of invitation for this purpose.

You must apply for an F-2 I-20 or DS-2019 for your spouse or child(ren). You are also required to carry health insurance for your spouse and children who are on an F-2 or J-2 visa and must complete the Mandatory Immigration Check-In for them as well after arrival.

You are required to maintain a valid passport at all times. Passports must be valid for at least six months after entering and re-entering the U.S. Students should contact their local embassy or consulate for instructions on renewing their passport. Some countries require that the student appear in person at an Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. Some may allow mailing of documents.