Pre-Arrival Information for New International Students
When to Arrive ◊ Dining Options ◊ Getting Your Visa
Bringing Dependents ◊ Orientation ◊ Pre-Arrival Newsletter
When Should You Arrive?
♦ All students must arrive in time for the first day of International Student Orientation.
♦ If this is not possible, contact OISS: oiss@unh.edu
♦ If you will be living in University housing, you may receive conflicting information about when the residence halls open.
Note: OISS makes special arrangements for early housing for new international students, so please direct any questions to oiss@unh.edu.
Arranging Housing
Department of Housing
10 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2120
Fax: (603) 862-3406
On-Campus Housing
♦ University housing is in high demand, so we urge you to reserve a space prior to arriving in the U.S.
♦ Please do not assume that a space will automatically be available for you.
Undergraduate Students
♦ All admitted students will receive a Housing Packet in the mail.
♦ Follow the instructions to arrange for on-campus housing.
♦ If you would like to live in an internationally-themed residence hall, you may request Fairchild Hall on your Housing Application.
♦ If you have questions about housing, please contact the Department of Housing directly.
*Note: Only Devine, Randall, Hitchcock, Fairchild, Congreve, Hetzel, and Adams Tower West Halls remain open during vacation periods.
♦ If you plan to remain on campus during vacation periods, we recommend you request a space in one of these residence halls.
Graduate Students
♦ Graduate students who wish to live on campus are assigned to Babcock Hall.
♦ You must contact the Department of Housing to request a room and submit a deposit in order to be guaranteed a room.
♦ If you are the recipient of a UNH assistantship, a deposit is not required, but you must still contact the Department of Housing to confirm your room request.
♦ International scholars without accompanying family members may also be housed at Babcock.
♦ Is an on-campus apartment complex which is available for international students and scholars with families.
♦ If you are planning to arrive with your spouse and/or other family members, be sure to make your housing arrangements well in advance of arrival as space in Forest Park is very limited and there is usually a waiting list.
Off-Campus Housing
♦ Off-campus housing is available in Durham and the neighboring communities of Dover, Portsmouth, Newmarket and Lee.
♦ Lists of available rooms and apartments are available through the MUB Information Center and local newspapers, such as Foster's Daily Democrat and The Portsmouth Herald.
Dining Options
♦ All undergraduate students living in University housing must purchase a University meal plan.
♦ Undergraduates living off-campus and graduate students may purchase a meal plan, but are not required to do so.
♦ International faculty, staff and visiting scholars may also purchase a meal plan if desired.
♦ For more information or to order meal plans, please contact UNH Dining.
Getting Your Visa
♦ Once your admission to the University is complete and you have satisfied the financial requirement for international students, you will receive either a Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for the F-1 Student Visa) or a Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for the J-1 Student Visa) from OISS.
♦ You will be required to present this form, along with your valid passport, the letter of admission to UNH and all supporting financial documents (such as; bank statements, letter of assistantship, research or scholarship award, affidavit of support from a sponsor) to the Consular Officer when you visit the United States Embassy or Consulate in your area.
♦ Make sure that all supporting financial documents are either originals on official letterhead or are properly notarized photocopies, are in English (or are accompanied by notarized translations) and show the funds in U.S. dollars or the U.S. dollar equivalent.
♦ Immigration officials will inspect this certificate and your financial documents at your point of entry to the U.S., so keep these forms and your passport with you when you travel.
♦ If for any reason you are unable to attend UNH as expected for the specified term, you may contact OISS for defferal options.
♦ If you do not ever intend to attend UNH, you must return your Certificate of Eligibility to OISS.
♦ Detailed instructions and information will be provided with your I-20 or DS-2019.
NOTE to Canadian Students: While you are not required to obtain a visa, you are required to present your Certificate of Eligibility and declare yourself as a student at the US port-of-entry.
If you receive a Certificate of Eligibility from more than one school
♦ You must report to the school whose I-20 or DS-2019 you use to enter the U.S. and meet their enrollment requirement or you will be in violation of your student status.
If you are an international student already in the U.S.
♦ You will be asked to complete an International Student Transfer Form prior to receiving an I-20 or DS-2019.
♦ Your transfer to UNH will be completed during the International Student Orientation.
♦ Please note that this is a transfer in terms of immigration and is separate from any type of academic transfer process.
If you are already in the U.S. in a non-student visa classification
♦ OISS will help you determine whether you need to change your immigration status.
♦ However, if you have been offered an assistantship, scholarship or other type of aid, you may be required to change your status in order to accept the award.
Considerations for Students with Dependents
If you are planning to bring family members, there are several important issues to consider:
♦ University Housing for families is limited.
♦ There is usually a waiting list for the Forest Park Apartment Complex.
♦ You will need to make housing arrangements prior to arrival.
♦ School-age children (ages 6 to 16) are required to attend school.
♦ You will need to provide their official birth certificates, school records, complete medical history and immunization records.
[IMPORTANT: See http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/documents/school12-13.pdf for immunization requirements.]
♦ Childcare centers (for younger children or after-school care) are expensive and usually have a waiting list. It may not be possible to find a center to take care of your child immediately.
♦ As a condition of enrollment, ALL international students in F-1 status are required to purchase the International Sickness and Injury Plan sponsored by UNH.
♦ There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this university policy.
View the insurance brochure: http://www.unh.edu/health-services/shbp/
Students in J-1 status are required to purchase the UNH plan unless one of the following applies:
1. insurance is provided by the student’s home government
2. insurance is provided by a non-UNH J program sponsor
3. students are participating in an exchange program between UNH and their home academic institutions and the formal agreement does not specify that students have to purchase the UNH plan.
♦ In these instances, the J-1 student must provide documentation of their insurance coverage.
♦ If the insurance coverage is not in compliance with US Department of State minimum requirements, the student will be required to purchase the UNH plan.
All international students participating in the "J" Exchange Visitor Program are required by federal law to have health insurance for themselves and their accompanying family members.
*Failure to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage for yourself and your dependents will result in dismissal from the program and you will have to depart the United States immediately.