I am admitted, now what?
Congratulations on your admission to Tarleton State University! International Student Services and Programs looks forward to welcoming you. Now that you have been admitted, you are probably wondering what your next steps are. Well, you are in luck! Here is a list of the steps you need to take between now and your first day of class to ensure a successful transition to Tarleton.
First Time Freshmen
- Request Your I-20. After receiving your acceptance letter, you will need to request an I-20
Form from International Student Services. Please submit the required documents to
[email protected]. Allow 10-15 business to review your documents. You will be contact if any further information or documentation is needed. If your I-20 is
approved, it will be emailed to you with further instructions. - Pay I-901 SEVIS Fee. Pay your I-901 SEVIS fee online at
https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html. Currently, the SEVIS fee is $350. Be sure
to print your receipt to take with you to your visa interview.
*For Canadian and Bermudian citizens only: You do not have to attend a visa
interview. However, you still must pay the SEVIS fee and present your receipt at
your port of entry. After paying your SEVIS fee, you can skip to step 8. - Complete DS-160. The DS-160 is the nonimmigrant visa application. Go to
https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ to fill out the application online. For more
information about the DS-160, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/usvisas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html.
You will need your SEVIS number and our SEVIS school code to complete the DS-160. You
can find both pieces of information on your I-20. Be sure to print your application form
confirmation page to take with you to your visa interview. - Schedule Visa Interview. Contact your local US Embassy or Consulate and follow their
procedures for scheduling an interview. Please visit https://www.usembassy.gov/ for a
list of US Embassy and Consulate locations in your country. - Pay Visa Application Fee. All students must pay a visa application fee before going to their
interview. Currently, the visa application fee is $160. Please follow the instructions
provided on your chosen Embassy or Consulate’s website for paying your visa application
fee. Be sure to print your receipt to take with you to your visa interview. - Attend Visa Interview. You need to take your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee payment
receipt, visa application fee payment receipt, and DS-160 confirmation page with you to
your interview. If you were unable to upload your photo when you submitted your DS160, you must also bring a photo that meets the requirements listed at
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-informationresources/photos.html.
You may also want to take your financial documents, transcripts, diplomas, and
standardized test scores (e.g., SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOEFL) in case you need to prove financial
solvency or academic readiness. - Pay Reciprocity Fee and Receive F-1 Visa. Congratulations, you passed your interview!
However, after your application is approved, you may have to pay a reciprocity fee before
receiving your visa. Please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/VisaReciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html for more information on visa reciprocity
fees. Embassies and Consulates only issue F-1 visas up to 120 days before I-20 program
start dates. Therefore, if your interview is more than 120 days before your start date, you
may have to wait until this 120-day window begins to receive your visa. - Apply for Housing and Meal Plan. Tarleton requires all first-year students to live on
campus and purchase a meal plan. Go to https://www.tarleton.edu/housing/incomingstudents/ for details on applying for housing and selecting your meal plan. - Book Your Flight. Your I-20 shows the earliest date that you are allowed to enter the US.
If you arrive before this date, US Customs & Border Protection will deny you entry into the
US, so book your flight accordingly. - Request Transportation. Send your flight details to [email protected].
Transportation will be reserved by our office. The reservation details will be sent to you. - Check-In with P/DSO. You must check-in in person with the P/DSO. Bring your original
passport, visa, and I-94 document. Email [email protected] to
schedule an appointment. - Get Vaccinated (if you have not already done so). The State of Texas requires that all
incoming students under age 22 be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Go to
https://www.tarleton.edu/admissions/bacterial-meningitis/ to learn how to submit
your proof of vaccination. - Take TSI Assessment. All incoming first-year students must take the Texas Success
Initiative (TSI). This assessment determines your skill level in college-level reading,
writing, and math. Tarleton will use your assessment results to decide your proper
placement for first-year English and math courses. Your scores must be on file with the
Undergraduate Admissions Office before you are allowed to enroll in your first semester courses. - Get Advised and Enroll in Courses. After the Undergraduate Admissions Office
receives your TSI scores, your next step is to get advised. Please contact the Office of
Academic Advising at [email protected] to schedule an advising appointment.
Once you clear your advising hold, you will be ready to enroll in classes. Remember,
international students must enroll in at least 12 hours total, at least 9 of which must either be
face to face. - Come to the US. Be sure to carry your I-20, passport, visa, I-901 SEVIS fee payment
receipt, admission letter, and financial documents with you. DO NOT put them in
your checked bags. Instead, present your documents to a Customs & Border
Protection agent at your port of entry to request permission to enter the U.S. Ensure
your I-94 document is stamped correctly as F-1. You may have to undergo additional
security screening, receive a Form I-515A, or be denied entry if you are missing one
or more of these documents. - Attend Transition Week. Transition Week is required for all first-year students. During
this week, you will move into your dorm, meet your professors and other students, learn about
Tarleton traditions, and so much more. - First Class Day. The big day has finally arrived. Good luck on your first day at
Tarleton! - Complete Online Orientation Course. After check-in, you will receive an email at
your Tarleton email address to join the international student orientation course.
This course is designed to help familiarize you with SEVP regulations. Once you
accept, you can complete your course online at your convenience. This course must
be completed before the end of your 1st term to remove the registration hold for
the next semester
Transfer Student
- Get Your I-20. After receiving your acceptance letter, you will need to request an
I-20 Form from International Programs. You must contact your current school’s
P/DSO/International Office to complete the Transfer-In Form and request that they
transfer your SEVIS record to Tarleton. Once your I-20 is issued, it will be emailed to
you. Please submit the required documents to [email protected].
Allow 10-15 business to review your documents. You will be contact if any further
information or documentation is needed. If your I-20 is approved, it will be emailed to
you with further instructions. - Apply for Housing and Meal Plan. Tarleton requires certain transfer students to live on
campus and purchase a meal plan. Go to https://www.tarleton.edu/housing/incomingstudents/ for details on applying for housing and selecting your meal plan. - Book Your Flight (if necessary). Your I-20 shows the earliest date that you are allowed
to enter the U.S. the 30-day entrance rule does not apply to transfer students. If you are
planning on leaving the U.S. before your first semester at Tarleton, you can leave and
re-enter the U.S. at any time. - Request Transportation. Send your flight details to [email protected].
Transportation will be reserved by our office. The reservation details will be sent to you. - Check-In with P/DSO. You must check-in in person with the P/DSO. Bring your original
passport, visa, and I-94 document. Email [email protected] to schedule
an appointment. - Get Vaccinated (if you have not already done so). The State of Texas requires that all
incoming students under age 22 be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Go to
https://www.tarleton.edu/admissions/bacterial-meningitis/ to learn how to submit your
proof of vaccination. - Take TSI Assessment. Some transfer may qualify for an exemption of the Texas Success
Initiative (TSI). This assessment determines your skill level in college-level reading, writing, and
math. Tarleton will use your assessment results to decide your proper placement for first-year
English and math courses. Your scores must be on file with the Undergraduate Admissions Office before you are allowed to enroll in your first semester courses. - Get Advised and Enroll in Courses. After the Undergraduate Admissions Office receives
your TSI scores, your next step is to get advised. Please contact the Office of Academic
Advising at [email protected] to schedule an advising appointment. Once you clear
your advising hold, you will be ready to enroll in classes. Remember, international students must
enroll in at least 12 hours total, at least 9 of which must either be face to face or hybrid. - Attend Texan Camp (optional). During Texan Camp, you will meet other transfer students,
connect with faculty and staff, learn about Tarleton traditions, participate in team building and
leadership activities, and so much more. - First Class Day. The big day has finally arrived. Good luck on your first day at Tarleton!
- Complete Online Orientation Course. After check-in, you will receive an email at your Tarleton
email address to join the international student orientation course. This course is designed to help familiarize you with immigration regulations. Once you accept, you can complete your course online at your convenience. This course must be completed before the end of your 1st term to remove the registration hold for the next semester.
Looking for more posts for International Students? Read more below!
[newsletter_signup_form id=1]