Visa

SEVIS Fee

Those who wish to enter the United States either as a student or an exchange visitor with a Form I-20 or DS-2019 must pay the SEVIS fee of $180 (for J-1) and $200 (for F-1) before you visit the U.S. consular for an interview. Spouses and dependents of F-1/J-1 (F-2/J-2) will not pay this fee. Please visit SEVIS for more information. Please visit the SEVIS fee website to pay your SEVIS fee.

Entering the U.S.

Important Information:

Students Already in the U.S.

If you are a student who is already in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, you will need to have your documents processed by International Student Services upon your arrival at Minnesota State University Moorhead. If you are J-1 and you want to transfer or change to F-1, please contact International Student Services at MSUM and your current institution international student adviser. For F-1 students: Once you are admitted to MSUM, you will need to contact your current institution's international student office and request them to release your SEVIS information to MSUM. This is an easy process. We will hold your I-20 until you arrive at MSUM. If you are planning to leave the U.S. before arriving at MSUM, you need to arrive to the U.S. with MSUM's I-20. In this case, please plan your travel and admissions accordingly. For more information, contact International Student Services.

U.S.Customs

On the airplane you will be given a white card (I-94) and a U.S. Custom Declaration Form to complete before you land at your first U.S. destination. This is a customs card to complete and submit saying what you have in your luggage. After you go through the immigration/documentation inspection (Port of Entry) you will need to collect your luggage. Even though your luggage will go to the final destination, you will need to pull your luggage and go through customs. You will then take your luggage and the Custom Declaration Form to a U.S. Customs Officer. You will be asked to declare to a U.S. Customs Inspector what you have brought into the U.S. You may have to open your luggage to Customs Officers before it goes through the scanning machines. Customs Officers will also ask from you verbally what you have in your luggage. You can bring in anything for your personal use without paying duty. Quantity limitations are placed on alcoholic beverages (must be over 21 and 1 liter), Cigarettes (1 carton), Cigars (100) and smoking tobacco (2 kilograms). A total of $400 worth of gifts may be brought in duty free every six months. Any value over $400 will be assessed duty. Please visit the Customs and Border Protection website for more information.

Any amount of money may be brought into the U.S. without paying duty, however, you must declare any amount over $10,000. Certain articles may not be brought into the U.S. including meats, vegetables, lottery tickets, drugs without a prescription, articles made from endangered species, pornographic materials, copy written DVDs/CDs and switchable knives. Food items that are canned or otherwise processed or sealed food are acceptable. For more information contact your local U.S. Consular or visit the Customs Clearing at CBP website.

Arriving at Fargo - Moorhead

Minnesota State University Moorhead is easily accessible from Hector International Airport (Airport Code: FAR) located in Fargo, North Dakota. This airport is 5 miles away from MSUM. If you fly into Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (Airport Code: MSP), please note that you have another 4-6 hour bus or car drive to Moorhead or a 45 minute airplane ride to reach Moorhead. Taxis from Hector International Airport to MSUM are about $20. Doyle Cab has a free phone located in front of the public phones. Just pick the receiver and tell them you need a taxi. Be sure to inform the driver that you want to go to Moorhead via town (this is must cheaper than taking the freeway).

Transportation assistance is also available through International Student Services to pick you up from the Fargo Hector International Airport or the bus/train station in Fargo, North Dakota. You must provide complete arrival information at least 24 hours prior to your departure from your home country. Please fill out the arrival form as soon as you confirm your airline ticket. Our airport pick-up phone number is 1-218-790-1325.

If you are living on-campus and if you are checking in to your dorm room early, please email Housing and Residential Life Department at bellefja@mnstate.edu  You will be charged a $15 per night from the day you check-in to your dorm until the move-in day of the semester. The early move-in charged will be added to your semester bill. Remember, you have to sign the housing and residential life contract and pay the $150 deposit in order to check-in to the dorm.

Important contact information if you arrive to MSUM during holidays. MSUM will be closed on the 24th, 25th, 31st of December and 1st  of January. Please check the contact number sheet for more information.

Local Hotels/Motels

If you have not made housing arrangements prior to your departure, there are few hotels/motels close to MSUM. You can inquire if the hotels/motels have special discounts for international students and their families. Below are a few local hotel/motels:

Please note: Prices may change without notice. Please call ahead and make your reservations to reserve your room.

On-Campus Housing

On-Campus housing does not open course registration date. The Spring 2013 housing move-in date is Friday January 11th in 2013 t at Noon. If you arrive before (you must to attend International Student Orientation) or evening hours after Housing Office if closed, you may need to stay at a local hotel/motel for the night or weekend until housing arrangements are made. Early move-in option is only available to students who made housing arrangements (application and deposit) prior to their arrival to MSUM. For those of you planning to live on-campus, please contact housing at reslife@mnstate.edu or bellefja@mnstate.edu  to make arrangements for you to check-in to your housing assignment early than the 7th of January 2013. You will be charged a $15.00 per night extra until 11th of January 2013. In order to reserve your on-campus housing room assignment you need to submit the housing application, housing contract and the $150 deposit. For more information visit the Housing and Residential Life website more information. You cannot live on-campus temporarily and decide to cancel the contract. We strongly recommend that you make your accommodation plans before you arrive in the U.S.. If you are not planning to live on-campus you will need to arrange your own housing or check into a local hotel/motel. Please print the contact information sheet before you depart from your home country.

Off-Campus Housing

MSUM is not responsible for students off-campus housing arrangements. Students are responsible to make necessary arrangements prior to students departure. Once the student arrives with no housing arranged, the student will have to check-in to a local hotel/motel until the student secures housing. We strongly recommend students to have housing arrangements made prior to your arrival.

Starter Pack Programs

MSUM International Student Services offers a program called the "Starter Pack Program" for our new international students. We know when you are traveling it is very hard to pack everything and limit to one or two suitcases. However, we offer this program to make you feel less stressful when packing. If you wish, we can purchase certain necessary items for you before you arrive at MSUM. This way you will have more space in your suitcases to bring other necessary items, and once you arrive at MSUM you do not have to worry about not having a pillow or blanket, and not worry about doing your shopping right after you arrive after a very long and tiring journey. You can complete the Starter Pack Form online. If you would like a Starter Pack, please e-mail International Student Services to confirm your order. The deadline to order the starter Pack is 5th of January 2013.

Money and Payments

All students must make sure the financial arrangements are met before departing your home country. MSUM cannot and does not assume financial responsibilities to international students and their families. While in the U.S., you are responsible for all financial obligations: tuition, health insurance, books, rent, telephone bills, credit card expenses, food, shelter etc., and for all the bills owed to MSUM. This is a serious matter and it is critically important that you maintain your financial matters accordingly, as you will not be able to register or continue courses at MSUM until your MSUM bill is paid in full. Students must pay approximately $1,500 to MSUM within the first 5 days of your arrival. This amount will cover the mandatory health insurance and pre-registration. Once you pay the first $1,500 you can enter into a payment plan from MSUM Business Office.

It is recommended that you have immediate access to at least $5,000 in cashier's or traveler's checks or credit card to cover part of your first semester's immediate expenses at MSUM. If you wish to deposit your money at the MUSM Business Office, the check must be made payable to "Minnesota State University Moorhead". We do not encourage students to carry large sums of cash.

Math/ English Placement Test

Math placement test is mandatory for all international students. You will not be able to register for math courses without taking the math placement test. International Student Services has certain dates reserved for international students to take the math placement test. Please check the orientation schedule for the math placement test. If you have scored 460 or above for the Math section for your SATs, the Math Placement Test will be waived for you. You must bring a copy of your SAT score report. Please check the orientation schedule for more information.  All international students will take the English Placement Test. Students exempt from English Math Placement Test ( U.S. transfer students who completed English composition)

Immunization Record

It is important that you provide immunization records. Please complete the immunization form online or you can submit a paper copy during orientation. The username is your Dragon ID and your password is your date of birth in YYMMDD format. It is compulsory that you provide the following vaccinations: Diphtheria & Tetanus, Measles (rubella, red measles), Mumps, Rubella (German measles). Complete all that applies to you and make sure you have supporting documents when you arrive at MSUM.

Immunization Form

All students must complete the immunization form during orientation or prior to your arrival. Please complete the immunization form

Please click the sample completed Immunization Form to understand how to complete the form.

Mandatory Health Screening Test

All international students MUST  participate the mandatory health screening test. The health screening test will be administered during the mandatory International Student Orientation. Following the health screening test, a TB test will be made required or optional for students depending on the the results of your health screening test. During Orientation you will be provided all the necessary information. All students (new and transfer) must participate in the Health Screening Test. If you have done medical tests in your home country please bring supporting documents/doctors notes/chest X-rays for MSUM nurses to check. International Student Services and staff will not determine to waive the Health Screening Test. Hendrix Health Center will determine to waive your Health Screening Test and possible other requirements.

This is mandatory. If you do not complete the entire Health Screening Test process a hold will placed from Hendrix Health Center preventing from future course registrations. For more information on Health Screening Test,  please visit MN Health Department Website.

Weather

Fargo - Moorhead will go through weather extremes during summer and winter. The summer months of June through September can be very warm and humid with temperatures between 20-40 C. The average summer temperature is 36 C, but the humidity can be very high. During winter times November through March the weather can go from -10 C to -20 C. It gets very very cold. The most difficult cold months are December, January and February.

Clothes

We strongly recommend that students bring clothes for all the four seasons here in Fargo-Moorhead. You will need warm jackets, mittens, scarves, hats, thick socks, ear mittens, insulated coats or jackets with many layers (sweater inside), boots, thermal underwear, etc. And during summer times you should bring shorts, cotton shirts, vests, slippers, t-shirts, etc. We also recommend that you bring a rain coat, rubber boots and a spring jacket (light jacket) as well. You can also buy clothes once you arrive.

Orientation

Late Arrival