Accepted Students

Before You Leave Home

Determine the type of Visa you need
Most Montclair State University students apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa. F-1 students are those who have been admitted into a full-time degree program, and J-1 students are those that come to the University on an exchange program either for one or two semesters. If you received an I-20 from the University, you will apply for an F-1 visa. If you received a DS-2019 you will apply for a J-1 visa.

Deciding between Multiple Schools
Some students might have I-20s or DS-2019s issued by different schools. You will have to decide which school you will be attending and only then apply for a visa. Once you have made the decision and applied for your visa, return any unused I-20s or DS-2019s to the school that issued them. If you are not going to attend Montclair State University inform International Services by email at intserv@mail.montclair.edu

Pay the SEVIS Fee
The SEVIS fee, also known as the Federal SEVIS I-901 fee, is a mandatory fee that must be paid by students and exchange visitors before applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa. This fee is charged by the Department of Homeland Security. Keep in mind that you will not be able to pay the fee until you have your I-20 or DS-2019 in your possession. Proof of payment must be presented at the visa interview. The fee is $200 for F-1 visa and $180 for J-1 visa. The fee can be paid by credit card, Western Union Quick Pay, or by mail. However we do not recommend paying the fee by mail as it may take as long as four weeks from the day you mail in the fee to the day that you receive the required receipt. To pay the fee online follow these instructions:

• Visit http://www.fmjfee.com
• Complete the form I-901, answering all questions. Be sure that you enter your personal information exactly as it appears on the I-20 or DS-2019
• Montclair State University School Code is NEW214F01039000 if you have an I-20
• Montclair State University Program number is F105419 if you have a DS-2019
• The SEVIS ID number is printed at the top right of the I-20 or DS-2019 above the bar code and starts with the letter ‘N’
• Once you have paid using a credit card print out the receipt. Do not exit the receipt page until you have printed the receipt. You will not be able to return to the receipt page

Apply for Visa
Appointments are required for all nonimmigrant visa applications. Visit http://www.usembassy.gov/ to locate the Embassy or Consulate near you and follow the instructions for scheduling an appointment. Keep in mind that waiting times for an appointment can be lengthy so apply for the appointment as soon as possible after receiving your visa documents.

Prepare Documents for your Visa Interview
All visa applicants must provide the following documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the interview:

• Valid passport
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Admission letter from Montclair State University
• Receipt of SEVIS fee payment
• Documented proof of financial support
• Visa application forms (available at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website)
• Test scores and academic records
• Additional documents required by the Embassy or Consulate

Canadian Citizens
Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter the United States. However they must obtain an I-20 or DS-2019 and pay the SEVIS fee before entering the United States. The following documents must be presented to the customs officer at the either the border or the airport:

• Valid passport
• Admission letter from Montclair State University
• Receipt of SEVIS fee payment
• Documented proof of financial support

Note: Permanent residents of Canada are required to obtain a visa before entering the United States. Follow the instructions in the section ‘Apply for Visa’.

Dependents
Your spouse and children under 21 years old are eligible to accompany you to the United States with a dependent visa (F-2 or J-2). You must request a dependent I-20 or DS-2019 for each of your eligible dependents. A dependent I-20 or DS-2019 may be issued when the student’s initial I-20 or DS-2019 is prepared, or after the student has entered the United States and started the program of study. Each dependent needs to obtain a F-2 or J-2 visa before entering the United States. For more information contact International Services at intserv@mail.montclair.edu

Note: F-2 spouses of F-1 students are not allowed to work in the United States and are not allowed to study at a University or other post-secondary institutions. F-2 children may study full-time up to high school level. If they wish to continue their studies at an University or post-secondary institution then they must first apply for a change of immigration status to F-1.

Students transferring from another U.S. School to Montclair State University
F-1 students transferring from another U.S. must also obtain an I-20 from Montclair State University. Your current SEVIS record will have to be transferred to Montclair State University for the I-20 to be issued. The transfer process involves several steps:

• Complete and submit the I-20 application with all the required financial documents to International Services
• Complete the student section on the ‘Transfer-in Form’ available on our website at www.montclair.edu/international, click on ‘Forms and Documents’
• Contact the International Student Advisor at your previous school and inform them of your intent to transfer. Your advisor must complete the advisor section on the ‘Transfer-in Form’ and fax it to International Services at 973-655-7726. The advisor must also send your SEVIS record electronically to Montclair State University after you finish classes at your school
• Once your SEVIS record has been transferred to Montclair State University, and you have submitted the I-20 application we can issue your I-20.

If you are traveling outside the U.S. make sure you follow the transfer process and receive the Montclair State University transfer I-20 as you will need it to travel back in to the U.S. All new students (including transfer students) are required to enter the U.S. by January 9, 2012 so make your travel plans accordingly. If your F-1 visa has expired or you do not have an visa in your passport you will need to apply for the visa at the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country before traveling back to the U.S. Follow the instructions on section ‘Apply for Visa’.

Points to remember for your Visa Interview
Please consider the suggestions below for your visa interview:

• TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY. Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if available. Respond honestly and clearly to all questions that you are asked.
• ENGLISH. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
• SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
• KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS. If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home.
• BE BRIEF. Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.
• ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION. It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you're lucky.
• NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the US as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S.
• EMPLOYMENT. Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
• DEPENDENTS REMAINING AT HOME. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
• MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing. 

Source: The above information has been taken from the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, website: www.nafsa.org. NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq. and Martha Wailes for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.

Visa Delay or Denial
Some students may encounter delays in visa issuance due to security clearance checks. This is NOT a visa denial. You cannot prevent a security clearance check, nor can International Services intervene to speed up the process.

If you are denied a visa ask the consular officer to provide you with a written explanation of the denial and contact International Services at intserv@mail.montclair.edu and write ‘visa problem’ and your full name in the subject line. In your email, include the location of the consular post, date of the consular interview and the reason for denial. International Services cannot intervene if a visa is denied.

Deferring your Studies
If you will not enroll at Montclair State University for the semester you were issued the I-20 and wish to defer your admission:

• Contact the admission office to defer your admission.

Undergraduate students email msuadm@mail.montclair.edu
Graduate students email graduate.school@montclair.edu

• Return the I-20 to International Services. Failure to do so will result in future I-20 not being issued.
• Contact International Services at intserv@mail.montclair.edu to obtain an another I-20

Register for Mandatory International Student Orientation
All new F-1 and J-1 students, including freshmen, transfer students and those who have changed their status to F-1 student must attend the mandatory international student orientation on Friday, January 9, 2012. All students are required to register for the orientation by completing the online ‘International Student Orientation Registration Form’ available on our website at www.montclair.edu/international under News and Events.

Complete Immunization Requirements
New Jersey State requires that ALL college students be immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Students who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to move in and to register for classes. Enclosed you will find a separate form listing the Immunization Requirements.  Read it carefully, complete it and submit it to the Health Center as indicated on the form. This form must be submitted before you can register for classes.
 Required Immunizations:

• MMR – 2 doses. All students born after 1956 must provide vaccination documentation of the equivalent of two doses of measles, two doses of mumps and one dose of rubella vaccine. Laboratory blood tests that demonstrate immunity may be submitted in place of vaccination documentation.
• Hepatitis B – 3 doses. All new, incoming students must provide documentation of a completed series of vaccinations against Hepatitis B. Laboratory blood tests that demonstrate immunity may be submitted in place of vaccination documentation.
• Meningitis vaccination. All students who intend to live in University housing and have not resided on campus in the past year must show documentation of vaccination of one dose of meningococcal meningitis vaccine.

Complete the Immunization Information form and mail it to the Health Center (address on the form). For further information, you may call the Health Center at 973-655-4361 or visit them on line at http://www.montclair.edu/health/hc/

Health Insurance
All students are required to purchase health insurance, which is covered in your fees and payable through your tuition and fees payment if you register full-time. This provides quite minimal coverage. We strongly recommend that you have more comprehensive coverage. A variety of insurance plan brochures are available in our office for you to review.

Exchange students on J-1 visa status are required by law to have more comprehensive insurance coverage than that provided by the University. A variety of insurance plan brochures are available in our office for you to review.

Plan for Housing

On-Campus Housing
For J-1 students: unless you choose to live off-campus, you will live in the Global Living Community in the Village at Little Falls. International Student Advisor Beth Calamia Scheckel will communicate with you via email before your arrival regarding your housing assignment.

For F-1 students: making arrangements for housing well in advance of your arrival is extremely important. Residence hall rooms are reserved on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. On-campus housing is not a guarantee except for incoming freshmen students who apply by the housing deadline, so it is important for you to let us know in advance that you require on-campus housing. Complete the “On-Campus Housing Request Form” available on our Website at www.montclair.edu/international under News and Events. You will be assigned housing either in the Global Living Community (GLC), the graduate student floor of Alice Paul Hall (if you are a graduate student), or Russ Hall (for freshmen and sophomore students). If all three options are full, we will forward your housing request to the Office of Residential Education and Services to see if a room is available in another on-campus location. Please note: once you arrive to campus and move into your residence hall, you are committed to pay for the housing assignment for the entire semester. The Office of Residential Education does not offer refunds to students once they have moved into their rooms.

International Services manages housing assignments in the Global Living Community (GLC). The GLC is a residential community of International and American students at Montclair State University. It is housed in the Village at Little Falls.  Living in the GLC offers students and international scholars a unique opportunity to make friends from around the world who share an interest in broadening their cultural perspectives. Spaces in the GLC are given to J-1 exchange students, graduate students, undergraduate juniors and seniors, and returning students. If you have any questions about the GLC contact Beth Calamia Scheckel at calamiascheb@mail.montclair.edu

Students assigned on-campus housing will be able to check-in as early as January 7, 2012. If you arrive before January 7, 2012 you will have to make arrangements off-campus in a hotel.

Off-Campus Housing
Information about living off-campus is available on Montclair State University's off-campus housing website at http://offcampushousing.montclair.edu/ . Please feel free to explore the site and see what other housing opportunities are available to you off campus. 

Prepare your Finances
The greatest problem facing international students in the United States is maintaining adequate financial support for subsistence and studies. It is very important that you understand that you will be required to pay tuition and fees in full each semester.

Estimated expenses for an international student for the academic year 2011/2012 are:

Important Note: Doctoral student tuition is approximately $15,500 per year. Tuition amounts may increase slightly each year after this publication.

The cost of living in the U.S. depends on your lifestyle. International students are responsible for financing their education at MSU. We regret that the University has no financial aid available for new international students. We recommend that you bring traveler’s checks or some other form of currency (such as certified check or credit cards) rather than a large sum of U.S. dollars. Although you will need some cash for your arrival, carrying large amounts of cash is not safe. You may deposit your funds at a local bank after you arrive. If you anticipate difficulties in acquiring funds for your studies, it is advisable that you delay your arrival until such difficulties are resolved.

Make sure you bring funds with you to cover immediate costs like tuition and fees, room and board costs. Note that our estimate of expenses listed above is the minimum required to live in and around Montclair with careful budgeting. Students expecting personal expenses to be covered by university stipends are cautioned that it may take several weeks before you receive the first stipend check so plan to bring enough money to easily cover living expenses for at least the first two months of the semester. Keep in mind that the total amount of your stipend is subject to a deduction to cover taxes on the value of the tuition waiver so you may need additional funds to cover your expenses.

What to bring with you
New Jersey has variable climates-cold winters with periodic snowfalls, hot humid summers; some very pleasant periods in between. Warm jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, and boots are essential for winter (November-March). Waterproof outerwear and umbrellas are essential in rainy weather.

If you will be living on campus, basic furniture is provided, but bed linens, blankets, pillows and towels are not. If possible, bring a bed sheet, light blanket, and a towel with you from home. Keep in mind the single bed is extra long, longer than the normal beds, so bring an extra long sheet and blanket if possible. You will have the opportunity to go shopping with staff members of International Services for food and necessary items a few days after your arrival on campus.

You can also bring small personal items such as photographs, traditional dress, tapes or CDs, or other items to personalize you new home. Keep in mind that residence halls have limited space. It is best to purchase electrical appliances after you arrive in the U.S., as appliances manufactured outside U.S. may not be compatible with the power supply.

If you are intending to drive in the U.S., it is important that you obtain an international driver’s license before you leave your country. You can then apply for a New Jersey driver’s license.

It is advisable to carry a small amount of U.S. cash, in paper currency and coins, for telephones, baggage carts, bus fares, and tips. Most airports have currency conversion stations for this purpose.