William & Mary

International Student Orientation

International Orientation

Welcome!

International Student Orientation is required for new F-1 and J-1 international students in the U.S. and is designed to make your transition to campus as smooth and successful as possible.

Orientation schedule
International Orientation Requirements All new international students who will be in the U.S. with F-1 or J-1 immigration statuses are required to complete International Student Orientation requirements. This includes: New international undergraduate and graduate students New international undergraduate and graduate exchange students New international students transferring to W&M or VIMS from a U.S. high school or university Joint Degree Programme international students entering the U.S. and joining W&M for the first time International Student Orientation is one part of your larger orientation program. Undergraduate international students, including exchange students, are also required to join the New Student Orientation. Graduate students also have orientations with their programs.
Spring 2024 International Student Orientation Activities Our program includes:  Information and resources that are important to international students such as immigration regulations, U.S. healthcare, campus safety, etc.  “Life in the U.S.” activities such as shopping trips, opening a bank account, etc.  Events for family members  Social activities to meet other students and learn about campus and the Williamsburg area  Stay tuned for more information about our Spring 2024 International Student Orientation schedule!
Pre-Arrival Resources Browse ISSP’s International Student Handbook for an overview of resources to support your transition to life in the U.S. and at William & Mary. You can also visit ISSP’s New International Students website for additional information about: Visa Information: Paying the SEVIS fee and applying for a visa Before You Arrive: Packing checklist, arrival transportation, and housing information After you Arrive: Healthcare & insurance, Banking, Cell phones/SIM cards, Driving in the U.S. Resources for Family: International Family Network, F-2 & J-2 dependents, children & healthcare
Immigration Check-in After you arrive in the US, you must complete your immigration check-in. Please complete it within 1 week of your arrival. If you are not yet in the U.S., wait to complete it when you arrive. If you have difficulty, contact ISSP for help. If you are not on the W&M campus, download and connect to the W&M Virtual Private Network (VPN). Login to iStart, using your William & Mary login. Select Immigration Check-in from the left menu Select Immigration Check-in and complete the Immigration Check-In form.
Non F-1 & J-1 Students Interested in Attending International Student Orientation We welcome all students! Students who are not in F-1 or J-1 immigration status (e.g., U.S. citizen who lived abroad, students studying in a different immigration status, etc.) but are interested in attending International Student Orientation can contact [[srtaylor, Shakia Taylor]] for more information.

Questions? Contact [[w|srtaylor,Shakia Taylor]]. We look forward to welcoming you to W&M and VIMS!