Questions about....
*A-IEP Admissions?
Contact our International Admissions Advisors at international@uwb.edu , or visit the A-IEP Admissions page at: www.bothell.washington.edu/admissions/international/aiep
*A-IEP Deposit or Program Fees?
Contact Ms. Jen Ireland with UW-ELP at jireland@pce.uw.edu
*Your I-20 or Other Immigration Matters?
Contact our International Student Advisors at iss@uwb.edu .
Next Steps....
1. Submit Your UW-Bothell I-20 Request Form
Your UW Bothell I-20 cannot be issued until ISS receives your completed I-20 Request Form, along with a copy of your passport identification page and sufficent proof of finances. All financial documents must be within the last six months and show sufficient funds to cover the expected educational and living expenses. The most commonly submitted documents are bank statements.
If you will be traveling outside the U.S. before beginning your studies at UW Bothell, you must have your UW Bothell I-20 and a valid visa to re-enter the U.S. If you require a new F-1 visa, ISS strongly encourages you to apply for your visa in your home country. However, if you remain in the U.S., you can pursue your studies with an expired visa.
2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee
(Only if you will be entering the U.S. for the first time with your A-IEP I-20).
F-1 students are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee . This fee is imposed by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and must be paid and processed before the applicant arrives at the consulate. You will not be issued a visa without paying the fee.
You are required to provide your SEVIS number (located on on the upper right corner of your UW Bothell I-20) when you pay for the I-901 SEVIS fee.
Applicants must bring the SEVIS fee payment receipt with them for the visa interview, or, for those that do not need a visa, to the U.S. port of entry. Having a receipt for the SEVIS fee payment will facilitate the visa application process. However, if you are unable to print a receipt from an online payment and/or do not receive your mailed receipt in time of your visa interview you can still go to your interview and attempt to obtain your visa as long as your fee has been processed.
3. Obtain Your F-1 Visa
(Only if you will be entering the U.S. for the first time with your A-IEP I-20).
Your UW Bothell I-20 and I-901 SEVIS fee receipt allows you to make an appointment to apply for your F-1 student visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy.
Applying for a U.S. visa can take anywhere from one day to four weeks, or longer, so you should allow enough time for the visa application process. ISS strongly encourages you to apply in your home country, because it can be risky to apply in a country other than your home country. For instance, if you apply for a new visa in Canada and encounter delays, you must remain in Canada for the length of the processing. You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. until the visa is approved.
4. Confirm Your A-IEP Admission by Submitting Your A-IEP Program Deposit by the Deadline
Please contact Ms. Jen Ireland with UW-ELP at jireland@pce.uw.edu to receive the A-IEP Deposit Form for the quarter you plan to begin A-IEP. You may also contact Ms. Ireland with any payment-related questions.
5. Plan to Attend Your A-IEP Orientation (Mandatory)
Orientation that all new students must attend is the A-IEP Orientation. Pre-registration is not required. The A-IEP Orientation is organized by International Student Services (iss@uwb.edu ).
You are required by your F-1 visa to attend, and learn about the regulations governing their visa. The orientation program also offers you many benefits and opportunities to meet other new students, learn about American life and culture, and receive important information about immigration, employment, health insurance, and academics in A-IEP.
Students must complete their Immigration Check-in at Orientation by submitting a completed Immigration Check-in Form and supporting documents.
Winter Quarter Orientation:
Monday, January 7, 2013
8:30am - 5:00pm
UW1 Building, Room 103
Spring Quarter Orientation:
Monday, April 1, 2013
8:30 - 5:00pm
UW1 Building, Room 103
6. Plan Your Arrival to UW Bothell to be Able to Attend the Mandatory AIEP Orientation and On-Campus Housing Move-in Day (if applicable)
When you are determining what date you should arrive in the U.S., ISS strongly encourages you to ensure that you arrive in time to attend A-IEP Orientation and (if applicable) move into your on-campus housing.
When & Where Should I Arrive?
Immigration regulations allow students on an F-1 visa to enter the United States up to 30 days before the program start date on your I-20 (see line #5 on your I-20). ISS recommends that you arrive during the week before your start date, which will allow you to attend Orientation, find housing, and become familiar with the Washington area.
You will want to fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC).
To enter the United States, you will need your I-20, valid passport, and valid F-1 visa. Do not attempt to enter the U.S. without these documents. Please contact your local embassy or consulate to determine if there are other entry requirements specific to your country.
How Can I Reach UW Bothell From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport?
There are many ways that you can reach campus. A few suggestions are:
* Shuttle Express: Only costs $21 with your UW student discount. The shuttle can bring you directly to your accomodations. Reservations encouraged. More information here.
* Yellow Cab Taxi Service: More information here
* King Country Metro Bus: More information here.
7. Confirm Housing Accommodations
ISS encourages students to confirm your accommodations BEFORE you arrive in the U.S. Students should not plan to arrive without having housing accommodations secured, as on-campus housing is not guaranteed and it can take at least a couple of weeks to find suitable off-campus housing.
Temporary Accommodations:
If you need a place to stay in Bothell until you can secure your housing accommodations, you may consider staying at one of these hotels located within walking distance to UW Bothell:
Country Inn & Suites* (can provide UW student discount)
19333 N Creek Pkwy
Bothell, WA 98011
Phone: (425) 485-5557
Residence Inn
11920 NE 195th Street
Bothell, WA 98011
Phone: (425) 485-3030
On-Campus Housing:
UW Bothell Student Housing offers fully furnished, on-campus apartments that include a full kitchen, bathroom, washer and dryer! Be part of a growing, vibrant residential community where you live with your peers, meet new friends, and enjoy Student and Residential Life programming.
Off-Campus Options:
ISS can not assist students to find off-campus accomodations, but suggest the following:
- Off-Campus Housing List (provided by UW Seattle)
- Rent an Apartment:
Search online through services such as www.craigslist.com, etc. Students should consider looking for apartments in Bothell and surrounding neighborhoods that have easy public transportation to the UW Bothell campus. Apartments in the U.S. are not furnished; you will be expected to purchase house items such as bed, tv, kitchen items, etc.
- Homestay Programs:
The following are just a few homestay programs available that you could consider.
ABODE Homestay (long-term stay )
Intercultural Homestay (long-term stay )
USA International (long-term stay)
FIUTS (7-10 day stay when you start your studies at UW)
9. Get Connected to UW Bothell on our Social Networks!
- Join the A-IEP's Facebook page - "UW Bothell Accelerated IEP".
- Join International Student Service's Facebook page - "UWB International Students".
- Get connected with the International Student Facilitators, who are current UW-Bothell students and excited to help you transition to student life on campus, click here.
8. Attend a Pre-Departure Orientation Session in Your Home Country
(if available)