The Next Steps...
Congratulations! The following is a helpful list to guide you as you prepare to begin your bachelors or graduate studies with us. Please review each item carefully, and contact the appropriate office for assitance. The information provided includes:
*UW-Bothell I-20 & Other Immigration Matters
*The Two Orientations You Are Required to Attend
*Planning Your Arrival to Campus
*Housing Options
*Registration Holds
*Getting Connected to UW Bothell
Frequently Asked Questions are Answered!
Our new "How Do I...?" flyer provides contact information to help you get connected to the appropriate resources on campus that address incoming students' most commonly asked questions.
1. Submit Your UW-Bothell I-20 Request Form
After you confirm your acceptance of your admissions offer by paying the $100 confirmation fee, you should submit your 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 estimated total cost of 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 & Obtain Your F1 Visa
This is only required only for students who will be new to the U.S..
If you are transferring to UW Bothell from another U.S. institution, skip to #3.
Paying Your I-901 SEVIS Fee:
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.
Applying for Your F1 Visa:
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.
• List of U.S. Consulates & Embassies (by the U.S. Department of State)
• F-1 Visa Application Process (by the U.S. Department of State)
• Preparing for your Student Visa Interview (by Homeland Security)
3. Register Online for a University Advising & Orientation (mandatory)
Orientation is the beginning of your journey at UW-Bothell. As a new international student, you have two Orientations that you must attend - 1) your Academic-focused Orientation and 2) your Immigration-focused Orientation (see #5 below).
The University Advising & Orientation is organized by the Officee of Student Life (orientation@uwb.edu ). You must sign-up online to attend a specific Orientation dates, as there are various dates to choose from. International students that are arriving into the U.S. on an initial I-20 can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before their program start date, so plan accordingly.
The orientation program will provide the opportunity to meet other new students, register for classes, and to learn about the University resources available on campus to help you be academically successful. Students will not be able to register for classes before their Orientation date.
4. Plan to Attend Your F-1 Immigration Orientation (mandatory) & Complete Your Immigration Check-in on Thursday, January 3, 2013
1:00 - 4:00 pm
UW2-005
Immigration Check-in
Students must complete their Immigration Check-in by submitting at Orientation a completed Immigration Check-in Form and supporting immigration documents.
The second orientation that all new international students must attend is the F-1 Immigration Orientation. Pre-registration is not required. The F-1 Immigration Orientation is organized by International Student Services (iss@uwb.edu ).
You are required by their 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.
5. Plan Your Arrival to UW Bothell to be Able to Attend the 2 Mandatory Orientations 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 your University Advising & Orientation, F-1 Immigration Orientation, and (if applicable) move into your on-campus housing.
When & Where Should I Arrive?
If you are arriving to the U.S. on an initial I-20, 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 your University Advising & Orientation, F-1 Immigration Orientation, find housing, register for classes, 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.
6. 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.
Housing Questions? Contact the Housing Office at housinginfo@uwb.edu
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)
7. Complete All Registration Holds on Your Student Record
**You will not be able to register for classes until the holds are completed.**
All new students at UW Bothell have a registration hold on their student record that prevent class registration. You must complete the three requirements listed below in order to remove the hold from your record.
ISS encourages you to complete all of the requirements at least one week BEFORE your University & Advising Orientation, so that you will be able to register for your classes during Orientation.
You will be able to register for class after you complete all three of these requirements:
8. Review the Center for University Studies & Programs (CUSP) Office's, helpful Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about Course Registration, Majors/Minors, Grading Options, etc.
9. Get Connected to UW Bothell on our Social Networks!
- 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.
10. Attend a Pre-Departure Orientation Session in Your Home Country (if available)
After You Arrive to UW Bothell:
1. Complete All Registration Holds on Your Student Record
**You will not be able to register for classes until the holds are completed.**
See # 7 listed above for details. If these three requirements have not be fulfilled by the time you attend your University Adivsing & Orientation, you will not be able to register for your courses.
2. Attend Your University Advising & Orientation & Your F1 Immigration Orientation (attendance is mandatory for both Orientations)
The University Advising & Orientation is organized by the Officee of Student Life. Registration is required. Questions? Contact the Office of Student Life at orientation@uwb.edu .
The F-1 Immigration Orientation is organized by International Student Services . Pre-registration is not required. Questions? Contact the International Student Services office at iss@uwb.edu.
3. Register for Academic Transition for International Students (BCUSP 100) Course during your first quarter at UW Bothell
You will register for courses during your University Advising & Orientation.
As an international student new to the United States education system, you are required to enroll in our BCUSP 100 Course – Academic Transition for International Students – during your first quarter at UW Bothell. This is a 2 credit course designed to help you acclimate to studying in the United States, identify campus resources, understand the U.S. education system, and develop critical thinking skills.