Pre-Arrival Checklist

Make sure you have the necessary documentation to enter the United States. 

Passport:

• You will need a  passport, issued by your country of citizenship, that is  valid at least six months into the future. To obtain or renew your passport, contact your home government authorities.

Certificate of Eligibility: I-20 or DS-2019

• F-1 Students (I-20): After you have been admitted to Edgewood College and submitted all required documentation, Edgewood will issue you a document called an I-20, which corresponds to the F-1 visa to which you will be applying. If you have dependents (spouse or children) traveling with you, they should also have an I-20 to apply for the F-2 visa. You must present the I-20 document at the time of your visa appointment and to the immigration officer at the port of entry to the U.S.

• J-1 Exchange Students: (DS-2019): After you have been admitted to Edgewood College and submitted all required documentation, Edgewood will issue you a document called a DS-2019, corresponds to the J-1 visa to which you will be applying. If you have dependents (spouse or children) traveling with you, they should also have a DS-2019 to apply for the J-2 visa. You must present the DS-2019 at the time of your visa appointment, and to the immigration officer at the port of entry to the U.S.

SEVIS I-901 Fee:

• Before submitting your U.S. visa application, you must show proof that the SEVIS I-901 Fee has been paid.  See the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website for complete details.

U.S. Visa:

• F-1 Visa:   Contact the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country to find out how to apply for an F-1 student visa. Please read the F-1 student visa information on the US Department of State website. Click here for more information about F-1 student in the U.S.
• J-1 Visa:  Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country to find out how to apply for a J-1 visa. Please read the J-1 visa information on the U.S. Department of State website.Note: Some J-1 Exchange Visitors are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement. This means you may be required to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. More details on these regulations can be found in the U.S. Department of State website listed above. Click here for more information about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

Helpful Websites and Resources:

NAFSA: Things to Remember when Applying for Your F-1 Visa

J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

Freshmen:

Complete the Online Freshmen Housing Application/Contract and return as soon as possible to the address listed on the form. A $150 reservation fee is required with the form. Incoming freshmen are required to live on campus their first and second years at Edgewood.

Exchange Students:

(BCBUU, ISEP, Masaryk, HsKA, Study USA)

Complete the Exchange Student Housing & Food Service Application and Contract and submit it to the Director of Residence Life, Claire Mand (cmand@edgewood.edu) as soon as possible.

Transfer and Graduate Students:

Click here for off-campus housing resources.

Please note:  Graduate students who are interested in living in a residence hall on campus, should contact the Director of Residence Life, Claire Mand (cmand@edgewood.edu) for approval.

Choose a Housing Option

Undergraduate Students:

You will meet virtually with an academic advisor prior to your arrival to campus to prepare for course registration. You must complete the following forms/tutorials to be eligible to register for courses.

Complete the Registration Tutorial

Graduate Students:

Graduate students should contact their academic advisors to schedule an appointment to discuss course registration. The name and contact information for your advisor was included in your acceptance letter and is also listed below.

• MBA and M.S. Accountancy students: Joann Nowka jnowka@edgewood.edu
• MA in Education students: Ms. Joann Eastman jeastman@edgewood.edu

Technology Tutorial 

Read the information on this page before International Student Orientation.

Arrival Date: Monday, January 08, 2024

• Students living on campus can move into their residence hall room on this day.
• We also recommend students living off campus arrive on or before the arrival date to make sure that you have time for travel delays, jet lag, and settling into your new home in Madison before International Student Orientation.
• The earliest F-1 and J-1 students can arrive in the US is 30 days before the start date on  your I-20 or DS-2019.

Getting to Madison, WI:

Students are encouraged to make flight arrangements directly to the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison (airport code: MSN) between 8:00am – 6:00pm on Monday, January 8.

Students may also arrive to Chicago O’Hare international airport (ORD) and take a bus to Madison.  Look for the Van Galder/Coach USA bus stop at the Multi Modal Facility at O’Hare.  Cost is approximately 37 USD.  Check the current bus schedule online at https://web.coachusa.com/vangalder/ss.tickets.asp and pick up locations at https://www.coachusa.com/airport-transportation/van-galder/airport-information.  The final stop is the University of Wisconsin (busses arrive to the 250 N. Lake Street, adjacent to the Gordon Commons terrace on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison), which is about a 5 minute drive from Edgewood College.

Getting to Edgewood College:

• Students Living On Campus:
• • • You can move in to your residence hall room on the arrival date listed above.
    • Send your complete flight itinerary (with airline and flight numbers) and arrival information to iss@edgewood.edu at least 3 weeks before orientation in order for someone from Edgewood College to pick you up at the airport and take you to your residence hall.
    • If you decide to arrive outside of the dates and times listed above or at a different airport, you will be responsible for your own transportation from the airport to campus. You may also be responsible for your housing until orientation begins.
• Students Living Off Campus:
  • Click here for the transportation available from the Dane County Reginal Airport. If you choose to use the bus, you can plan your ride at https://www.cityofmadison.com/metro. Approximately $2 per ride.
  • Madison has two taxi companies: Madison Taxi and Union Cab. Uber and Lyft online services are also available.

Complete the International Student Health Statement and bring to orientation.

Read the health information provided concerning Hepatitis B and Meningitis.

Complete the International Student Health Statement Part 1 BEFORE orientation. Part 2 (Tuberculosis Screening) and Part 3 will be completed once you are on campus.

Consider bringing your medical and dental records, including verification of immunizations. It is helpful to include all information about medical conditions, treatments, prescriptions, and eyeglasses.

At Edgewood College, all international students and exchange visitors are required to purchase health insurance to protect against the high cost of medical care in the United States. All F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors and J-2 dependents must enroll in our health insurance plan with WPS Health Insurance, and the fee will be billed directly to your student account through the College’s Business Office. Limited waivers from the College’s health insurance plan will be considered. Information about the enrollment and waiver process will be shared closer to the start of the semester.

Student Health Insurance

International Student Orientation: January 10-12, 2024

Please confirm your attendance for International Student Orientation by emailing ISS@edgewood.edu.

Edgewood College requires all international students with F-1 and J-1 visas to participate fully in the international student orientation.

Click here for an overview of the orientation schedule.  The Center for Global Education will send you a more detailed schedule in July for Fall semester and in December for Spring semester.

*Orientation will include a light snack and full lunch as indicated in the orientation schedule. If you have any dietary restrictions, please email (with your confirmation of attendance) detailing your specific needs no later than 3 weeks before the first day of orientation. After this date, we will not be able to accommodate. We consider vegetarian dietary needs for every meal.

The Center for Global Education offers a Global Buddy program that brings together small groups of international students and students who grew up in the U.S. to build friendships, share their cultures, practice conversational English (if English is not their first language), get to know Edgewood and Madison, and have fun!

Participation in this program requires a one (1) semester commitment.

Group meetings:

• Each small group will determine when and where to meet.
• Meet at least twice in September and then at least once a month throughout the rest of the semester; more frequent meetings are encouraged.

If you are interested in cross-cultural learning, this program is for you!

To join the program, complete this survey by August 1/January 1: 

Before travelling to the U.S., review these resources to help you prepare for your arrival to the U.S.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Study in the States
• Living in Wisconsin
• Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 required for non-US citizens travelling to the U.S. See full details here.

Please consider bringing the following items with you to Edgewood College:

• Bring any documents that might pertain to your legal history.  These might include your marriage certificate, birth certificate for yourself, children, spouse, and international driver’s license.  We also advise you leave one set of these official documents with someone in your home country.
• Budget for the following expenses: tuition, fees, rent, meals, Edgewood College’s mandatory health insurance, books, transportation, communications, personal expenses, recreation, travel, warm clothing, and taxes. Please note that some exchange programs cover the cost of tuition, housing, meals and health insurance.
• Traditional attire or cultural artifacts that you might wear or demonstrate at educational or cultural events.
• A dual dictionary featuring English and your native language.
• Compliant appliances such as hair dryers and shavers that meet the US standard of 120V A/C.