Center for International Students and Scholars
Prospective Students
Undergraduate Students
1. Obtain a Passport
Obtain a passport from your country of citizenship. You will not be permitted to enter the U.S. without a valid passport and F-1 visa stamp*.
2. Form I-20
Once you have been admitted into a program offered by Bentley and you have sent in your deposit to confirm that you will be attending Bentley, the Graduate or Undergraduate Admission office will forward the paperwork to CISS so that we may issue a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigration (F-1) Student. We will forward the I-20 to you as soon as possible to allow you time to obtain an F-1 student visa*.
Upon receipt of your Form I-20, please make sure to review it carefully to make sure the information is accurate. If it is not accurate, you should let us know by e-mail and/or telephone immediately so that a new, corrected I-20 can be prepared and sent to you.
3. U.S. Consulate and Obtaining the Visa*
Make an appointment with the U.S. Consulate in your home country to obtain an F-1 visa. At your appointment, you will present to the Consular Officer the SEVIS fee receipt (see below), together with all pages of your Form I-20 and a copy of the financial documents you submitted to Bentley with your application.
4. SEVIS Fee
Prior to your appointment, please pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online by going to the ICE web site: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm. Retain the paid receipt.
5. Pick Up Your Passport
The Consulate will review your application and documents and, if approved, place an F-1 visa stamp in your passport. Once the visa is issued, please pick up your passport with the F-1 visa.
6. Prepare for Travels to the U.S. at least 30 days prior to the start of your program.
Arrival in a U.S. Airport or Border facility:
An Immigration Officer will review your documents (passport/visa and Form I-20) and return them to you. The admitting officer will give you a white card called the Arrival and Departure (I-94) form. The number on the I-94 will be your (Immigration) Admission Number. The I-94 card is generally marked "D/S" (duration of status) by the officer. The "D/S" means that you will be in legal status as long as you are a student registered full time and pursuing the same degree specified on your I-20. Please pay attention to the completion date that appears on your I-20 as you will be required to take action if your study takes you beyond that date.
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Arrival at Bentley:
U.S. federal immigration law requires that you report to the CISS so that we may verify your immigration status and your compliance with immigration regulations.
NEW STUDENT MANDATORY CHECK-IN FOR THE SPRING 2010 SEMESTER
Thursday, January 14, 2010
8:00am - 6:00pm
CISS Office, Student Center, Room 350
New Students with on-campus housing will be able to move in after checking in with CISS. Students and Staff will be available to assist you.
Report to the CISS office in the Student Center, Room 350 immediately upon arrival. Bring your passport and all U.S. immigration documents, such as Forms I-20, DS-2019, I-94, I-797, etc.
You are also required to attend an immigration and information session, normally scheduled a day or two after you check in at CISS. A complete schedule of programs will be provided to you when you check in at CISS.
For more information: Check-in and Welcome Program
2. Health Insurance and Vaccination Requirements
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that all students have appropriate health insurance coverage. Since most U.S. medical institutions will not accept non-U.S. insurance for payment, international students are required to purchase the Bentley Student Health Insurance to comply with state law. The insurance fee will be included on your invoice from Bentley.
The state also requires that all students be fully immunized against various diseases. To verify compliance with state law, you must provide the Center for Health and Wellness with a completed "Medical History Form" and immunization certificate signed by a medical doctor before the start of classes.
You can view additional information concerning health requirements by visiting the Center for Health and Wellness website. Information will also be available in your MyBentley account.
3. Housing
On-Campus
International students who will live in Bentley residence halls can move into campus housing on the day they check in at CISS. Do not forget to complete all of the required paperwork indicated in your MyBentley account. If you have questions, please see the Residence Center website.
IMPORTANT: First-year resident students are not allowed to register
automobiles on campus during their first year of study.
Off-Campus Housing
Finding a place to live off-campus can be very challenging for any new student. We suggest that you arrive at least one week before orientation to find a place to live. When renting a room or apartment, you should:
a. Let landlords and real estate agents know what type of rental units you are looking for (studio, one-bedroom, furnished or unfurnished, etc.).
b. Do not rent a place that you have not seen.
c. Have any repairs or maintenance work agreed to in writing by the landlord before you sign a lease.
d. Be prepared to sign a lease (binding rental agreement) for one year.
e. Be prepared to pay first month’s rent, last month’s rent and a security deposit for your room or apartment before you are permitted to move in.
*Canadian citizens do NOT need to apply for the F or J visa. However, they must still follow the rest of the procedures and enter the U.S. with a valid Form I-20.
