New International Student Newsletter

Welcome to the SIUE New International Student Newsletter! This newsletter is designed to provide newly admitted international students with information about life and learning at SIUE. Getting admitted is just the first step... you will find useful information to assist you as you prepare to study at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

From the Assistant Director of Admissions for Graduate and International Recruitment

Preparing for Your Visa Interview

Save Your Seat!

When To Arrive on Campus

Archived Newsletters

From the Assistant Director of Admissions for Graduate and International Recruitment

We are so happy that you have selected SIUE as the place where you will acheive your academic goals! There are many talented and passionate faculty and staff members ready and willing to assist you throughout your collegiate career. Perhaps you have already worked with some of us during the application process.

Take a look at this newsletter, as well as the archived newsletters links below, to make sure you are on the right path to arriving at SIUE safely and prepared!

Sincerely,

Melissa K. Mace, M.S.

Preparing for Your Visa Interview

Most international students must obtain a student visa to study in the United States. For some, this is a daunting process. Remain calm and follow these tips for a successful visa interview:

Ties to home country: Be prepared to prove that you intend to return to your home country after you complete your education.
The interview will be conducted in English - practice with a native speaker, if possible, to raise your confidence level.
Speak for yourself: Do not bring your parents to speak for you.
Know the academic program and how it fits your career plans.
Be concise: You will only have about two or three minutes with the officer.
Supplemental documentation: Keep it simple. Do not bring lengthy documents but do be prepared to provide what is requested.
Not all countries are equal: Be prepared to talk about your job prospects once you return to your home country.
Remember - your reason for coming to the United States is to study... not to get a job in the United States.
Dependents remaining at home: Be prepared to explain how they will support themselves in your absence.
Finally...Maintain a positive attitude!

Source: NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Save Your Seat!

Now that you are an admitted SIUE student, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the Save Your Seat at SIUE form so we can get more information about your study plans. This is also a great place to let us know if you still need more information from us. We will be scheduling webinars around topics of interest to you!

When To Arrive on Campus

Once you have your student visa, it is time to make travel arrangements. If you are coming from another country, you cannot enter the United States any earlier than 30 days prior to the start date written on your Form I-20 (F students) or Form DS-2019 (J students). We recommend arriving just before the start of the SIUE International Student Orientation. If you are living on campus, you can make arrangements to move in starting May 22nd for the summer semester and August 14th for the fall semester (depending on when you are starting your program). See Ideal Arrival Dates for more infomation.

After you make your travel arrangements, you will need to register for orientation and let us know when you arriving. If you would like for us to pick you up at the airport, you can request that as well.

Archived Newsletters

To view previous newsletters, click on the links below:

Jauary 2015

http://www.siue.edu/internationalstudents/newsletter/newsletter-january-2015.pdf

December 2014

http://www.siue.edu/internationalstudents/newsletter/newsletter-december-2014.pdf

November 2014

http://www.siue.edu/internationalstudents/newsletter/newsletter-november-2014.pdf