International Admitted Students
International Admitted Students Checklist
Congratulations on your acceptance to Valparaiso University! We are glad Valpo is your school of choice. The International Programs staff looks forward to meeting you and assisting you during your studies at Valpo.
Prior to your arrival to the United States, you will be very busy preparing for your departure from your country. You will need to obtain a student visa, buy an airline ticket, arrange for transfer of funds, pack, and say goodbye to your friends and family. You might be feeling excited, nervous, and sad all at the same time. There are so many tasks to complete and very little time!
We hope the information within these pages will make your transition to the United States easier and you will feel welcome in your new environment.
Health requirements are important for your enrollment and safety. You’ll need to submit immunization records, proof of health insurance (or enroll in Valpo’s insurance plan), and complete any university health forms. Some vaccinations may be required by law or recommended for communal living.
Helpful Tip: Visit a doctor in your home country before departure to ensure you have everything needed for compliance.
You’ll need a place to stay! International students can choose between on-campus housing and off-campus options. On-campus housing provides convenience, community, and easy access to campus resources. If you plan to live off-campus, research rental agreements, transportation, and proximity to Valpo.
Helpful Tip: Apply early for campus housing to secure your spot and receive roommate and move-in details ahead of time.
Book your flight early and aim to arrive a few days before orientation. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the nearest major airport. Valpo provides limited airport pick-up service during key arrival windows, so check with International Programs about transportation options.
Helpful Tip: Carry your immigration documents in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage, for easy access during customs checks
Orientation is required and designed to help you adjust to life in the U.S. and at Valpo. You’ll meet fellow students, tour campus, get help with banking, mobile phone setup, class registration, and more. This is your chance to ask questions and feel at home before classes begin.
Helpful Tip: Bring a notebook, comfortable shoes, and your excitement—orientation is packed with useful information and new friendships!
Step 1 – Organize Pre-Arrival Immigration Details
Individuals who come to the United States to study must apply for a student visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
- To apply for a student visa, you must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status (also known as a SEVIS I-20 Form) or a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (also known as a SEVIS DS-2019 Form).
- In order to obtain a SEVIS I-20 Form or a SEVIS DS-2019 Form, you will need to be admitted to a program of study and submit bank documents showing you have the financial ability to cover your educational and living expenses.
- Once you have received a SEVIS I-20 Form or a SEVIS DS-2019 Form from Valparaiso University, you will need to make an appointment with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate located in your home country.
However, before you go to your visa application appointment, you must pay the SEVIS fee. See the details below.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Staff and faculty at Valparaiso University are only authorized to discuss admission status and I-20 details with the actual applicant or authorized agent. These details will not be given to any inquiring friends, family, or unauthorized agents.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each student or exchange scholar issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 to pay a fee before applying for a visa. Click here to access the SEVIS fee website.
A fee of $350 (for F-1 students) or $220 (for J-1 students) must be paid at least three days before your visa interview, and you must bring the receipt with you to the interview. Please carefully read the instructions for fee payment. It is recommended that you pay the SEVIS fee using a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card because you will be able to print out an online receipt immediately. If you do not have one of these credit cards, try to find someone who does and who could pay for you. Then you can reimburse that individual.
Once the fee is paid, you may attend a visa interview at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Due to recent changes to visa processing and special clearances needed for some applicants, you are strongly encouraged to schedule your visa application appointment as early as possible.
A SEVIS I-20 Form (F-1) or a SEVIS DS-2019 Form (J-1) – issued by Valparaiso University – Read carefully through the information on the form. Provide both pages of the form and check to see that it has been signed by you and the appropriate school official in the correct places.
Proof of Adequate Financial Support – Bank documents showing you or your sponsor has the financial ability to cover your educational and living expenses during the period of your studies. Refer to your I-20 “Financials” section for estimates of the cost for 9 months (1 academic year) at Valpo.
Visa Application Procedure– Here is a page with application information for those seeking an F-1/J-1 visa. For more details on specific application rules which apply in your country, check with the embassy/consulate where you will apply. Here is a list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
Passport – Valid for the time needed to complete the program after your intended date of entry into the United States.
Photograph – One photograph taken according to the new photo requirements.
Processing Fee Proof – You must present proof of payment in the form of a receipt to show that you paid all applicable fees. Applicable fees may include the following: a SEVIS I-901 Fee; a Visa Application Fee; and a Visa Issuance Fee. For applicable fees contact a U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you. For current information on the fees (visa issuance and/or visa application) that the U.S. charges for non-immigrant visas (F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2), you may refer to the Visa Reciprocity and Country Documents Finder.
Letter of admission from Valparaiso University.
Proof of your intention to depart the United States after the completion of your studies – Documents that show you have strong reasons to return home after studying. Documents might show evidence of home or business ownership, or a job that awaits you when you return, and/or strong family ties.
Proof of English language proficiency – take your TOEFL (or other acceptable English proficiency test) scores along just in case the interviewer wants to see them.
Step 1a – Have a Successful Visa Interview
For most Masters degrees at Valparaiso University, a GRE test score is not required. However, you may still be asked in your F-1 visa interview if you have a GRE test score. You should be prepared to explain that your program does not require a GRE score for admission. Please see this page for standard Graduate School requirements at Valparaiso University.
- The most important thing to emphasize is your ties to your home country. Provide as much information as possible to show that you will return home. Never indicate that you plan to stay in the United States. If you give any indication that you plan on staying in the U.S. after you graduate, then your visa will probably be denied.
- Anticipate the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language; you will also likely be alone. Do not try to take your family or friends with you or recite a memorized speech.
- The interview does not take long, so you must be well prepared. Be brief. Keep answers to the officer’s questions short, but to the point. Organize your supporting documentation so that it can be presented clearly without hesitation or fumbling.
- Maintain a positive attitude: be friendly, courteous, and confident that you will receive the visa.
- Know about the program that you are admitted to and how it fits your career plans. Be ready to talk about details of your major and why you want to study this subject. You should be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home. Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation.
- Share information about your academic achievements thus far in your own country.
- Be sure to mention if any family members completed his/her higher education in the U.S. and have now returned to your country.
- You must show sufficient financial resources to support dependents. Be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstance, be employed in the U.S. J-2 dependents can apply for work permission, but income cannot be used to support J-1 students.
- Be prepared to discuss family, business, or social ties you will be maintaining in your own country.
- If you are married, especially with children, and your family is remaining behind in your own country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence.
Check out this page for additional reminders, as well as videos from various embassies around the world on the visa application process.
Instructional videos to get a U.S. visa in…
Beijing, China (no video, written instructions)
London, U.K.
Visit the U.S. Visa website for basic visa information.
Good luck in getting your visa! Please send us an email immediately to let us know how it went.
Step 2 – Health Insurance Information
The charge for health insurance will be added to your student account along with your tuition and other fees each semester (the cost will vary depending on the term). Our health insurance policy will cost approximately $150-175 per month. Please note that health insurance costs are included in your I-20 “cost of living estimate.”
You will be expected to pay your insurance bill, like your tuition, each semester before registration begins for the following term.
This policy is being enforced in compliance with the national healthcare law, which requires all adults living in the United States to have health insurance. The University, by enrolling you in this policy, ensures that you have access to good healthcare options, which can be very expensive without good insurance in the United States.
If you have already purchased a health insurance policy in anticipation of your arrival, please cancel it. You are now required to purchase the University insurance instead.
Click on this link for more information about health services on and off campus.
Your insurance requirements are different from that of new degree-seeking students or continuing students. Please click Exchange Students here or on the left navigation menu for more information.
The Health Center will contact you by email before the start of classes to complete the required Health Form (due on the first day of classes) and for information regarding required vaccinations. Please check their website for a checklist of things to do before you arrive.
In particular, make sure that you have gotten all of the vaccines that the Valpo Health Center requires of all Valpo students.
If you have any questions, please contact the Health Center at 219.464.5060 or email .
Step 3 – Find Housing in Valpo
- Undergraduate students must live on campus.
- On-campus housing is in great demand, so you are encouraged to fill out the deposit form as early as possible to secure a space. To learn more about on-campus living and view residence halls and rooms, visit Residential Life.
- Please note that there is no bedding provided upon arrival, so please bring with you a minimum of $30-$50 U.S. Dollar cash to purchase bedding, basic supplies, and food for the first couple of nights in the residence hall.
- For summer and fall arrivals, you can wait for a couple of months before purchasing a heavier blanket.
- If you arrive in the winter, you will need to allow for more cash to purchase a heavier blanket immediately. You should also bring some warm clothing with you.
On-campus option: Graduate students have a convenient and comfortable option for living on-campus, only a few minutes’ walk away from everything a student needs during their time at Valpo. Click Here to see the details of this option in Alumni Hall, as well as instructions on how to apply. Plan to bring $50-75 USD to purchase bedding, basic supplies & food for the first couple of nights in the residence halls.
Off-campus options:
- Valpo Residential Life Office list of local housing options
- Additional Housing Options
- Potential housing charges at off-campus apartments:
- Rent – Usually paid monthly
- Utilities:
- Electricity: Electricity is used for heating and cooking in many apartment buildings, and you may be responsible to arrange and pay for your own electrical service if it is not included in your rent payment. NIPSCO. Approx $50-100/month
- Water: This also includes waste pickup and storm-water drainage. Valparaiso City Utilities. Approx $40-80/month (water fees are already included in some apartments’ rental fees)
- Cable: Cable television and high-speed internet, as well as land-line phone service, can be purchased through Comcast. The best way to get your service set up is to visit their website. Approx $25-50/month
If your housing is not available at the time of your arrival, you may choose to stay at a nearby hotel. Probably the most convenient option is the Country Inn & Suites right next to campus.
Country Inn and Suites
2020 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
219.476.0000
Step 4 – Travel to Valpo
You must arrive in the United States no earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, and no later than this date. If you attempt to enter the U.S. after the program start date, you may be denied entry.
If you have not already, be sure to log into iValpo and review the Pre-Arrival Checklist specific to the term that you are starting at Valpo (for example, Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026, etc). You’ll find this checklist on the home page of your iValpo portal, under the “Requests” heading.
In these e-forms, you’ll find a lot of helpful info and tips, and will also provide the Valpo Office of International Programs with some important information about yourself. Please work through them carefully! (NOTE – the final check-in e-forms will be completed after you arrive in the U.S.)
- At the U.S. port of entry, you will need to present the following documents to the inspections officer (do not pack these items in your checked luggage):
- Passport with F-1 or J-1 Visa (unless you are exempt from the visa requirement as a Canadian citizen);
- Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 issued & signed by Valparaiso University (make sure you also print & sign on pg 1);
- I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt (you can access it here).
- Valpo admission letter;
- Evidence of financial resources to cover your 1st year of study at Valpo.
I-94 note…
- Your I-94 arrival record will be available online, even if you enter the U.S. by land (i.e. driving through a land border crossing).
- You can retrieve your I-94 information after you arrive at this website. Allow 48 hours for the information to show correctly on the I-94 website.
The inspections officer will use the US-VISIT system and take a digital photograph of you and scan your fingerprints. The officer will mark on your passport either “F-1” and “D/S” or “J-1” and “D/S,” depending on your visa. “D/S” means “duration of status”; in other words, that you can remain in the U.S. as long as you are still a student in valid F-1/J-1 status. If the officer does not mark on your passport with the proper status of “F-1” or “J-1” and “D/S,” ask the officer to correct it immediately.
This “F-1 or J-1 D/S” marking should also appear on your electronic I-94 entry record. If you notice that it does not appear correctly on your I-94 within 48 hours of entry into the U.S., please contact the Valpo Office of International Programs at .
NOTE: Please check the Chicago area weather before you leave home so that you are aware of possible delays.
Students should fly into O’Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport in Chicago and plan to use one of the following means of transportation to Valpo.
Once you fly into Chicago, you have several options to travel to Valparaiso University. It is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from the airport to Valpo. Your options for traveling to Valpo from the Chicago airports are:
- Take an Uber/taxi/limo (we estimate between $100-200 and about 1.5 hours, but check with the company for exact prices)
- Uber ($100-200)
- Lyft ($100-150)
- Epic Limo ($150-200)
- Avanti-GoldStar Limo ($150-200)
- Take the trains (we estimate around $15 and about 3 hours to get to Valpo)
- Instructions for taking the trains
- Follow the signs at O’Hare for the CTA. Take the Blue Line Metra train ($5) to Washington Station (a train arrives to O’Hare about every 10 minutes). Walk two blocks from Washington Station to Millennium Station to get on the South Shore Train to Dune Park Station ($9).
- NOTE: The Dune Park train station is about a 20 minute drive from Valparaiso University, so you will need to take an Uber/Lyft to the university.
- Instructions for taking the trains
- Have a friend pick you up directly from the airport.
Please Note: The office phone number is 219.464.5333.
- Office Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
- If you face an emergency at the place of entry to the U.S. (the airport) outside of our office hours, please call the Valparaiso University Police Department at 219.464.5430. They will connect you to an office staff member if it is determined that it is needed.
Step 5 – Attend New-Student Orientation
All new international students must attend orientation on the following days, depending on their admission term:
Mandatory Orientation Sessions for All Students, Grad & Undergrad*
*There is a $50 OIP orientation fee that will be charged to all new international students, whether they attend or not. Undergraduate (bachelor’s) students will be charged an additional FOCUS fee.
Transferring to Valpo
Follow the steps below if you plan to transfer your F-1 immigration record to Valpo from another U.S. institution. This process allows Valparaiso University to access your records and issue you a “transfer pending” I-20 or DS-2019, and allows you to maintain legal status.
- Make sure to give a copy of your Valparaiso University admission letter to your current school’s international student advisor (also known as a Designated School Official or DSO), and request them to release your SEVIS I-20 record to Valpo before the upcoming semester starts. They will likely have a process which you must follow in order for your SEVIS record to be released to Valpo.
- Log on to iValpo (the blue button under Full Client Services), and find the SEVIS Transfer-in Request e-form under the F-1 Student Services tab.
- Submit this e-form, including your current school’s international student advisor information. Please allow five business days for processing. More time may be necessary if follow-up is required.
- Once your request has been approved by the Valparaiso University International Programs office, you will receive a notification to your Valpo email account. Your Transfer Pending I-20 to Valparaiso University will be created.
- If you are traveling outside the U.S. before you come to Valpo, you may create a shipping request for this Transfer Pending I-20 to be sent to you. The shipping request can be made through eShipGlobal. For detailed information, click here. Once we see your request, we will ship your Transfer Pending I-20 to you. You may also pick up your Transfer Pending Valpo I-20 in person at the International Programs office.
All transfer students must check in with our office before their first semester at Valpo; check-in takes place during new-student orientation. You must check in before you begin any on-campus employment at Valparaiso University. If you fail to comply with these regulations, you will fall out of legal immigration status.
Exchange Students
Please be on the look-out for our series of pre-arrival e-mails. These 4 to 5 emails are sent to new international students over the final 2 months before their arrival. Once you receive them, make sure you complete the mandatory iValpo pre-arrival checklist and FOCUS registration. In particular, check our orientation webpage for the required orientation dates specific to the semester that you are planning to arrive at Valpo.
Do not let your I-20/DS-2019 expire.
Keep your passport valid and un-expired at all time.
Enroll and complete a full-time course of study during the fall and spring semesters.
| Undergraduate | 12 credit hours/semester to be full-time |
| Graduate | 9 credit hours/semester |
| MBA | 9 credit hours/semester |
Incomplete courses from a previous semester may not count towards your full-time enrollment for a current semester.
For students on F-1 or J-1 immigration status, only 1 online course (per semester) may be counted toward the full course of study requirement. For example, if you are required to take a minimum of 9 credits to maintain full-time enrollment as a graduate student, only 1 course within those 9 credits may be online.
Definition of “online” and “in-person” classes:
Please note that online classes are coded as OL (Asynchronous Online), OE (Online Enhanced), OS (Synchronous Online), OH (Online Hybrid), or LIV (Live-Stream).
HY (Mixed Hybrid) courses may be counted as online or in-person depending on how often they meet face-to-face. Those that predominantly require in-person attendance would be considered in-person courses. If you have any questions about this standard, please check with an OIP advisor.
If this is your final semester, you only need to take the remaining courses to complete your degree.
If there is only one course left to complete the degree requirement, that course may not be an online or distance learning course.
Courses taken for “audit” do not generate credits/units and cannot be used in calculating full-time status
If for any reason you need to drop below full time, you must receive approval from an advisor in International Programs BEFORE dropping the class (unless you are in your final term of study). Fill out the iValpo e-form for Reduced Course Load (RCL) if you believe you are eligible.
Below are listed the only possible reasons for RCL authorization:
Medical Condition
- Final Term Completion of Course of Study
- Academic Difficulties–must be one of the following situations and students must maintain at least a half-time course load (6 credits for undergraduate students, 4.5 credits for graduate students)
- Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirement.
- Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods.
- Improper course level placement. Student must resume a full course load during the next academic term.
- Concurrent Enrollment–students must have at least a half-time course load at Valpo.
- Medical Condition
REMEMBER, except for Completion of Course of Study, these RCL reasons are only applicable if International Programs determines that the student meets strict regulations. Even if you feel that you may fall under one of these categories, you MUST submit the RCL e-form request and consult with an International Programs advisor BEFORE dropping below full-time credits.
ATTENTION all international students in F-1 and J-1 visa status:
For your immigration check-in with the Office of International Programs (OIP), you’ll need to bring your physical passport and be prepared to upload several important documents through iValpo. These include your U.S. address, your signed SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 form, a copy of your visa (if required), your I-94 record, and any applicable change of status approval. If you have dependents, their documents must also be submitted. Providing all required materials is essential, as OIP cannot register your immigration record in SEVIS without them.
New students, report to the International Programs office orientation sessions to have your SEVIS record registered in SEVIS immediately upon your arrival to Valpo.
If you are a transfer student from another U.S. institution, you must complete the transfer procedures within 15 days from the start date of your Valpo I-20. You may do so by seeing an International Student Advisor. A new I-20 will be issued to you replacing the notation “transfer pending” to “continued attendance”.
If you are transferring to another U.S. institution, you need to inform International Programs.
Notify International Programs through iValpo if there is a change in your major or level of study. We will update your I-20 accordingly.
Report any new U.S. residential address through iValpo within 10 days of the change (U.S. Local Address Change e-form). Also remember to update any change in your name, major, funding source, dependents, or country of citizenship. These updates may also be reported through iValpo through various e-forms.
Never work off campus without authorization from our office or from USCIS.
Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours during the semester. On-campus employment includes assistantship, working for Valpo departments, bookstores, cafeteria, etc. On-campus employment means your employer is Valpo, and your pay check should be issued by Valpo.
If you plan on dropping ALL classes or you are not returning to Valpo the following semester, you must contact an advisor immediately.
All students who were in the U.S. for any part of the previous calendar year must fulfill tax reporting requirements in the Spring (the tax filing deadline is usually April 15), even if they did not work during that previous year. The OIP will send instructions for tax filing in January or February.
If you violate any of the above, you will be OUT OF STATUS. You may lose immigration benefits such as CPT, OPT, H1-B, and Permanent Residency. You may be denied visa or face deportation.
U.S. law requires every foreign national age 18 or older to, at all times, carry with them and have in their personal possession documentation of their immigration status in the U.S. You should carry…
A valid, unexpired I-94 admission record, or,
If you are on OPT, a USCIS employment authorization document (EAD).
Failure to do so is a misdemeanor and the foreign national can be fined up to $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
You have several options for housing on campus. (Please remember that only some of the dormitories stay open during holiday breaks, so you may need to move during breaks if you stay on-campus.) Please see the pricing below for each dormitory. If you have any questions about housing, you can email the following address: .
If you are coming from Hochschule fur Kirchenmusik, Hochschule Reutlingen, Universitaet Tuebingen, UDLAP, La Rochelle Business School, Cergy Pontoise, or Compiegne, your exchange agreement pays for your tuition and general fee. You are responsible for paying for your housing, meal plan, and living expenses.
If you are coming from Kansai Gaidai, your exchange agreement pays for your tuition, general fee, room, and meal plan. You are responsible for paying your living expenses.
If you are coming from any other university on an exchange program, you are responsible for all expenses: tuition, general fee, housing, meal plan, and living expenses.
Undergraduate Tuition & General Fee:
$24,225 per semester
Housing
- Alumni/Lankenau Hall Dormitories: $4,058 per semester
- Brandt Hall Dormitory: $4,235 per semester
- Guild/Memorial/Wehrenberg Hall Dormitories: $4,526 per semester
- Kade-Duesenberg German House Dormitory: $4,526 per semester
- Beacon Hall Dormitory: $5,562 per semester
Meal Plan:
$2,400-2,800 per semester
Health Insurance
- You may choose to purchase the Valpo Health Insurance plan (approximately $175-180 per month), OR
- If you choose to buy your own insurance, it must meet the following standards (source):
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
International Orientation Fee:
$50 mandatory fee
FOCUS Fee:
$200 (estimated)
We know you are eager to select the classes that you will take at Valpo! To begin searching for classes that interest you, visit DataVU and follow these steps:
- Under the “Academics” section, click on “search for course sections”.
- To find available classes, enter the term you are looking for (e.g. 2024 Fall Semester – U/G) and select a subject.
- You can also search by Fall Mini 1 or 2, or days of the week you would like to take classes
Your academic advisor will contact you prior to your arrival at Valpo about which classes you are interested in, and then final registration for these classes will take place during FOCUS orientation.
Email if you have any questions regarding the above-mentioned details.
Program Deferrals
In order to request deferral of your original degree program start date, please contact one of the following admission departments/counselors:
When you contact them, be sure to mention the semester you were originally admitted for, the reason you wish to defer, and the semester you wish to defer to.
Once the graduate or undergraduate admission department at Valpo defers your program start date, the Office of International Programs will be notified and then will send you an updated I-20 with the new start date.
NOTE: Please be aware that you may be asked for a new financial document that is less than 1 year old at the time that your program deferral is processed.