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Attend International Student Welcome
Your third step will be the most exciting: International Student Welcome! Arrival is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, and International Student Welcome is scheduled for Thursday, August 21, and Friday, August 22. The goal of the welcome events is to help you learn about campus and the resources available, and also aims to help you in making connections before the rest of the new students arrive and classes begin! All new, new-to-campus, and transfer international students should plan to attend the International Student Welcome.
These in-person welcome sessions include:
- Campus and community resources (for example, you will learn how to pay your tuition bill, how to obtain health insurance, and meet with University Police and Public Safety)
- Immigration session
- Campus tour
- Shopping trip
- Meet campus staff
- Meet International Student Peer Mentors - All new international students will have a peer mentor that can assist and support you through your first year as a Penn State Berks student!
Confirm your attendance for ISWIf you have questions about International Student Welcome, please contact Nikki Sanchez at nar165@psu.edu.
Arrival Day
New international students beginning in the fall semester should plan to arrive to campus on Wednesday, August 20. On this day, you can move into your dorm, establish a bank account and U.S. cell phone number, and get your Penn State ID card. You will not be granted access to your on-campus space any earlier than this date. We will be providing transportation from Philadelphia airport the morning of August 20. When you sign up for the welcome, ensure you select if you will require transportation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We recommend that you arrive BEFORE August 20 and stay in a local hotel so you can recover from jetlag and be ready to begin sessions on arrival day.
Mandatory Immigration Check-In
All F-1 and J-1 visa holders must complete Mandatory Immigration Check-In with their international student adviser. During Mandatory Immigration Check-in, you will be required to present important arrival and immigration documents. The purpose of Mandatory Immigration Check-in is to confirm your arrival to campus and to activate your SEVIS record with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to your arrival in the U.S., you will receive instructions from ISSA on how to submit some documents to your iStart account. We recommend that you upload documents as you receive them before your arrival as this will make the in-person Mandatory Immigration Check-in more efficient.
Mandatory Immigration Check-in must be completed within 30 days of your arrival to the U.S. Specific details on Mandatory Immigration Check-in will be shared in New International Student Welcome information.