IMPORTANT TRAVEL PREPARATION GUIDELINES
Most questions may be answered on the OISS website at www.wvu.edu/~oiss.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME, PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ITEMS:- CHANGES IN TRAVEL PLANS
Please contact our office by email to Karen.bird@mail.wvu.edu or phone 304-293-3519. - HOUSING NEEDS
Please remember to apply early for on-campus housing. University housing may be difficult to get – especially if you plan to bring your family with you. Freshman students are required to live in university housing for the first year. If you are an undergraduate student and have not received your housing application, please contact the Office of Housing & Residence Life at: www.wvu.edu/FutureStudents/Housing/ or write to G-118 Bennett Tower, PO Box 6430, Morgantown, WV 26506-6430, USA; Phone (304) 293-2811; FAX (304) 293-3369. If you plan to live off-campus, you should plan to arrive in Morgantownat least one week before orientation, in order to allow yourself time to make arrangements. For on-campus graduate and family housing, please contact Ralph Schmitt at Ralph.schmitt@mail.wvu.edu.
- OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING AVAILABILITY
For information, you can visit the WVU Off-Campus Housing Office at http://studentlife.wvu.edu/OffCampusHousing/ or phone 304-293-5611.
- OBTAINING A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR DRIVER?S LICENSE
Please bring a certified copy of your birth certificate. If it is not issued in English, you must have it translated.
- GRADUATE TEACHING AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
must bring their letters of appointment in order to expedite Social Security processing.
- APPLYING FOR A VISA
You will receive either an I-20 or DS-2019 with your acceptance letter from WVU. You must take this form along with financial documentation to apply for your visa at the American consulate or embassy in your country. Once you have your visa, HAND CARRY the I-20 or DS-2019 in your passport when you travel to the U.S. You will be asked to present it at the port of entry.
- REPORTING UPON ARRIVAL
You must report to the Office of International Students & Scholars, located on the Downtown Campus in Elizabeth Moore Hall, with your passport and other relevant immigration documents. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:15AM to 4:45PM.The office will record necessary immigration information and instruct you on matters of importance. Please visit their web site at www.wvu.edu/~oiss or fax 304-293-7511, or phone 304-291-3519.
- MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE
All international students at WVU are required to have accident and hospitalization insurance in the event hospitalization or specialized care is needed. Currently, the WVU Health Insurance Policy is at least $577.00 per year. Graduate teaching and research assistants are automatically covered under this policy. The University Health Service provides students with general health care like treatment for the flu. Your University fees include this Health Service, but do not cover costs for additional specialized medical care, or hospitalization. The cost of dental care, treatment of pre-existent condition, and routine visual and hearing examinations are not covered by the health service fee or the insurance fee. Further information can be obtained at www.wvu.edu/~oiss.
- ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Details of the orientation schedule can be found at www.wvu.edu/~oiss. Orientation is important and proves to be a very useful program to all new students. The U.S. educational system, immigration rules and regulations, cultural adjustment issues, international student programs and activities, as well as health and recreation will be discussed. In addition to the International Student Orientation Program, new undergraduate students who will be in the Morgantown area during the summer, may also participate in a university-wide orientation program. For additional information, please contact Regan Fritsch at regan.bruni@mail.wvu.edu or visit www.arc.wvu.edu/NSS/orientation/index/htm. Please note that this orientation has a fee. It is also important for you to attend the International Orientation in August even if you attend the university-wide orientation in the summer. In addition, many academic departments have additional orientation meetings for new graduate students. Please contact your graduate department for details.
- PAYING FEES
Tuition and On-Campus housing fees are due upon registration. Please see the Estimated Expenses section of this information sheet for costs and fees. Tuition and required student fees, as well as on-campus housing, can be paid by personal check or bank draft (made payable to West Virginia University), traveler?s check, cash, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover). Off-campus housing costs are not paid to WVU. Students living in off-campus housing must be sure to have sufficient funds available to cover housing expenses upon arrival. Students needing to have funds transferred from their home country bank account to their new bank account in Morgantown, need to allow 10 to 15 working days for the transferred funds to be available. Information on how to open a bank account in Morgantown, is available on our web site at www.wvu.edu/~oiss. To pay your tuition and fees by bank draft before you arrive, contact Brandon Twigg at OSATPS@Mail.WVU.Edu in student accounts.
- REGISTRATION AND ID?S
You must be registered for classes before you may obtain your WVU ID and Social Security card. Graduate students may be able to register online before arriving at WVU. You must contact your department advisors to see if online registration applies to you. Please contact your department for details.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES
Following is an estimate of current fees and expenses, though actual expenses may differ. Please use these figures as you plan your arrival. The cost of tuition, housing, and fees are always subject to change.
Tuition & Required Student Fees
Tuition for the semester is due by the first week of class. Students enrolled in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, the College of Business and Economics, or the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences add $300.00 per semester. Other programs may have additional costs. Actual fees charged may differ from those indicated below.
Please refer to www.wvu.edu/FutureStudents/CostsFinancialAid/ for updates.
Graduate Students (per semester)
$ 6,607.00
Undergraduate Students (per semester)
$6,392.00
Summer sessions per credit hour (Undergraduates)
$478.00
(Graduate students)
$687.00
Books and Supplies
Certain programs and majors may have additional expenses for books and supplies.
This estimate is per semester $365.00
Housing and Meals
Fees for University Residence Halls include room and meals. Students living in University Residence Halls must be prepared to pay residence hall fees for the entire semester by the end of the first week of class. Summer housing is available for students enrolled during summer sessions.
University Residence Halls (Per semester)
$3,149.00
Students living off-campus may be required to pay the equivalent to one to three month?s rent when they move into an apartment or house. After that, rent is usually due on a monthly basis. Off-campus rental rates will vary. The amount below is an estimate of the amount you will likely need for rent, utilities (electricity, gas, water) and food. Students living off-campus may use the dining facilities offered by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Off-Campus (per month)
$600.00
Health Insurance
All international students are required to have adequate health insurance. Students who do not have health insurance will be required to purchase insurance before registering for classes.
Approximate cost per year:
$557.00
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses include money for clothing, entertainment, local transportation per month
$100.00