New International Student Welcome Guide
August 2016
Welcome to Kent State University! We are pleased that you have chosen to continue
your education here and we want you to succeed. This document contains some basic
information that will help you better prepare for your arrival and initial weeks in Kent,
Ohio. Specifically, you will learn:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
what to do now that you have your I-20 or DS-2019
information about airports and planning your arrival
about International Student and Scholar Services
essential immigration information
information about Kent, OH
on- and off-campus housing information
health insurance and immunization requirements
how to prepare for, and what to expect during, international student
orientation
1. I-20, SEVIS Fee, and Visa Interview
1) Now that you have received your I-20, you will need to make an appointment for
a visa interview at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
2) Before you apply for a visa, you must pay a one-time fee called the “SEVIS fee.”
SEVIS is the student database that we use to keep your record. Your SEVIS ID
is the number in the top right-hand corner of your I-20 or DS-2019 that begins
with “N00.” Visit www.fmjfee.com and follow the instructions. Print your
receipt at the end and take it with you to your visa interview. The fee must be
paid at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled date of your interview.
3) Your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate can provide you with a specific list of the
documents that will be required during your visa interview, but in general, be
prepared to have:
a)
b)
c)
d)
an unexpired passport, valid for at least six more months
your I-20 or DS-2019, signed by you on page 1
your admission letter from Kent State University
proof of financial support for one year of study that matches what is listed on
your I-20 or DS-2019
More information can be found at: www.kent.edu/globaleducation/applying-visa
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
2. Airports and Arrival
Most students choose to fly into Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (airport
code: CLE). Cleveland-Hopkins is approximately 50 minutes by car from Kent. There
is a smaller airport, Akron-Canton International Airport (airport code CAK), which is
approximately 30 minutes by car from Kent.
On August 19th and 20th, there will be busses taking students to Kent. There will be
three busses each day, and it will cost $20 per person. You must register here:
https://commerce.cashnet.com/OGEAIR
There is a taxi stand in the baggage claim area that you can use to reserve a taxi to take
you to Kent. These taxis accept cash and many also accept credit cards. If you are
arriving late at night and no one is at the taxi stand, you can use a phone in the baggage
claim area to call a taxi.
Cleveland: Call Yellow Cab Company at (216) 623-1500.
Akron: Call Akron-Canton Transport at (330) 808-2159 or make a reservation ahead of
time at www.acataxi.com.
You may also plan your trip with RTA, public transportation, which will take about
four hours from Cleveland Hopkins Airport to Kent State: www.riderta.com
You must arrive before or on your Program Start Date. For Fall 2016, your Program
Start Date is August 20th, 2016. You may arrive in the United States up to thirty days
before your Program Start Date, which means the earliest date you could arrive is July
21st, 2016. Students may not arrive late; if you try to enter the country after your
program start date, you may be denied entry. We strongly recommend you arrive
between August 17th and August 20th.
Steps After Arriving in the U.S.
1. Travel from the airport to Kent using one of the methods above.
2. When you arrive in Kent, check in to the residence hall or apartment complex
where you will be living.
3. Visit the Office of Global Education in 106 Van Campen Hall to check in
between 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. Bring your passport, visa, and I-20/DS-2019.
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
During your time at Kent State, you will have access to a dedicated team of advisors in
the Office of Global Education. These international student and scholar advisors can
help you with your adjustment to life in the United States and provide you with
accurate immigration advice so that you maintain your student status while you are
studying with us.
International student and scholar advisors are not the same as your academic advisor.
You should meet with your academic advisor to discuss any academic issues, problems,
or questions (including changing your major).
An international student and scholar advisor can help you with:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
updating your Form I-20 or DS-2019
issuing a travel signature before you travel internationally
assisting you with cultural adjustment
answering your questions about life in the United States
helping you apply for certain immigration benefits
giving you expert immigration advice
The ISSS website is a valuable source of information, giving step-by-step instructions
for a variety of issues. Reading all of the PDF Guides on our Guides & Forms page
will save you a lot of time and confusion. Please bookmark www.kent.edu/isss on your
computer.
ISSS offers walk-in advising and advising by appointment every day. Specific times will
be provided to you during International Student Orientation.
3. Essential Immigration Information
Your student visa comes with a number of rules and regulations that you need to
follow in order to maintain your student status. We do not expect you to be
immigration experts; international student and scholar advisors are available to help
explain immigration regulations and give you good advice based on your situation.
Commit these to memory:
Always be registered full-time. You are on a full-time student visa. ESL and
undergraduate students need to be registered for at least 12 credits during the entire
fall and spring semester. Graduate students need to be registered for at least 8 credits
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
every semester. You may only count one online course (3 credit hours) toward this
full-time requirement.
Check your Kent State email address frequently. From time to time, ISSS will need
to contact you to ask you for information or make a time-sensitive request. We will try
to contact you via your Kent State email account. Add isss@kent.edu to your Safe
Senders list. We cannot help you if we cannot get a hold of you!
Do not accept an internship or job without authorization. You are allowed to
work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. If you want to
work off-campus, you need authorization from ISSS in the form of Curricular Practical
Training or Optional Practical Training. Working without authorization is illegal.
Each time you travel internationally, let us know first. When you travel
internationally and then attempt to re-enter the United States, you need a travel
signature on page two of your I-20 (or page one of your DS-2019) that is less than one
year old. International student and scholar advisors are the only ones who can issue
these travel signatures. Your passport and visa also need to be unexpired. You should
always visit ISSS before you travel so that we can check your documents and make
sure everything is in order.
4. Introduction to Kent and Northeast Ohio
Downtown Kent, Ohio.
Kent, Ohio is a traditional American small town with a population of approximately
30,000 residents. It is located on the Cuyahoga River and was founded in 1805. It has a
walkable downtown area with many small shops, restaurants, bars, theaters, and other
attractions.
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
Downtown Cleveland is less than an hour away and offers endless possibilities for entertainment.
Kent is located in the area of the United States known as the Midwest, in the U.S. state
of Ohio. Kent experiences spring, summer, fall and winter. Average high temperatures
in Kent:
Jan: 1°C
Mar: 9°C
Jul: 29°C
Sep: 23°C
Kent enjoys all four seasons.
Kent State University’s main campus is large (1,347 acres or 545 hectares) and
spacious, with state-of-the-art facilities and a park-like setting with walkways and trees.
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
5. On- and Off-Campus Housing
Are you 20 years old or older?
Are you at least a junior (do you have at least 60 credit hours)?
Are you married?
If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you may choose to live on or off
campus. If you answered NO to all of the questions above, you are required to live on
campus until you meet one of the above conditions. If you are arriving in Kent before
you can move in to your dorm or apartment, you may apply for temporary housing at
the University for $25/day. Contact housing@kent.edu
If you are subject to the residency requirement (you said NO to all three questions
above) or prefer to live on-campus, you need to complete the housing application.
Visit the Residence Services website here: http://www.kent.edu/housing.
If you answered YES to at least one of the questions above and would prefer to live
off campus, visit www.apartments.com to search for off-campus housing.
Off-campus housing in Kent fills up quickly. You may choose to look for apartments
in surrounding cities including Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Tallmadge, Streetsboro, etc.,
which have apartments less than 20 minutes from the university. If you choose to live
in a surrounding city, you will need to make sure you have transportation to and from
campus. The PARTA bus serves some of these areas, but not all.
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
6. Medical Insurance Requirement; Medical History and Immunization Forms
All international students taking at least one credit hour are required to have health
insurance that is comparable to the coverage provided with the Kent State University
sponsored student health insurance plan. The bursar's office will automatically post the
Fall Premium ($821) on the student accounts. This charge will be viewable to
students.
Any international student may request a waiver of this fee if:
(a) The student provides proof of full sponsorship by a government agency including
health insurance, or
(b) The student provides proof of health insurance provided by a United States
employer.
For assistance contact: University Health Services Insurance & Billing at 330.672.8251
or email insbilling@kent.edu
Immunizations: Additionally, the Health Center at Kent State University needs you
to complete an immunization form and submit it to them when you arrive on campus.
To print the form out and complete it, visit:
https://du1ux2871uqvu.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/file/KSU%20Immunizatio
n%20Form.pdf
Please also complete the Medical History Form and submit to the Health Center when
you arrive on campus. You can download the Medical History Form here:
http://www.kent.edu/sites/default/files/history-form-rev-9-2010cp.pdf
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
There will also be a table at the resource fair where students may submit their immunization
documents.
For more information, students can go to http://www.kent.edu/UHS/immunizations or
email immunizations@kent.edu
7. Preparing For International Student Orientation
All students must register for orientation! Register and find the schedule for
orientation here: http://www.kent.edu/globaleducation/orientation
Your first responsibility as a new international student at Kent State University is
attending International Student Orientation. For Fall 2016, Orientation is Monday,
August 22nd in the Kent Student Center. Students who are not required to take
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes must report at 8:00 AM; anyone
taking ESL classes in the Fall 2016 semester must report at 2:30 PM.
During Orientation, you will meet the staff of the Office of Global Education and
attend informational sessions that will help you understand your responsibilities as an
F-1 or J-1 student. You will also be familiarized with important parts of campus like
the Student Center and the University Library.
In addition to receiving immigration information, you will learn about on-campus
employment, find out where to eat in Kent and how to buy a cell phone, and other
practical information. You will get to meet students from all over the world and make
new friends. You will feel comfortable and ready to begin your studies upon
completion of Orientation.
Orientation will be fun, helpful and informative; attendance is mandatory. If you do
not attend Orientation, a registration hold may be placed on your student account,
which means you would not be able to register for classes.
There are several things you can do to prepare for Orientation:
1) Arrive on time. If you are able to arrive in Kent one or two days before August
20th, you will be adjusted to the local time and will feel well rested. You are
allowed to enter up to thirty days before your Program Start Date; book your
flight any time after July 21st, 2016. We recommend arriving in the week before
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
Orientation. Make sure you have housing arrangements in place before you
arrive. Daniel Shonk (dshonk1@kent.edu) can assist you with this process (oncampus residents only).
2) Read the Pre-Arrival Newsletter. This Welcome Guide is only the first of
several communications from our office that will help you prepare for your
studies at Kent State University. Make sure you check your email account
frequently and read any newsletters, announcements, or messages from
International Student and Scholar Services.
3) Bring your immigration documents to the Office of Global Education to
check in. We will scan in copies of your passport, U.S. visa, and I-20 or DS2019 and ask you to provide your local address.
4) Read this Guide again. This Guide contains extremely useful information to
help you feel informed and prepared. Read through it several times, especially
Section 3, which explains important immigration regulations.
5) Ask questions. ISSS is here to help you. Contact isss@kent.edu if you have a
question or need reassurance about a particular concern. We are well trained and
have the expertise necessary to answer your questions.
8. Online International Student Orientation
All new students must complete Online International Student Orientation before
arriving in Kent. It is a fun and interactive online course to teach you about important
immigration information and university resources. You will be automatically enrolled
after you register for International Student Orientation. You can find more
information here: http://www.kent.edu/globaleducation/online-international-studentorientation
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
9. Tips for Navigating the Job Search Process in the U.S.
1.
Know how to market yourself.
U.S. employers look for applicants who have clear career goals and the ability to
describe how one’s skills and experiences align with position requirements.
2.
Know the difference between an American format resume and an
International Resume.
American resumes are formatted very differently than international resumes, so
design your resume to reflect U.S. employer expectations. The more commonly
noticed differences between American and International resume formats are
listed below:
US RESUME
INTERNATIONAL RESUME
 Concise, attractive marketing tool  Chronologically details academic
– summarizes jobs, skills,
and formal work experience,
accomplishments and academic
listed within tables and boxes.
background relevant to
employment objective
 Multiple pages, sometimes ten or
 One to Two pages maximum
twelve pages in length




 Includes age, marital status, race,
Does not include personal details
religion and sometimes height
such as marital status, race,
and weight
religion and parents’ names
 Often includes a photograph
Does not include a photograph
 Includes details of completed
May include completion of
military service
military service to show
leadership skills
 Highlights hobbies
Does not have a section on
hobbies unless relevant to the
position
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu
3.
If the employer is no longer hiring or the position has been filled, do not
keep asking for the job or contacting the employer on a regular basis. This
could be interpreted as over-bearing and could affect future employment
possibilities.
4.
If a position is offered to you, you must respect the terms of your
employment.
 If for some reason you cannot accept the job, it is courteous to call, send a
letter, or e-mail the employer to explain why you are unable to accept the
position.
 KSU departments count on their employees, so it is important to work the
hours that you agree to work, to arrive at work on time and to always inform
your supervisor if you are unable to come to work or if you will be late.
5.
Dress professionally and speak with your employer about their specific
workplace dress code.
6.
If you wish to leave a job, it is considerate to write an official resignation
letter to your supervisor two weeks prior to leaving or verbally communicate to
your employer that you do not wish to continue. It is unprofessional to just stop
showing up.
7.
Actively practice your English speaking skills.
8.
Work Hour Limits: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has
limited part-time on-campus employment for international students to no more
than 20 hours per week during the semester. Working more than 20 hours per
week could have serious implications for the student and the University.
International students may work up to 28-hours on-campus per week when
classes are not in session (winter and spring breaks) and during the summer.
International Student and Scholar Services | Office of Global Education
Kent State University | +1.330.672.7980 | isss@kent.edu