WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOMEA guide for students preparing to join us at The University of Vermont International Study Center
globalgateway.uvm.eduFall 2019
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOMEDear Student, Welcome to the University of Vermont’s International Study Center!We understand that this is a very exciting and busy time in your life. To help your arrival go as smoothly as possible, we have put together some useful information to help you prepare now.This guide contains information on Burlington and UVM, as well as important tasks for you to complete. Please read it carefully. Many more details will be shared with you during orientation and via your UVM email account. Please check your email at least twice a day so you don’t miss anything important!
The entire team looks forward to meeting you very soon. Safe travels!
Sincerely,Margaret CoanStudent Success Director, Global Gateway Program
For up-to-date information before your arrival, visit: globalgateway.uvm.edu
Contents
Visa application instructions 4
What to bring to Vermont 6
Arriving in Burlington 8
Orientation and tips for settling in 10
Your campus 12
Your checklist 14
Important dates 15
Useful websites:· ISC Website: globalgateway.uvm.edu
· Office of International Education: uvm.edu/oie
· ISC Facebook Page: facebook.com/UniversityofVermontGGP
· Current GGP Student Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/UVM.GGP/
· International Community Facebook Page: facebook.com/UVM-International-Student-Community-149016411853787
Contact detailsAddress:Global Gateway Program (GGP) 31 Spear Street Marsh Hall, Suite 006 Burlington, VT 05405
Email: [email protected]
Telephone Number:ISC Office +1 802 656 3815
Please visit: globalgateway.uvm.edu for more information You can read the full visa guidance at: www.travel.state.gov
VISA APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONSSteps to prepare for arrival
Obtaining Your U.S. Student VisaOnce you have been accepted in a program, provided the required financial documents and paid your deposit, the University of Vermont will issue a Form I-20 from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You can then apply for a visa to study in the U.S.
What are the steps to come to the U.S.?1. Receive your I-20 from the University of Vermont.
Review it carefully.2. Pay the SEVIS fee online at fmjfee.com. If you are
transferring your I-20, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee. If you have questions, please email [email protected].
3. Complete the form DS-160 to begin your visa process.
4. Schedule and prepare for your visa interview. You will need to gather several supporting documents.
5. Attend your visa interview at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
6. Wait for your F-1 entry visa.
Contact the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your country for more information about the procedure for applying for a student visa.
What is a Visa?A visa allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of entry and request permission from the U.S. immigration officer to enter the United States. It does not guarantee entry into the U.S.
What Type of Visa Do I Need to Become an Academic Student in the U.S.?Most non-US citizens who wish to study in the United States will seek an F-1 (non-immigrant) student visa, but there are other visa types that are sometimes authorized for those who study in the US. The F-1, or Student Visa, is the most common for those who wish to engage in academic studies in the United States. It is for people who want to study at an accredited USA university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute.
When Should I Apply for a Visa?It is best to apply early for the visa to make sure that there is sufficient time for visa processing. We recommend that all students apply for their visa as soon as they have all the required documentation. Notify us directly once your visa status is known. Please tell your Student Enrollment Advisor when you have made an appointment, and notify them of the outcome of that appointment.
What Should I Do When I Arrive at UVM?Once you arrive on campus, the University of Vermont’s Office of International Education (OIE) will help you with your immigration questions. You are required to check in with OIE during orientation. During orientation, the OIE will also present information about immigration and how to stay in good status. If you want to read ahead, check out the OIE website (www.uvm.edu/oie).
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Original immunization and health documents Final official high school transcript and diploma/graduate certificate (and certified English translations)
All necessary immigration documents (passport, visa, I-20, ID)
Payment confirmation/receipts for tuition Prescription medications (if necessary), with prescriptions translated to English
U.S. dollars to purchase personal items Bilingual dictionary or electronic translator or phone app
110 volt adapter for North American electric plugs
Personal items such as photos, music, books, magazines, etc.
Clothes – It is good to bring a variety and especially warm clothes and boots as Vermont experiences all seasons, including snow in the winter.
What to Buy After Your Arrival Full-size toiletries
(shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.) Bedding (Twin XL sheets, blanket, pillow)
The Weather in VermontVermont has four distinct seasons, with very cold winters and warm, humid summers. It can snow as early as October, but it is more common for snow to begin in late November/December.
WHAT TO BRING TO UVMPrepare well in advance. Last-minute packing will only add more stress to your travels, so plan ahead!
U.S. SOCKET ADAPTER NON-U.S. PLUG
Top TipCheck with your airline about what you can bring in terms of size and weight for carry-on items and checked luggage.
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ARRIVING IN VERMONT
Arriving in BurlingtonOnce you arrange your travel plans, email the date, time, and flight number of your flight arriving in Burlington to [email protected]. Make sure to schedule your arrival no later than the first day of Orientation since it is mandatory. We must have your arrival information!
Arriving by airBurlington International Airport (BTV) is only 4.5 kilometers from campus and is served by many major airlines. It is a small airport and easy to get a taxi for the short 5-minute ride to campus.
Airport taxi Information: www.btv.aero/index.php/ground-transportation/taxi
Arriving by busGreyhound (www.greyhound.com) offers regular bus service between Boston/New York/Montreal and Burlington.
Megabus (www.us.megabus.com) also runs frequent and inexpensive trips from Boston/New York to Burlington.
Arriving on CampusStudents are responsible for their own transportation and arrival to campus. Taking a taxi from the airport or bus or train station is generally inexpensive – about $15 USD from the Burlington Airport. A tip is not included in the final price displayed on a taxi meter. Please plan to tip your taxi driver approximately $2 to $3 USD.
For Global Gateway Program StudentsIf you are enrolled as an undergraduate in the GGP, tell your taxi driver to bring you to your dorm on UVM’s campus. GGP students may check in to their dorms on Arrival Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students in the 1- or 2-semester GGP program have the choice of living in one of three learning communities (Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Leadership and Social Change; and Outdoor Experience) and will be assigned dorm rooms within their placement. Students in the 3-semester GGP will live in the Cultural Crossroads Learning Community (Marsh-Austin-Tupper Hall).
For Pre-Master’s Program StudentsIf you are enrolled in the Pre-Master’s Program, tell your taxi driver to bring you to Spinner Place Apartments, 25 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, VT.You will be able to move into your room between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Arrival Day. Please check in at the leasing office to get your key. You will report to the UVM campus on the first day of orientation. If you are arriving on the weekend,
Arriving by trainAmtrak trains travel from New York, Washington, DC, and Montreal. All trains arrive in Essex Junction, about 15 minutes from campus. For more information on schedules and fares, visit www.amtrak.com. You will need to take a taxi from the train station to campus.
About BurlingtonPopulation (city): 42,000Population (metro area): 211,000
Distance to Major CitiesMontreal: 90 minutesBoston: 3.5 hoursNew York City: 5 hours
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you will check in with a PMP staff member. It is important that you send your flight information so that we can help you check in to your apartment.
Arriving Early?UVM does not offer temporary housing if you arrive before your move-in date. You will need to stay at a hotel if you arrive before Arrival Day (or too late in the evening on Arrival Day).
There are several hotels in the area that offer discounts to UVM students. Three hotels are very close to campus and offer free shuttles from the airport: · Best Western Plus (802-863-1125) · Trader Duke’s (802-658-0250) · Doubletree by Hilton Burlington, Vermont (802-865-6600) – Located across the street from MAT hall.
Some hotel recommendations are listed here: www.uvm.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit_us/directions_and_lodging.
A discounted rate is available at the Doubletree by Hilton. Visit https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/vermont/doubletree-by-hilton-burlington-vermont-BTVBSDT/index.html to reserve your room. To get the discounted rate, click on “Add Special Rate Code,” and enter 560017792 under “Corporate Account.” Then choose “Check Rooms and Rates.” For issues or questions, contact [email protected]. You will pay your own bill with a credit card or cash when you check in at the hotel.
Burlington& UVM
Top TipUntil you get an American mobile number, Skype is a convenient way to talk and see your friends and family back home.
*Please note, there is no PMP intake for Spring 2019. 98
You will receive an orientation schedule a few weeks before arrival to your UVM email address. Orientation covers information on immigration, UVM student life, cultural adjustment, the curricula, and health and safety. Participating in orientation is mandatory. OIE’s website includes more information about what to expect at orientation: www.uvm.edu/oie/orientation.
The first few days of orientation will include fun and interactive workshops, presentations and activities to start your success at UVM. You will have a chance to· Set up a bank account* and cell phone service· Shop for essential items for your room· Take your English Placement Test· Go over important rules and regulations· Make friends before classes begin· Explore your new home
*Students should have a minimum of $25 to open a new bank account. DO NOT carry large amounts of cash with you or keep large amounts of cash in your room.
MealsYou will have meals provided throughout the GGP week, beginning on arrival day for evening dinner. This will continue until your regular meal plan begins close to the start of classes.
For graduate students enrolled in the PMP, meals will not be provided during the additional UVM Graduate School orientation. You are responsible for purchasing your own meals. There are a few on-campus cafes open during orientation, including the Marche Café in the Living/Learning building, Henderson’s in the Davis Center and Harvest Café in the UVM Medical Center.
Settling in at UVM – GGP Undergraduate StudentsStudents in the 1- and 2-semester GGP have the choice of living in one of three learning communities while 3-semester students live in Marsh-Austin-Tupper Hall. All rooms are double occupancy. Each person in the room will have a twin bed, desk, chair, dresser, mirror, towel rack, and small wardrobe. Dorms have shared bathrooms, laundry, and kitchens. Students may not request a single room. More information about MAT and the other residence halls is on the UVM Residence Life website: reslife.uvm.edu/halls.
GGP students are automatically enrolled in an unlimited meal plan. This means you can eat as much as you want at any of the three UVM cafeterias. Other dining options on campus require cash or “points.”
All accommodation fees have been included in your final bill for the semester. There is no additional payment required for break housing while you are a GGP student.
ORIENTATION AND TIPS FOR SETTLING INThe GGP and the Office of International Education (OIE) provide orientation for all international students, undergraduate and graduate. PMP students participate in additional orientation sessions with the Graduate School.
Settling in at UVM – PMP Graduate Students (fall intake only)PMP students live in Spinner Place Apartments in Winooski. Students are in 4-bedroom/2-bath suites and have single bedrooms. Each bedroom has a bed, desk, and closet area. The shared living room and kitchen space includes a couch, dining table, chairs, refrigerator and stove.
Rent and most utilities have been included in your final bill for the semester. More information about Spinner Place is available here: spinnerplace.com
Internet is included in the price of rent, but students must purchase their own router in order to access the internet. Students will be able to purchase a router on one of the shopping trips sponsored by OIE or the Graduate College. We recommend that students use the free Wi-Fi at the Burlington International Airport to notify family of arrival.
PMP students are not enrolled in an on-campus meal plan. If you would like to purchase points to use at the various cafes around campus, you can do so during orientation or during the semester.
You can easily access downtown Burlington and the UVM campus by foot, by bike, or by bus (free to UVM students with your CATcard).
Budgeting for Life at UVMYou need to budget carefully to cover all of your living costs, including clothes, transportation, books and entertainment. It is difficult to estimate how much money you will need over a year, as this depends on individual lifestyles and circumstances. Please remember that almost everything you buy will have an additional 8-10% sales tax on top of the “sticker price.”
Approximate prices in Burlington:· Mobile phone service: $80-$100/month· Mobile phone activation: $300-500 with national carrier (Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon)
· Movie ticket: $6.75-$8.75 in town · Dinner at a restaurant: $10-$30/per person + tax + tip (It is common to tip your server 15% on top of bill)
· Coffee: $2/cup; $3-$5 for specialty coffees
What Else Should You Know?· UVM is a tobacco-free campus. This means you cannot smoke anywhere on the UVM campus. Smoking is also banned in many public places in the U.S.
· The legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21. No alcohol is allowed in the UVM dormitories, regardless of a student’s age.
Life in BurlingtonVisit the OIE website for more tips on local transportation, health and safety, and Vermont winters! www.uvm.edu/oie/burlington
Campus ActivitiesUVM Bored lists many campus and Burlington events and activities: uvmbored.com.
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Before you depart, please make sure you:
Sign up for your UVM email account, and begin checking it two times per day at least three
months prior to your arrival.
Receive your required immunizations. Upload the immunization form and a copy of your
immunization book/record to your MyWellBeing account (mywellbeing.uvm.edu). You may
email scanned copies of your immunization form to [email protected]
as well. Documents must be signed by a doctor. The Immunization Form is included in the
appendix of this guide and can be found here:
www.Center-for-Health-Wellbeing-at-UVM/immunizationform16.pdf
Send your arrival information to [email protected]
Bring your immunization records, official education documents, and payment receipts to UVM.
All documents will be collected during Orientation.
Pay tuition and fees according to your invoice.
GGP Undergraduate Students
Submit your choice of learning community for where you want to live (if you are a 1- or
2-semester GGP student). Instructions will be sent to your UVM email address. You must
submit your choice by July 15, 2019.
Take the Math Readiness Placement Test. Instructions to take the test will be emailed to your
UVM email address by the Math Department. You will receive this email about one month before
arrival. It is critical that you complete this test before you arrive in order for GGP to register you in
the correct math course.
Bring your official high school documents with you to give to UVM Admissions: original
transcripts, original high school leaving examination results or diploma, and official English
versions of all documents.
Complete your online Housing and Meal Plan contract. Your housing contract will be available
about one month before your arrival. Go to rlweb.w3.uvm.edu/myreslife/dashboard then to
myHousing to access the contract. You must use your NetID and password to complete the
contract. You will learn about your final room and roommate assignment when you arrive.
PMP Graduate Students (Fall Intake Only)
Send your official transcripts and English test results to UVM Graduate College.
Please review the appendices to this guide for more information about your official transcripts
and official TOEFL/IELTS scores.
Complete and submit housing application to Rebecca Prigge at [email protected].
You will learn about your final apartment and suitemate assignment when you arrive.
Any missing documents must be given to Rebecca Prigge in the Graduate College within 10
business days from your arrival date.
Please use your official name (name on your passport and what you used to apply to the
University of Vermont) on all forms and correspondence with the University of Vermont and
the Graduate College.
COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST
IMPORTANT DATES FOR FALL 2019Arrival Day: August 9 (PMP); August 19 (GGP & Undergraduate)GGP Orientation: August 12-23 (PMP); August 19-23 (GGP & Undergraduate) (All arriving students are required to attend Orientation.)First Day of Classes: August 26Labor Day Holiday: September 2 (No Classes)Fall Break: October 14 (No Classes)Thanksgiving Recess: November 25-29 (No Classes)Last Day of Classes: December 6Final Exams: December 9-13
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The University of Vermont’s Global Gateway Program is run by Study Group in collaboration with the University of Vermont.
For more information visit: studygroup.com
31894.REV1.2_05.19
GET INVOLVED!Why not join our social network
www.facebook.com/UniversityofVermontGGP #YouAreWelcomeHere #MyUVMStory
We can’t wait to welcome you.
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