Pre-Arrival and Orientation

Congratulations to those students who have been offered admission to the University of Central Florida! We are excited to have you join the UCF community. Once you have admission to UCF and are planning to attend, you have several steps to take. The links below will guide you through some of the steps and offer suggestions to make the process go smoothly.

F-1 Students from Abroad

STEP 1

 

Visa Application and Interview

After receiving admission to UCF for a degree program, you will have to apply for a visa to enter the United States.

– You will receive a packet from UCF Global containing your I-20 form and other related information.

– You will use the I-20 to pay for the SEVIS Fee and apply for the F-1 visa (student visa).

Please see below some tips and detailed F-1 Visa application information. Take a moment also to watch the videos where students explain the process.

Tips on Applying for an F-1 Visa
Click here For locations of U.S. embassies and consulates.

Click here for a detailed F-1 visa application information.

 

IMPORTANT:

The I-901 fee is required for all F-1 visa applications. The receipt for payment of the fee will be required at the visa interview. Here is the link:

Make Payment

Applying for an F-1 Visa

The Visa Interview

STEP 2

 

Complete the “UCF Global Required Online International Student Orientation” in UCF Webcourses

All F-1 international students need to complete an online orientation in Webcourses.  This orientation was created to provide you with the important information you need to know before arriving to campus to help you have a smooth transition to university life in the United States. You will automatically be added to the Online International Student Orientation in Webcourses and you should complete it prior to your arrival to the USA.  To begin your online orientation, log into Webcourses using your NID.  If you do not know your NID, you can locate it here.

a) The Online Orientation is designed to take about 1 hour and consists of six modules with a quiz at the end of each module. You must receive 100% on each quiz in order to complete the Online Orientation.

b) The Online Orientation will instruct you how to register for your mandatory in-person Immigration Check-In Session in the “Arrival Information” Module. You will be prompted to sign-up for your check-in session in the “Register for your Mandatory Check-in Session” section.

Please plan to arrive to UCF early enough to attend your Mandatory Check-In Session. Keep in mind F-1 Students making an initial entry into the USA with a valid F-1 visa can arrive up to 30 days prior to the program start date listed on the I-20 (you will find the earliest admission date to the USA listed on your I-20).

 

OTHER UNIVERSITY/ACADEMIC ORIENTATION REQUIREMENTS:

All New Undergraduate Students are required to attend the UCF Undergraduate Orientation. Please click here for more information:

New Graduate Students may be required to attend an additional orientation session provided by their college or department. We encourage all new graduate students to attend the Graduate Orientation hosted by the College of Graduate Studies –for more information, click here

STEP 3

 

Attend your mandatory in-person Immigration Check-In Session (see Step 2 for details on how to register)

To meet F-1 regulation reporting requirements, all new students are required to attend an in-person

Immigration Check-in session. At your check-in, you will meet with a UCF Global advisor to complete an arrival form to provide your local address and phone number.

Please bring with you the following documents to your scheduled check-in session:

–Original Passport (no copies)

–Original Visa (no copies)

-Copy of your Form I-94 (click here to print your Form I-94 after entering the USA)

–Original UCF Form I-20 (no copies)

-Local U.S. Address

-Dependent Documents (if applicable)

INFORMATION REGARDING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HOLDS:

All new international students will have two international student holds on their student account in myUCF:

  1. International Student Hold- New Student
  2. International Student Hold- New International Student Immigration Workshop

Your holds will be removed once you complete the International Student Online Orientation and you have attended your Mandatory Check-In Session.  The “New Student” hold will not be removed until you have arrived in the USA in F-1 status and completed the check-in process during your scheduled Check-In Session.

You will not be able to register for or change your class schedule until your holds are removed from your student account. You can review your student holds by logging in your student account in myUCF

STEP 4

 

Attend Global Knights Welcome Event 

After you attend your Mandatory Check-In Session at UCF Global, you will attend Global Knights Welcome Event.  This is a large, fun event where you will have the chance to connect with other international students, get updates on important information you need to know for your first few weeks at UCF, and meet with student organizations and campus partners. There will be activities and lots of fun. See you there!

F-1 Transfer Students currently in the USA

F-1 students transferring to UCF from another US Institution, will need to have their I-20 record electronically transferred to UCF in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information (SEVIS) system. Please ensure you have submitted all required immigration documents listed on the F-1 I-20 Documents Checklist to UCF Global prior to proceeding with the next steps listed below. You should also have contacted your International Advisor at your current institution for guidance on procedures they may have in regards to their transfer process and the scheduling of the release your SEVIS record.

All admitted F-1 transfer students (undergraduate and graduate) who are transferring to UCF from another US Institution, must complete the following steps with UCF Global prior to start of classes:

STEP 1

 

Complete “UCF Global Required Online International Student Orientation” in UCF Webcourses

All F-1 international students need to complete an online orientation in Webcourses.  This orientation was created to provide you with the important information you need to know before arriving to campus to help you have a smooth transition to university life in the United States. You will automatically be added to the Online International Student Orientation in Webcourses.  To begin your online orientation, log into Webcourses using your NID.  If you do not know your NID, you can locate it here.

a) The Online Orientation is designed to take about 1 hour and consists of six modules with a quiz at the end of each module. You must receive 100% on each quiz in order to complete the Online Orientation.

b) The Online Orientation will instruct you how to register for your mandatory in-person Immigration Check-In Session in the “Arrival Information” Module. You will be prompted to sign-up for your check-in session in the “Register for your Mandatory Check-in Session” section.

OTHER UNIVERSITY/ACADEMIC ORIENTATION REQUIREMENTS:

Undergraduate Transfer Students are required to attend the UCF Undergraduate Orientation for Transfers. Please click here for more information.

Graduate Transfer Students may be required to attend an additional orientation session provided by their college or department. We encourage all new graduate transfer students to attend the Graduate Orientation hosted by the College of Graduate Studies –for more information, click here.

STEP 2

 

Attend your mandatory in-person Immigration Check-In Session (see Step 1 for details on how to register)

To meet F-1 regulation reporting requirements, all new transfer students are required to attend an in-person Immigration Check-in session. At your check-in, you will meet with a UCF Global advisor to complete an arrival form to provide your local address and phone number.

Please bring with you the following documents to your scheduled check-in session:

–Original Passport (no copies)

–Original Visa (no copies)

-Copy of your Form I-94 (click here to print your most recent Form I-94)

–Original UCF Form I-20 (no copies)

-Local U.S. Address

-Dependent Documents (if applicable)

INFORMATION REGARDING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HOLDS:

All new international students will have two international student holds on their student account in myUCF:

1) International Student Hold- New Student

2) International Student Hold- New International Student Immigration Workshop

These holds are temporarily lifted for admitted transfer students who have submitted all required immigration documents and permanently removed once you complete the International Student Online Orientation and you have attended your Mandatory Check-In Session.

If you have not completed STEPS 1 and 2 prior to start of classes, you will not be able to register for or change your class schedule until your holds are removed from your student account.

 

STEP 3

Attend Global Knights Welcome Event

After you attend your Mandatory Check-In Session at UCF Global, you will attend the Global Knights Welcome Event.  This is a large, fun event where you will have the chance to connect with other international students, get updates on important information you need to know for your first few weeks at UCF, and meet with student organizations and campus partners. There will be activities and lots of fun. See you there!

HOUSING

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UCF is proud to offer a variety of residential communities to its students. Students are encouraged to apply for on-campus housing as soon as they have been admitted to UCF.

View On-campus Housing
View Off-campus Housing

ARRIVAL

Orlando

Most students choose to arrive at the Orlando International Airport (MCO).  It may be helpful to arrive early and stay in a hotel while you decide where you want to live.

 

View more

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

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You will have to purchase health insurance while you are an F-1 student.
You also must show you have received immunizations or show proof of immunity to several diseases.

Complete the required Immunization Form

View UCF Health Services
Summer 2020 Check-In Session Dates

If you are a New F-1 Student from Abroad, please click here on information on how to register for the Mandatory Check-in Session.

F-1 Transfer Students currently in the USA can find information on how to register for the Mandatory Check-In Session here.

Check ins for incoming transfer students inside the United States beginning Summer A/B/C/D will be conducted remotely.

Further guidance on how to complete the remote check in will be sent via email to affected students.

 

Thursday, April 16, 2020

9:00 am – 10:00 am

UCF Global Building

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

9:00 am – 10:00 am

UCF Global Building

SUMMER B ONLY

Tuesday, January 16, 2020

9:00 am – 10:00 am

UCF Global Building

 

Fall 2020 Check-In Session Dates*

Thursday, July 30, 2020

9:00 am – 10:00 am

UCF Global Building

Thursday, August 6, 2020

9:00 am – 10:00 am

UCF Global Building

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

9:00 am – 11:00 am

UCF Global Building

Thursday, August 13, 2020

9:00 am – 11:00 am

UCF Global Building

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

9:00 am – 11:00 am

UCF Global Building

Friday, August 21, 2020

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

UCF Global Building

LATE CHECK-IN SESSION*

Monday, August 24, 2020

9:00 am – 11:00 am

UCF Global Building

 

* Students attending a Late Check-In Session cannot register in classes until they have completed their Check-In Session and all other holds have been removed from their student account.  Due to this, students attending the Late Check-In Session will be subject to the $100 late registration fee since class registration will occur during the late registration period.

Summer & Fall 2020 Global Knights Welcome Event

Friday, August 21, 2020

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Location TBA

 

Undergraduate Students Orientation
Graduate Students Orientation
Graduate Students with Assistantships & Fellowships

Graduate students who have been awarded an Assistantship/Fellowship, please make an appointment with an UCF Global Employment and Taxation Coordinator to complete hiring/scholarship paperwork after your Mandatory Immigration Check-in Session.  You must have the following original documents to process your paperwork (no copies will be accepted):

  • Passport
  • Visa
  • I-94 (click here to print your most recent I-94)
  • Employment Offer Letter or Contract (employment start date must be indicated)
  • If applicable – Social Security Card
Graduate Teaching Assistants

For more information on Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training requirements, visit the GTA Information webpage.

View more

Class Registration

Graduate Students will be able to register for classes during orientation or during the add/drop class enrollment period.

Quick Links:

Registration  |  GTA Training  |  English Speaking Test

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