International Students

Oxford's International Student Program (ISP) office supports our international student community with immigration advising, issuing Emory I-20's, and providing services to support students’ positive adjustment to the United States and our campus community.

Among our programming, ISP coordinates the International Student Welcome program, the iMentor peer mentor program, and the International Student Advocacy Board (ISAB).

International Student Welcome Program

The International Student Welcome (ISW) Program allows students from outside the United States to begin adjusting to their new college environment before classes start. The program provides a wealth of information about the academic, cultural, financial, and legal issues that international students experience in the United States. It also provides the chance for students to explore Atlanta and the Oxford area, meet new friends, and spend time getting comfortable in a new environment.

2024 Dates

• August 17: Arrival of students attending International Student Welcome
• August 18–22: International Student Welcome 
• August 23: New Student Orientation begins (International students join the first-year program)
• August 28: First day of classes

Elements of the ISW program include:

• Information sessions about banking and living in the United States
• What F-1 students need to know about maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status
• What a liberal arts education means at Oxford
• Classroom expectations 
• Sessions about how to get the most from your Oxford experience
• Excursions and lots more

Transportation and Check-In

Students attending ISW may move into their assigned residence hall on August 17.

Free airport shuttle service will be provided for ISW participants on August 17. The shuttle transports students from the international terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to the Oxford campus, located 60 kilometers east of Atlanta. There are also several other options for transportation to campus for students who do not plan to use the Oxford airport shuttle. Rental cars, executive car services, Uber and Lyft, and taxi services all provide ground transportation from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Registration is required to use the shuttle service and should be completed no later than July 26.

VISA Application Process

Receive an I-20

International students who plan to study at Oxford College as an F-1 visa student must receive an Emory Form I-20. A Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 status, (I-20) is an official U.S. government immigration document. An I-20 is required to obtain an F-1 visa and to maintain F-1 status while in the United States.

To receive an Emory I-20, Oxford international students must:

1. Be admitted and submit their enrollment deposit to Oxford College
2. Complete the Initial I-20 Request in ISSS Link
3. Upload to ISSS Link copies of their passports, sponsor form(s), and proof of financial support equal to at least the estimated annual cost of attendance at Emory University.

Detailed instructions will be emailed to students after the enrollment deposit deadline. If you do not receive this email, please contact OxISP@emory.edu.

Apply for an F-1 Visa

An F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows non-U.S. citizens to study at an accredited college or university in the United States. F-1 visas are issued by the U.S. Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. Rather, it allows travel to a U.S. port-of-entry to request permission from a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent to enter the country. Depending on the country where one applies, obtaining a visa can be quite easy, very difficult, or somewhere in between. Canadian students do not require an F-1 visa, but they are required to pay the SEVIS fee. To apply for an F-1 visa, you must submit the following to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

1. Your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility, from Emory University
2. Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160 
3. A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended entry date to the United States
4. One (1) 2x2 photograph. View guidelines. 
5. A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee (check your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for details)
6. Receipt of payment of the SEVIS fee for Form I-901 

You should also be prepared to present the following documents at your visa interview:

1. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended
2. Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, ACT, or SAT
3. Financial evidence that shows you or your sponsors have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study.

Because the requirements to apply for a U.S. visa differ from one country to another, you should review the requirements listed on your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s website. Locate your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.

SEVIS Fee

The US Department of Homeland Security requires all prospective F-1 visa students to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before being issued a visa. The fee is $350 US and is nonrefundable.

• Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee
• Learn more about the SEVIS fee

Keep one copy of your receipt in your personal records and attach another copy to your current I-20.