PREPARING FOR TRAVEL
Visas and certificates of eligibility, customs, registration dates, planning your arrival date

ARRIVAL
Transfer students, nearest airport, bus travel, emergencies related to arrival, temporary housing

FINANCIAL MATTERS
Necessary funds

HEALTH MATTERS
Insurance, medical records, T.B. skin test

HOUSING
University residence halls, off-campus housing, financial considerations

DINING

FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION
Social Security cards, Hokie Passport ID cards, PIDs, driver's licenses

ADJUSTING TO LIFE AT VIRGINIA TECH
Orientation events, English as a Second Language, weather and clothing, international friendship program, international student organizations

ADVICE TO STUDENT FAMILIES
Spouse employment, child care and schooling

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AND NUMBERS

DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

CONCLUSION
 
 

Welcome to Virginia Tech

This year you will be among more than 2,000 international students from more than 118 countries who make up Virginia Tech's international community.

As you prepare to travel to the United States, you naturally have questions about what arrangements you should make for your arrival in Blacksburg. This brochure gives you important information to help you plan your trip. The dates and costs given here are based on the best information available, but they could change.

When you arrive in Blacksburg, be sure to come to the Check-In and Welcome Center at the Cranwell International Center at the end of Clay Street as soon as possible. You should bring your passport, I-94 card and I-20 (for F-1 visa) or DS-2019 (for J-1 visa) to the Cranwell International Center. To receive the most current information, please check our homepage regularly or the Graduate Student Support Office.

PREPARING FOR TRAVEL

Visas and Certificates of Eligibility.
F-1 and J-1 are the two visa categories in which most people study in the U.S.  They both require full-time study, which is not less and 12 credit hours for undergraduates and not less than 12 credit hours for graduate students per semester.

 The F-1 is the most commonly used student visa. You will be considered for F-1 status if you intend to pay expenses using your own personal resources or receive a graduate assistantship from Virginia Tech. If you are given an F-1 visa, your spouse will enter on an F-2 visa.

The J-1 is an exchange visitor visa. To qualify for Virginia Tech's J-1 visitor program, you must participate in an approved student exchange program or be specifically funded by a government organization, an agency, a foundation, an employer or an international organization authorized to conduct an exchange visitor program.  You cannot be placed on Virginia Tech’s J-1 program if your sole source of support is personal funds.  If you qualify for a J-1 visa, your spouse will be given a J-2 visa.

Some J-1 student may be required to return home for two years at the end of their studies to fulfill the “two year home residence requirement” before being able to return to the U.S.

If you are eligible for J-1 status, request a DS-2019 from the appropriate admissions office or sponsoring agency.  Students who have DS-2019 forms must take the DS-2019 to the U.S. consulate in their home country to obtain their J-1 visa.  Otherwise, student will use an I-20 form (certificate of eligibility) to apply for an F-1 student visa.  Students must take the I-20 form to the U.S. consulate in their home country to receive their F-1 student visa.  Please visit the Travel.State.Gov website to see what U.S. Consuls are looking for when international students apply for visas.

return to top of page >>

ARRIVAL

When you arrive at a port of entry in the United States, you will be required to present either the form I-20 or the DS-2019 to the Immigration Officer, who will keep the appropriate form and issue you a complete I-94 (arrival-departure record). This form is sometimes referred to as the Temporary Entry Permit. The I-94, which is an extremely important document, indicates the date when your permission to remain in the U.S. expires and should be kept in your passport. If you enter the United States on a F-1 or J-1 visa, you will receive a copy of your I-20 or DS-2019 that will be used as an ID. Make sure you get this form which should be kept in your passport. Please be advised that if you do not complete your program in a timely manner, your DS-2019 or I-20 must be updated to reflect the new completion date.

Transfer Students
Students transferring from colleges and universities in the U.S. must bring their DS-2019 or I-20 to the Cranwell International Center (undergraduates) or Graduate Student Services (graduates) during the first week of classes.

Customs
Ask at a United States consulate in your home country for a copy of U.S. Customs Hints for Visitors, which explains customs regulations and may prevent unnecessary expense.

Registration Dates
Students entering the University in the Fall or Spring Semester will register for classes before or at Orientation. Students must register for classes before they can pay tuition fees. Students should try to register on the Hokie SPA. (Go to VT’s home page; then to “Current student, “then Hokie SPA.  For PID and password information, see p. 10)  If you are not able to register for classes before you arrive, you will do so upon arrival at Virginia Tech.  Students should be sure to buy health insurance as soon as possible after arrival. 

Reporting After Arrival

All international students must present their immigration documents to Virginia Tech after arrival and receive further instructions about their immigration status and responsibilities.  Undergraduate students must report to Cranwell Center; graduate students must report to the Office of Graduate Student Services.

**Planning your arrival date
Plan to arrive in Blacksburg no later than 10 days before classes begin for the fall semester and 5 days before the spring semester. This will give you some time to become familiar with the campus and Blacksburg, attend the Orientation program, and recover from travel fatigue before beginning your academic work.

Public services on Saturdays and Sundays are extremely limited and university offices are closed .

Nearest Airport
Blacksburg is approximately 64 k.m.(40 miles) southwest of Roanoke. There are several daily flights into the Roanoke, Virginia airport from international airports in New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago. Domestic flights from other major U.S. cities are also available. Airlines servicing the Roanoke airport are U.S. Airways, United, Northwest Airlink, ASA, Delta and Comair.

The Cranwell International Center has a daily van service available for new international students who arrive at Roanoke airport between August 4 - August 18, 2008 at 11:00pm Monday-Saturday (Sunday schedule TBA) for the fall semester, and January 7 - 10, 2008 for the spring semester. Students who arrive during operating hours for the Smart Way Bus will need to take the bus to the Virginia Tech Campus. Please see www.smartwaybus.com for the schedule. Please fax 540-231-3808 or email us for airport shuttle arrangements.  Please look for our poster at the airport (near the baggage claim area) for van departure times.

Bus Travel:

Greyhound Bus Lines [phone: 1 800 229 9424] offers limited service to Roanoke and Christiansburg, Virginia.

Emergency Related to Arrival:

In case of an emergency related to your arrival, please call the Cranwell International Center (540)231-6527 during office hours 8am-5pm Monday-Friday or you may call the Cranwell cell phone (540)-230-8747.

Temporary Housing
If you need a place to stay in Blaksburg until your dormitory opens or until you can locate permanent housing, you may stay at:

• Red Carpet Inn
• 1615 South Main Street, Blacksburg, VA
• Telephone: 540-552-4011

  The Red Carpet Inn offers the following accommodations:

• A room with one bed will cost $40.26 per night,
• A room with 2 beds will cost $44.75 per night.
• One bed in a 2 bedroom will cost $23.00.

return to top of page >>

FINANCIAL MATTERS

All international students should arrive in Blacksburg with sufficient funds for the entire first year. Students are advised to arrive with sufficient funds in travelers checks and cash for immediate living and settling-in expenses (see pre-departure checklist).  Graduate teaching assistants should plan to bring more money because their pay from the university will be delayed for the first month.

The exchange of foreign currency should be completed prior to leaving the international airport. There are no money exchange operations in the Blacksburg area.  

If you have questions concerning payments to the University, please contact the Office of the University Bursar.

return to top of page >>

HEALTH MATTERS

Health Insurance:
You MUST have a health and accident policy providing you and your dependents with protection in the event of major illness or injury.  All students are required to purchase medical insurance! The annual premium cost, which is not included in your tuition, is approximately $1472 for a single student, but is subject to change.

The university contracts with an insurance company to provide health insurance coverage (http://www.GMSouthwest.com). Students who do not purchase the university health insurance will need to show proof of alternate coverage each semester before they can register for classes. Alternate coverage must meet the university's minimum requirements for insurance and proof must be provided on the university approved form and signed by your insurance company. Students should be aware that there will be penalties for failure to have adequate health insurance. Students' records will be blocked, and students will be unable to register fro classes until the appropriate form is completed and signed by the student's insurance compnay. To request the form or more information, contact the Student Medical Insurance Office at 110 Student Services Building, Virginia Tech, Blacskburg, VA 24061-0361, phone: 540/231-6226; email: thackera@vt.edu.

Medical records
All new students entering Virginia Tech are required to provide a health history (translated into English) that is signed by a licensed health professional and that includes immunizations against measles (two doses of vaccine), mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and polio. The vaccines for meningitis and hepatitis B can be taken or waived. Recommended, but not required, are immunizations against chicken pox. DO NOT MAIL THE HEALTH HISTORY FORMS; BRING THE FORMS WITH YOU.

Be sure to bring copies of medical records (translated into English) of any accompanying family members as well. Children are not allowed to enroll in school or take part in childcare programs without required immunizations.

T.B. Skin Test
International students are required to undergo a tuberculin skin test (PPD, Mantoux) upon arrival at Virginia Tech, regardless if they already had a TB test in their home country.

Note: Prior BCG vaccination is not a reason to be automatically exempted from the tuberculin testing requirement.

return to top of page >>

HOUSING

University residence halls
When you receive your acceptance letter from Virginia Tech, you should also receive a housing/dining contract. Return the application promptly. A $100 fee is due and payable in advance upon official notice from the University. If you have sent an application for housing to Student Programs and have received written confirmation of an assignment, that space will be available the weekend before classes begin.

All incoming freshmen are guaranteed university housing and are required to live in the residence halls unless they live with their families or are at least 21 years old. You will be assigned a roommate.  All other undergraduates are not guaranteed housing, but are encouraged to apply.

Transfer students who do not enter the housing application process may apply for on-campus housing accommodations by signing a waiting list. Single graduate students may also apply to live in the on-campus graduate residence halls -- Payne and Main Campbell. Graduates are not guaranteed housing, but are encouraged to apply.

Residence hall rooms contain basic furniture including beds, desks, dressers/cabinets and a sink. On campus residents must select an on campus dining option. Newman, Main Cambell, Payne, and Cochrane Hall are open 10 months per year, including university breaks. Other dormitories are closed to residents one week in November, four weeks in December-January, and one week in March. We strongly suggest you choose to live in one of the dormitories that will remain open during university breaks when completing your housing form.

Married Student Housing 
Virginia Tech does not offer on-campus housing for married students. Students who bring their families are required to live off campus. The Cranwell International Center will assist with this process.

Off-Campus Housing 
Many Virginia Tech students live off-campus. Most students live in apartments, many of which are within walking distance to campus or are on the town bus routes. Apartments, depending on size, location, etc., vary in price from $350 to $1500 per month.

An apartment with a living room, a kitchen, bedrooms, and a bathroom, is normally rented by a family or is shared by two or more students. Occupants must sign a lease -- usually for 12-months. Initial rental will require 2 or 3 months payment at the time the lease is signed. Most apartments are unfurnished. Furnishings are generally acquired from furniture rental companies, second-hand stores and private "yard sales or garage sales.  "Please note that students arriving in August will have fewer options in finding off Campus housing within walking distance of campus.

For more information on student housing, please write to:

On-Campus Housing (Residence Hall or Dormitories):

 

 

Financial Considerations
Housing is the largest item in most students' budget. On campus housing is usually closer to campus and provides support services and programming. After the initial pre-payment of $100, on-campus students are billed for housing costs as part of their tuition bill. Students will not be released from the one-year contract once submitted.

If living off campus the earlier you arrive in Blacksburg, the more choices you will have for housing. Usually, sharing an off-campus apartment with a group of students will be the cheapest option. Calculate carefully what you can afford before making your decision. Be aware that heating costs for your apartment during the colder months may not be included in your rent and may be a separate expense. Please remember that in the U.S. after signing any housing contract (lease), the lease cannot be broken and the terms cannot be changed for any reason.

return to top of page >>

DINING

Students who live on-campus or off campus may purchase a dining plan. Virginia Tech has a national award winning program serving 5 million meals per year in 11 locations on campus with flexible dining plans designed to fit student needs and busy schedules. Vegan and vegetarian meals are always available. Payment is made at the beginning of the semester. For more information, visit their website: www.studentprogrmas.vt.edu/dining.

return to top of page >>

FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION

Student ID (Hokie Passport) cards:
All students are required to have a student ID (Hokie Passport) card. The card verifies who you are and the date you were born.  It allows students to access meal plans, ride the bus, use the libraries, enter athletic and entertainment events, and take advantage of student discounts. 

PID:
Students will either be given a PID (Personal IDentifier) before or after their arrival. The PID allows students to access email, Hokie SPA, Campus Pipeline, CourseInfo, and the Internet. Students will also be included on the Cranwell International Center's and Graduate Student Services' listservs which informs them of important policies, activities and reminders.

Driver's Licenses:
Virginia driver's licenses can also be used as an official ID. Virginia driver’s manuals are available at the Cranwell Center to help you prepare for the test.  For more information concerning Virginia Driver's Licenses, please visit their website at http://www.dmvNOW.com

Social Security cards:
It is mandatory that all F-1 and J-1 students employed in the U.S., including Canadian students, obtain a U.S. Social Security Number. Students must provide proof of employment offer before applying for a social security number. Dependents with F-2 visas are not permitted to have Social Security numbers. A social security official visits the Cranwell Center on a monthly basis.

.

return to top of page >>

ADJUSTING TO LIFE AT VIRGINIA TECH

Orientation:
The Cranwell International Center organizes an extensive Orientation program for all new and transfer international students. Orientation will provide you with vital information including immigration regulations, how to register at Virginia Tech, how the academic system works, how to get around, where to shop, activities that are available to you and numerous other things. It will assist you in finding academic success, understanding the culture at Virginia Tech, adjusting to student life, and making friends!

ORIENTATION IS FUN! INFORMATIVE! MANDATORY! AND VALUABLE!

 

English as a Second Language

Undergraduates:

– will be placed by the English Department in classes based on verbal SAT and/or TOEFL scores.

Graduate Students:

English Placement Test: (All incoming graduate international students whose TOEFL scores are below 620 paper based or 260 computer based AND whose Test of Written English (TWE) scores are below 4.5 are required to take the English Placement Test prior to the beginning of the semester.  Moreover, those with IELTS scores below Band 8.0 must take the EPT.  (Note:  High scores on the GRE Verbal Test do not exempt a student from the EPT.)  Those who have obtained either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited university in a country where English is the native language are not required to take the EPT.  The EPT consists of a 200 word cloze passage containing blanks to be filled in and a one-hour essay in which students will be asked to read, explain and interpret information presented graphically.  Those who do not pass this test must enroll in Advanced Academic Writing during their first semester of enrollment, along with a full academic load – at least 12 credit hours as per the Catalog p. 20.  This course is taught by the Virginia Tech English Language Institute; there is an additional fee of $400 for this course (textbooks are included.)

SPEAK or TEACH Test – International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) who are required to teach classes or laboratories must pass the SPEAK or TEACH Test prior to assuming any teaching duties.  The SPEAK test is an institutional version of the Test of Spoken English, administered by the TOEFL Board.  The TEACH Test is a 15 minute lecture that the student will give in her/her academic field.  ITAs must sign up at the Graduate Life Center for an individual exam prior to the beginning of classes.  Those who fail the exam will be required to enroll in and pass English 0014, Oral Communication for International Teaching Assistants, before they can begin to teach.

Weather and Clothing
Blacksburg's summers are warm with temperatures averaging 80 degrees F (30 C).  Winters are cold, averaging 34 degrees F (1 C).   Rainfall is moderate throughout the year. Snow accumulation during the winter may be heavy. Generally the climate is quite pleasant.

A heavy winter coat, an umbrella or raincoat, and a pair of waterproof shoes are necessities. We recommend students bring a warm scarf, hat, sweater or sweatshirt, and gloves or you can purchase them after you arrive. 

 

International Friendship Program

Many local residents volunteer as hosts to international students (both unmarried students and married students with families) because they enjoy meeting students and want to introduce them to life in the United States.

Hosts and students can celebrate holidays and festivities, share meals, go on outings and participate in community events or any international activities throughout the year. Hosts include families, couples and individuals. .

Although students do not live with their hosts, through them they can make friends, exchange ideas, and observe American home life. If you have a sincere desire to have a host and participate in this program, contact Rachel Christensen.

 

International Student Organizations
Virginia Tech has many international and cultural groups that can help new students. If you wish to contact an organization from a specific country, please contact the Cranwell Center and we will forward your request or you can visit www.ciso.org.vt.edu.

return to top of page >>

ADVICE TO STUDENT FAMILIES

Spouse employment
A student's spouse should not expect to obtain employment. A person with F-2 status (a dependent of an F-1 student) is not permitted to earn money in any capacity. After arriving in the United States, people with J-2 status (dependents of a J-1 exchange visitor) may apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for permission to work if they can establish that additional income is not required for the support of the J-1 visa holder.

Employment opportunities in Blacksburg are limited, and it may be impossible to find a satisfactory job.

Programs for spouses
Come to Cranwell International Center for information about English conversation groups, international student organizations and other special programs for you, your spouse and family.

Child care and schooling
If both you and your spouse intend to study, you will need to budget for the care of your children. The cost of full-day child care ranges from $85 to $120 a week per child depending on age. Hourly rates range from $4.00 to $6.00. For more information about child care, write to Virginia Tech Office of Family Support, 404 Clay Street (0537), Blacksburg, VA 24061; [Phone: 540 231 3213]; [FAX: 540 231 6479].

Children must be five years old by September 30 to enroll in the public schools.  The school year starts in late August and ends in early June.  For information about enrollment and immunizations requirements, write to: Montgomery Co. Public Schools, 200 Junkin Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073.

 

return to top of page >>

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AND NUMBERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

 

CONCLUSION

We hope this information has helped you plan your arrival to Virginia Tech. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Have a pleasant journey to Blacksburg.
We look forward to meeting you.