Umang - The Indian Graduate Student Association - Washington University in St. Louis

This checklist covers all the tasks you need to complete before you leave India. Note that items with the red boxes are compulsory/urgent while the ones in black are optional/less urgent.

Inform your department/school of your acceptance of the admission offer

Once you have decided to attend Washington University, you must formally accept your offer of admission according to the rules of your department/school. It is important to get your acceptance in early so that the University can begin processing the paperwork for your visa application. Acceptances are handled on a first come first serve basis and the earlier you submit this, the earlier you are likely to get your paperwork.

Ensure that you have provided complete documentation to your department/school
It is up to you to ensure that all the relevant documentation such as official GRE/TOEFL scores, transcripts, etc. are submitted in a timely manner. Please check with your department/school to ensure your file is complete as an incomplete file can delay processing of your documents. If you plan to have a spouse accompany you on an F-2 visa, consult your department/school for the correct procedure to apply for such a visa.

Submit Declaration of Financial Support

All International Students that are not fully supported by a grant or research assistantship are required to provide a certification of their ability to pay for their education and living expense while in the U.S. You will need to send in a declaration of financial support before an I-20 can be applied for on your behalf. Your declaration of financial support should include but is not necessarily limited to:

   - Declaration and certification of finances form
   - Bank statements
   - Tax return forms

Obtain I-20/SEVIS Receipt

After you have submitted all relevant documentation and declaration of financial support, the University willl begin processing your I-20 application and pay your SEVIS fee. You will receive your I-20 document and SEVIS fee receipt from the International Office during the summer (approximately June timeframe). You will need both these documents before you can apply for a visa.

Apply for Visa

Once you have received your I-20 and SEVIS receipt, we encourage you to apply for a visa as early as possible. The procedure for applying for a visa changes from time to time so you should check with your local U.S. consulate for the exact procedure. These days, the visa application can take a significant amount of time so we encourage you to allow a lot of time for this step.

Complete your Medical Forms

Before you can register for classes, you must submit a completed medical form with details of your medical history and immunization record. We strongly recommend that you get all the necessary immunizations and tests done in India as medical care is very expensive in the U.S. Also, an incomplete medical form may, in very extreme cases, result in you being quarantined. Depending on how your department/school handles medical forms, you may be able to complete the form online before you arrive in the U.S.

Request airport pick-up

A small group of Indian graduate students volunteer to pick up new students from the airport. To request an airport pickup, please email our Orientation Secretary atleast 1 - 2 weeks in advance. The earlier you inform us, the more likely it is that we will find someone to pick you up.

Fill in OISS arrival form

The Office of International Students and Scholars requires that you complete an arrival form at http://oisshome.wustl.edu/students/new/ArrivalForm.asp. If you have requested Umang to pick you at the airport, fill in 'Umang' to the question 'I have asked someone to meet me. If so, what is the name of the person/department/group?'.

Request temporary housing

Unless you have friends or family in St. Louis, you will need a place to stay for a few days while you search for an apartment. Some graduate students have volunteered to host new students on a temporary basis. To request temporary housing, please email our Orientation Secretary, as soon as your dates for arrival in the U.S. are finalized. Please be aware that this housing is only until you can find an apartment of your own, which you should do as soon as possible.

Contact your academic/research advisor

While not required, it is usually helpful to contact your academic/research advisor shortly before leaving for the U.S. to set up an appointment to talk about your classes and research once you have arrived in St. Louis. You can use this directory to search for the email address of your advisor. WebSTAC, the online registration system will not let you register for classes without your advisor's approval. Advisors typically do not approve registrations without first meeting with you. Some departments/schools may have additional guidelines. You should check with your department/school for exact requirements.

What to bring to the U.S.

Many new students are unsure of what they should bring to the U.S. from India and what things they should buy once they arrive. Based on our own experiences, we have compiled some advice to help you. These are general guidelines and not concrete requirements. Your personal preferences may differ from what is in the list. Please use your own judgement in addition to the suggestions in the list. View the list here.