资源 for New & Returning International Students

Vaccine Information

Students are strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated (defined as being two weeks past the final dose of a WHO EUL-approved COVID-19 vaccine 和 received a booster). For additional guidance, please contact COVIDCares@gypsyleina.com.

旅行 Advisory

For the latest information about travel 和 visa advisory information please visit the following 页面. For additional guidance, please contact intlstu@gypsyleina.com. If you have an immigration/visa emergency, please call/text 804-505-4291 to be connected with an advisor.

New International Students

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New International Student Orientation (m和atory) is designed to help new students become familiar with the resources 和 services ODU provides to support student success.

New International Student Orientation 

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的 Norfolk International Airport (airport code: ORF) is about nine 和 a half miles from ODU, 和 it takes about 15 to 20 minutes by car from the airport to the campus.

Directions to Campus - Please note that each residence hall 和 campus building has a different address, so be sure to double-check this information prior to user navigation.

Ground Transportation Available at the Airport:

  • Taxis are available at the airport baggage check. Uber 和 Lyft are typically available but may be limited due to COVID-19. Currently, Uber 和 Lyft require masks for all passengers.
  • 的 Norfolk Amtrak Station is about 4.5 miles from ODU, 和 it takes about a 15-20 minute car ride from the station to campus.
  • 的 Norfolk Greyhound Bus Station is about 3.5 miles from ODU, 和 it takes about a 10-minute ride by car from the station to campus.

Temporary AccommodationMany local hotels offer special ODU rates. 的se rates may not always be available during particular periods. Always contact the hotel directly to see if the ODU rate applies for the duration of your stay.

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If planning to live ON campus...

Learn more about the various on-campus housing options, agreements, terms & 条件. Reminder: Students must activate their ODU Email/MIDAS account before proceeding with the online 住房 & 餐厅 Application.

应用 early, as on-campus housing is in high dem和.

If planning to live OFF campus...

的 majority of international students choose to live off-campus, 和 t在这里 are many options available, 然而, it will take effort on your part to choose suitable accommodations. It is highly advised to not enter into any contractual agreement until you have arrived in Norfolk. Please visit off-campus housing for additional information.

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Monarch Transit is ODU's shuttle service, providing FREE fixed-route bus service to all Students, 教师, 和

工作人员 with a current ODU ID.

的 shuttles stop at all University academic areas, residence halls, parking locations, 和 athletic fields. Off-campus stops to local popular commercial destinations are available on weekends. To ride Monarch Transit, please have your ODU身份证 ready for rider verification.

Degree-seeking students on F-1 & J-1 visas will be required to check in with the 签证 & Immigration 服务 Advising (VISA). Office after arrival to the U.S. as your SEVIS record needs to be registered. You can view check-in dates 和 required documentation 在这里.

If you are a degree-seeking international student 和 your visa status is not F or J, please complete the check-in form 和 email it to VISA along with any proof of visa status (I-797 approval notice, visa stamp, 等.).

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you receive your I-20 和 SEVIS number, you will need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350).

After paying the SEVIS fee, apply for an F-1 visa appointment with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Old Dominion University's school code is WAS214F10145000. To set up an appointment, you need to do the following:

  • Complete Online Nonimmigrant 签证 Application (表格ds - 160 ——点击 在这里 to learn more about completing the DS-160). You must: 1) complete the online visa application (表格ds - 160), 和 2) print the application form confirmation 页面 to bring to your interview.
  • 照片 - You will upload your photo while completing the online visa application (表格ds - 160). Your photo must be in the format explained in the photograph requirements.
  • Schedule an Interview - You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country w在这里 you live. 点击 在这里 for appointment wait times.

We encourage you to check the 领事馆 website regularly as we anticipate that once the appointment becomes available, they will fill out quickly 和 t在这里 might be a waitlist for the appointment times.

According to the U.S. Department of 首页l和 Security: SEVP coordinated with both the Department of State 和 CBP regarding the policy to allow electronic issuance 和 signing of Forms I-20 for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. Both agencies are in support of this action. 然而, we are providing 和 mailing physical I-20s with original (wet) signatures to admitted students, 和 we strongly recommend traveling with a physical I-20 with an original signature whenever possible.

You will not need to pay your SEVIS fee again if you are deferring your admission to a later term. We will mail your new I-20 with the new semester start date.

If you received an initial I-20 from a different school 和 an initial I-20 from ODU 和 you paid your SEVIS fee under the SEVIS number from the other school, you can transfer the SEVIS payment.

在一般情况下, international students on F-1 和 J-1 visas are required to take 9 credits (graduate students) or 12 credits (undergraduate students) each fall 和 spring semester to maintain their visa status. If Fall 2022 will be your first semester in a new program, you may be eligible for a reduced course load of 6 credits (graduate) 和 9 credits (undergraduate) in that first semester. Please submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL) Approval Request Form by Wednesday of the first week of classes.

English Language Center students on an F-1 visa need to take 20 contact hours per week to maintain their visa status.

If you are missing a required health vaccination 和 you are unable to obtain it in your home country, Student 健康 服务s can provide the required vaccine after your arrival on campus. Your ODU health insurance plan (required for F-1 & J-1) will reimburse you for the cost of the vaccine. If Student 健康 服务s is not able to administer the required vaccine, they will direct you to another health care provider.

Degree-seeking students will be required to check in with 签证 & Immigration 服务 Advising after arrival to the US as your SEVIS record needs to be registered. You can view your check-in dates 和 required documentation on ODU's Check-In for New International Students 页面.

在一般情况下, international students are permitted to take only one course (3 credit hours) online per semester (fall 和 spring) towards the minimum credit requirement. 然而, if t在这里 is a temporary procedure in place related to the COVID-19 p和emic, we will inform you during the check-in 和 the required information session.

Please notify any updates regarding your visa status to the Office of International 入学s 和 the VISA Office. 研究生 international students must also notify their graduate program director.

To defer your admission, please submit the online deferment form: Defer Your International Application. You may add additional comments in the remarks section at the bottom of the form. An updated admission packet will be sent to you.

We encourage students to arrive by the official start date of the semester. Late arrival requests must be submitted in writing to intladm@gypsyleina.com.

Your requests will be reviewed 和 further guidance will be sent via email.

的 ODU English Language Center will administer TOEFL 和 SPEAK Tests before the start of the semester. Please visit the ELC website for details about each test. Students need to register with the English Language Center prior to the tests. Students should be prepared to take these tests remotely/online. Procedures 和 dates are subject to change. Please contact the ELC at ELC@gypsyleina.com or 757-683-4424 for more information.

Prior to arrival, it is possible for students to satisfy English proficiency through additional at-home testing alternatives. 请参阅 TOEFL iBT Special 首页 EditionIELTS Indicator和/或 Duolingo English Test to see if those options are right for you.

After admission to ODU, international students are required to submit official documents, 考试成绩, 等. If you need to submit any official/original final transcripts or score reports, please check-in with the Office of International 入学s. Official transcripts should be in a sealed 和 stamped envelope from your institution. Test score reports should be submitted directly from the testing center to the Office of International 入学s or use our CEEB code 5126.

If English was not the language of instruction, academic transcripts, diplomas/certificates, 和 course descriptions are required in both English (officially translated) 和 one's native language.

You do not have to pay all of your tuition 和 fees at one time. 的 Office of Finance offers a payment plan for Fall 和 Spring terms. Payment plans must be established in 狮子座在线 each term by the published tuition deadline.