Admitted International Student Pre-Arrival Steps
The Pre-Arrival Steps checklist will help you prepare for your arrival at UW-River Falls (UWRF). By now you should have received an invitation to join the International Student Pre-Arrival Orientation course, please follow the instructions and information presented on each module within the course.
Here is a summary of the pre-arrival steps:
1. Visa Process
Make sure to review, sign and date your “Certificate of Eligibility” for non-immigrant status. You should receive either a form I-20 or a form DS-2019. These forms are very important documents that will be required to complete the visa process. You will need to apply for a visa to enter the United States (U.S.). If you have received an I-20 you will apply for an F-1 visa and if you have received a DS-2019, you will apply for a J-1 visa. Follow this visa process:
- Pay the SEVIS fee, Form I-901
- Complete the 'Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, Form DS-160 (exception: Canadian and Bermuda citizens)
- Pay the visa application fee
- Prepare for and attend your visa interview
Learn more about how to prepare for your interview on the Immigration Information section below. Complete the visa process as soon as possible, this is the most important step, as without a visa you will not be able to enter the country..
Please contact iss@uwrf.edu if you have any questions or concerns about the visa process.
2. Falcon Account
Activate your Falcon or student Account:
All UWRF students have a Falcon Account that gives access to important university resources. If you have not activated your student or Falcon account yet, please visit the Password Service Center website.
Note: Your Username is your UW-River Falls Student ID number, also known as your "w number," and can be found on your admission letter. You will need to enter your 7-digit student ID preceded by a lower case "w", for example w3100000. Also, the Falcon Account instructions ask you to enter the "Last 4 digits of SSN (0000)" this refers to the U.S. Social Security Number or SSN. If you do not have U.S. SSN, you need enter four upper case "X" in the corresponding box, just like this: XXXX.
Check your UWRF Email:
After you have activated your Falcon Account, you can check your UWRF email. UWRF email is the main way of communication here on campus, be sure to check your UWRF email regularly! Please contact dots@uwrf.edu if you have questions or concerns regarding your Falcon Account.
Request your UWRF Student ID:
Your student ID card is a very important tool! you will use your ID card to access your residence hall and meal plan, check out textbooks and library materials, printing, receive student discounts, to access the Fitness Center (Falcon Center), athletic events and much more.
You can request your student ID virtually, for this you need to submit a digital photo and a copy of your passport. For more information about the photo requirements visit the University ID Card page.
3. Complete Housing and Meal Plan
All first and second year undergraduate students, or those who are 21 years or younger, are required to live on campus. Those who live on campus must pay a housing deposit to secure on-campus housing and sign a housing contract for an entire academic year (Fall and Spring semester). This contract cannot be broken unless a student withdraws from UWRF, transfers to another school, is an exchange student at UWRF for only one semester, or has a documented medical need that Residence Life is unable to accommodate.
Housing information can be found on the Residence Life webpage, while Meal Plans can be found on the Dining webpage. Please contact reslife@uwrf.edu if you have any other questions or concerns regarding housing. Please contact dining@uwrf.edu for questions about meal plans.
If you are not required to live on campus and chose to live off-campus, you do not need to complete this step.
Important: please note that the Residence Life Move-In day for new students might be different for new international students. This is because the new international student orientation takes place prior to the arrival of all other new students. The official move-in day for new international students is the indicated "Arrival Day" or the program start date.
4. Enrollment or Class Registration
Placement Testing
To prepare for class registration or enrollment, degree-seeking students or F-1 visa holders, should take the required placement tests. In most cases the required test will be the Math placement test. If English is your native (first language) or you have completed high school here in the U.S., also take the English placement test. More information about placement testing can be found here: https://www.uwrf.edu/admissions/placement-testing.
Fee Payment Agreement
Also, make sure you sign the Fee Payment Agreement.You must sign this each semester before enrolling in classes. For instructions on how to do this, refer to the International Student Pre-Arrival Orientation course for instructions.
Class Registration
- First-Year International Students, you should be able to schedule a virtual appointment by following the instructions provided here: https://www.uwrf.edu/admissions/sign-register-for-classes
- International Transfer Students, please make sure we have received your official credit evaluation and final transcript. Your credits should be transferred in before you schedule a class registration appointment.
- Exchange Students or J-1 visa holders, the ISS office will work with you on your class registration.
5. Submit Your Travel Plans
To prepare for your arrival, all international students should submit the completed Travel Plan survey no later than 10 days prior to the arrival date listed on the admission letter..All new international students are expected to attend International Student Orientation (ISO) and general Orientation prior to the start of classes.
For transportation options from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to River Falls, refer to the Transportation from the airport section below.
