International Student Handbook

I. Welcome to Valdosta State University

i. Settling in Valdosta

• • Getting Your VSU ID
  • Checking into your Residence Hall
  • Finding and Moving into Off-Campus Housing
  • VSU Wireless

ii. Important Immigration Documents

• • Passport
  • Visa
  • I-94 record
  • DS-2019
  • I-20

iii. Mandatory Health Insurance Plan

iv. How To

• • Change Your Major
  • Change Your Address
  • Get A Copy Of Your Transcripts
  • Get A Verification Of Enrollment Letter
  • Request A Letter From The Center For International Programs

II. On-Campus Student Resources

• Academic Advisor
• Odum Library
• Counseling Center and Family Works
• Academic Support Center
• Student Health Center
• Campus Recreation Center
• VSU Police Department
• On-Campus Transportation
• Registrar's Office
• Bursary
• IT Helpdesk

III. Life Off Campus

• Renting an Apartment/House
• Utilities
• Off-Campus Transportation

IV. International Students Benefits

i. Social Security Number

ii. Driver's License

iii. Employment

• On-Campus Employment
• Off-Campus Employment
• Employment after Graduation

iv. Taxes

v. Money and Banking

V. Keeping Your Immigration Status

i. F-1 Students

ii. J-1 Students

VI. American Customs and Culture

• Time
• Informality
• Greeting, Invitations, and Visiting
• Table Manners
• Relationships
• Men and Women
• Bathing and Hygiene
• Religious Life
• Alcohol
• Smoking

VII. Glossary of Terms

• Immigration Terms
  • Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO)
  • Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Dependents
  • DS-2019
  • Designated School Official (DSO)
  • F-1 Visa
  • Grace Period
  • I-20
  • I-94
  • Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)
  • J-1 Visa
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  • Reduced Course Lead (RCL)
  • Responsible Officer (RO)
  • SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program)
  • SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visa Information System)
  • SEVIS Record
  • SEVIS ID Number
  • USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services)
  • Social Security Number
  • USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services)
  • US Department of Homeland Security
• University/Academic Terms
  • Academic Advisor
  • Academic Probation
  • Academic Suspension
  • Attendance
  • Core Curriculum
  • Curriculum
  • Course
  • Credit Hours
  • Departments
  • Dropping a Class
  • Elective Course
  • Final Exam
  • Full-Time Enrollment
  • GPA (Grade Point Average)
  • Graduate Student
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
  • GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
  • Hybrid Class
  • LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
  • MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
  • Major (field of study)
  • Minor (field of study)
  • Maymester
  • Midterm
  • Online Class
  • Plagiarism/Academic Integrity
  • Prerequisites
  • Semester
  • Syllabus
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • Transcript
  • Undergraduate
  • Withdrawing from a class
  • Withdrawing form the university