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Pre-Arrival Messages

The Office of International Affairs designed a series of emails to help prepare you for your arrival at Ohio State. You will receive these emails to your Buckeyemail every week before your arrival on campus. These emails are also archived below.

Also, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our website for important information about immigration, tuition, academics, cultural awareness and life in the United States.

Undergraduate information

Autumn semester 2024

Email #1

  • Welcome
  • First important steps
  • U.S. visa instructions
  • SEVIS fee
  • Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP) Academic English Writing Assessment


Email #2

  • When to arrive in Columbus
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In
  • International Student Orientation
  • Pre-Arrival Sessions


Email #3

  • On-campus housing
  • Temporary housing
  • Off-campus housing and commuter resources


Email #4

  • Vaccination requirement
  • Tuberculosis testing
  • Purchasing health insurance


Email #5

  • Pre-Arrival Sessions
  • IELP Academic English Writing Assessment
  • Math placement test
  • Academic support resources


Email #6

  • Buckeye Link
  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Opening a bank account in the United States


Email #7

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #8

  • Pre-Arrival Checklist
  • Get to know Columbus


Email #9

  • Getting involved
  • VILLAGE
  • Pre-Arrival Session reminder


Email #10

  • Registering for classes
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States


Email #11

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In registration
  • International Student Orientation reminder


Email #12

  • Avoid scams:
    • Tuition
    • Immigration
    • Employment
    • Travel


Email #13

  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • Welcome events
  • Airport and welcome booths
Spring semester 2025

Email #1

  • Welcome message
  • Important first steps


Email #2

  • Immigration check-in
  • International student orientation
  • Housing
  • Safety
  • Student Legal Services


Email #3

  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Opening a bank account in the United States
  • SEVIS fee
  • ESL and math placement testing
  • Academic support resources


Email #4

  • Purchasing health insurance
  • Vaccination requirements
  • Tuberculosis testing


Email #5

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #6

  • Get involved
  • VILLAGE


Email #7

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Registering for courses
  • International Student Arrival Checklist
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States
Summer term 2024

Email #1

  • Welcome message
  • Important first steps
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In
  • International Student Orientation


Email #2

  • On-campus housing
  • Temporary housing
  • Off-campus housing
  • IELP Academic English Writing Assessment
  • Math placement testing
  • Academic support resources
  • Don't fall for a scam


Email #3

  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Setting up a bank account in the United States
  • SEVIS fee
  • Course registration


Email #4

  • Purchasing health insurance
  • Vaccination requirements
  • Tuberculosis testing
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States


Email #5

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #6

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Get involved
  • VILLAGE

Graduate information

Autumn semester 2024

Email #1

  • Welcome
  • First important steps
  • U.S. visa instructions
  • SEVIS fee
  • Intercultural English Language Programs (IELP) Academic English Writing Assessment


Email #2

  • When to arrive in Columbus
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In
  • International Student Orientation
  • Pre-Arrival Sessions


Email #3

  • On-campus housing
  • Temporary housing
  • Off-campus housing and commuter resources


Email #4

  • Vaccination requirement
  • Tuberculosis testing
  • Purchasing health insurance


Email #5

  • Pre-Arrival Sessions
  • IELP Academic English Writing Assessment
  • Academic support resources


Email #6

  • Buckeye Link
  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Opening a bank account in the United States


Email #7

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #8

  • Pre-Arrival Checklist
  • Get to know Columbus


Email #9

  • Getting involved
  • VILLAGE
  • Pre-Arrival Session reminder


Email #10

  • Registering for classes
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States


Email #11

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In registration
  • International Student Orientation reminder


Email #12

  • Avoid scams:
    • Tuition
    • Immigration
    • Employment
    • Travel


Email #13

  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • Welcome events
  • Airport and welcome booths
Spring semester 2025

Email #1

  • Welcome message
  • Important first steps


Email #2

  • Immigration check-in
  • International student orientation
  • Housing
  • Safety
  • Student Legal Services


Email #3

  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Opening a bank account in the United States
  • SEVIS fee
  • ESL and math placement testing
  • Academic support resources


Email #4

  • Purchasing health insurance
  • Vaccination requirements
  • Tuberculosis testing


Email #5

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #6

  • Get involved
  • Connect with other Buckeyes virtually
  • VILLAGE


Email #7

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Registering for courses
  • International Student Arrival Checklist
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States
Summer term 2024

Email #1

  • Welcome message
  • Important first steps
  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In
  • International Student Orientation


Email #2

  • On-campus housing
  • Temporary housing
  • Off-campus housing
  • IELP Academic English Writing Assessment
  • Academic support resources
  • Don't fall for a scam


Email #3

  • Paying tuition and fees
  • Setting up a bank account in the United States
  • SEVIS fee
  • Course registration


Email #4

  • Purchasing health insurance
  • Vaccination requirements
  • Tuberculosis testing
  • Academic integrity and conduct in the United States


Email #5

  • What to pack
  • Entering the United States
  • Arriving at Ohio State


Email #6

  • Mandatory Immigration Check-In reminder
  • International Student Orientation reminder
  • Get involved
  • VILLAGE