ARRIVING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - NEXT STEPS
PREPARING FOR YOUR MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE
The Office of International Programs and Services is here to help you prepare for a successful transition to the U.S. and university life. This includes helping you understand and secure the necessary documentation you and your family members will need to enter the U.S as an international student and maintain your status once you have arrived. Please contact the office with any additional questions at International.Services@Millersville.edu.
Please progress through these steps in order.
- Step 1: Confirm your intentions to enroll at Millersville University.
- No further steps will be taken by the Office of International Programs & Services regarding your admission offer until this initial step is completed.
- Read more here
- Step 2: Provide official/final transcripts & test scores to Millersville University.
- You can wait to provide these to Millersville, but they must be received by Millersville before the end of your first term on campus.
- If you are a transfer student, please note that none of your coursework can be transferred to MU until we have received your final official transcripts.
- Read more here
- Steps 3-5: Immigration-related steps necessary for acquiring/maintaining a student visa.
- Your final official transcripts can come to Millersville after you have received your visa.
- ACCESS STEPS 3-5
- Steps 6-12: To be completed once you have become eligible to enroll.
- Admitted students holding/requiring an F or J Visa: You are eligible to enroll once...
- ...your student visa has been awarded.
- ...your SEVIS record has been transferred to MU.
- ...your Change of Status to F-1 has been approved by USCIS.
- All other Admitted Students:
- You are eligible to enroll once your deposit has been processed and your final transcripts have been received.
- Please note that you may need to wait for certain steps to become available (ex. housing registration) or you may have other required steps depending on your status.
- Email internationaladmissions@millersville.edu with any questions or concerns.
- ACCESS STEPS 6-12
- Admitted students holding/requiring an F or J Visa: You are eligible to enroll once...
- Step 13: Mandatory International Student Orientation is required of all incoming admitted students. You must arrive in Millersville on time to attend.
Have more questions? See the our admitted student's frequently asked questions page or see the supplemental information section.
STEPS TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL:
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STEP 1: Confirm Intent to Enroll
- Accept your offer of admission by completing the Admission Response Form on your status page.
- A non-refundable $350 Enrollment Deposit will be required to formally confirm your intent to enroll at Millersville University.
- 100% of your deposit will go towards your first term's invoice from Millersville University.
- This deposit can be deferred alongside with your admission decision to a later term should this be necessary.
- Deposits should be provided by the advisory deadline for your intended entry term.
- You can submit your payment after this date, but your probability of obtaining a visa appointment & arrive at Millersville by the start of the term will be increasingly lower.
- Fall Term (August - Dec) - June 1st
- Spring Term (Jan - May) - November 1st
- Summer Term (May-July) - April 1st ((available for MSW students only))
- You can submit your payment after this date, but your probability of obtaining a visa appointment & arrive at Millersville by the start of the term will be increasingly lower.
- Do you need to pay in USD? Follow this link.
- After this deposit has been received and processed, you will be eligible for the next steps, including obtaining your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019).
- Use your Status page to navigate the next steps.
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STEP 2: Provide Final/Official Transcripts & Test Scores
**This step pertains to all degree-seeking students to Millersville University**
- If you provided a copy of your official documentation to Millersville University directly at the time of admission, you will need to provide official copies to Millersville prior to enrollment.
- A transcript hold is placed on an admitted students accounts related to transcripts. If final and official transcripts have not been received by Millersville University by the start of your initial academic term, this hold will remain and will prevent registration for future registration until official materials are received by the International Admissions office.
- No loose paper or digital transcripts provided directly to Millersville University by a student can be considered 'official.'
- Final copies of transcripts must be provided to Millersville University to remove this hold.
- Official English Language Test Scores are required to be provided to Millersville university if they were not verified at the time of admissions.
Information on how to send transcripts to MU
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STEP 3: Obtain Initial I-20 or DS-2019
- Should you require an F or J visa to attend Millersville University
- Access your Application Status Page: https://applygrad.millersville.edu/apply/status
- Complete the ‘Source of Funds’ form: https://applygrad.millersville.edu/register/sourceoffunds
- Any Sponsor that you indicate on your "Source of Funds" form will be required to complete the "Source of Funds - Sponsor" form. This will be emailed to your sponsor at the time that you submit your "Source of Funds" form.
- If you indicate a corporate sponsor, this sponsor will need to provide adequate documentation demonstrating ties and authority to use the corporate bank account provided.
- Provide ‘Proof of Funds’ that addresses the amount detailed on your Financial Cost Sheet (found on your application portal).
- Provide a copy of your passport photo page (and for those of each of your dependents).
- Full biographical information must be visible.
- If required by your nation, the passport must be signed to be considered valid identification.
- Some applicants may be requested to attend a virtual meeting in order to obtain a form I-20. Should this request be made of you, you will see it as a requirement on your status page. You will need to attend this meeting on camera. Please use this link to book a time.
- Access your Application Status Page: https://applygrad.millersville.edu/apply/status
- Immigration documents
- I-20 will be released on your application status page.
- DS-2019 for the J students are included in the admission documentation mailed to admitted students. Double-check the documents for any errors.
- Should you require an F or J visa to attend Millersville University
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STEP 4: Pay SEVIS Fee or complete SEVIS Transfer
**This step pertains to those that require/hold the F or J visa only**
- Immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019) are included in the information emailed to admitted students. Double-check the documents for any errors.
- Pay the REQUIRED SEVIS Fee online at fmjfee.com.
- See SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions here.
- Students already in the U.S. on a student visa should complete the Transfer In Form with their current immigration officer and email it to Internationaladmissions@Millersville.edu to start the process of transferring their SEVIS record.
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STEP 5: Schedule Visa Appointment & prepare for a successful visa interview
**This step pertains to those that require/hold the F or J visa only**
- Complete Form DS-160.
- Schedule an appointment at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy to apply for the F-1 or J-1 student visa. You can look up your local embassy or consulate online. Visit state.gov for more information on applying for a visa.
- Wait times for visa appointments can differ. The Travel.State.Gov website allows you to check wait times for your local embassy or consulate online.
- Notify IPS with your visa appointment date.
- Review the visa appointment Practice Questions.
- If you want to speak with an IPS staff member about these questions, book a virtual appointment using this link.
- Read NAFSA’s 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa.
- Bring your SEVIS fee receipt, Millersville University admission letter, official bank statements, I-20 or DS-2019 Form, and passport with you to this appointment.
VISA APPOINTMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS
UPDATE MU ON YOUR VISA STATUS (IMMIGRATION CHECK-IN FORM)
🗣️ P.S. - Do not forget to let us know how your interview goes!
WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL:
- STEP 6: Access MU Accounts
- STEP 7: Choose Housing
- STEP 8: Submit Health Evaluation form to Health Services
- STEP 9: Purchase Health Insurance
- STEP 10: Contact your Academic Advisor & Register
- STEP 11: Pay your MU Bill
- STEP 12: Complete the Check-In & Arrival Forms
- STEP 13: Prepare for International Student Orientation
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STEP 6: Access MU Accounts
A. If you are in the U.S.:
- To set up your MU account, go to https://myaccount.millersville.edu
- Choose the First time Account Setup and follow the instructions provided and make sure to write down all usernames and passwords.
- Upon the first login, you will need to set up authentication. You will see a page that says, "More Information." This is where you will put in your text number and off-campus personal email address. MU IT recommends using the phone application called Microsoft Authenticator to authenticate. If you see an option to use the application, IT recommends you follow the instructions provided.
B. If you are outside the U.S.:
- To set up your MU account, go to https://myaccount.millersville.edu
- Select "Forgot Password"
- Enter your MU email address
- Verify your account with your personal email address that you used when you applied.
- Then set up a password for your account.
General Notes:
- Once you are able to access your account, you may upload a picture online for your student ID card. You can learn how and other information about using your student ID card here.
- If you have any issues in the process, please contact MU IT Services at Help.Desk@millersville.edu where someone will assist you.
- Students attending Millersville on an F visa will be eligible for steps 6, 9 & 10 once confirmation that the visa has been awarded has been received by IPS staff.
Note: All MU-related accounts (MAX, MU Email, myVillePotal, D2L, etc.) can be found at the bottom of any MU webpage. Scroll down and select "Logins".
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STEP 7: Choose Housing
All international applicants seeking a student visa have a hold placed on their account that prevents housing registration. Once IPS is made aware & can confirm an applicant has a visa, this hold can be removed.Back to top
- Students attending Millersville on an F visa will be eligible to reserve housing once confirmation that the visa has been awarded has been received by IPS staff.
- Millersville University freshman and any degree-seeking student with fewer than 60 credits must live on campus. Read about on-campus housing here.
- To apply for on-campus housing, follow instructions on the University Housing website
- The Office of International Programs and Services will work with exchange students regarding their specific housing option(s).
- Information on exceptions to the on-campus housing requirement can be found on the MU Housing website.
- If you are approved to live off-campus refer to the off-campus housing options.
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STEP 8: Submit Health Evaluation form to Health Services
- The Health Evaluation Form is required of all students attending Millersville University. Find additional instructions for completing the form HERE.
- Students will not be permitted to attend classes at MU or live in university-arranged housing without completing them.
- All forms must be completed in English or be submitted with a certified translation.
- Completed forms should be sent to Millersville University Health Services (hservices@millersville.edu), as is outlined in the packet.
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STEP 9: Purchase Health Insurance
- All Millersville University International students are required to have health insurance.
- Access the Health Insurance Form for insurance requirements. You will see more information about our recommended health insurance provider, ISO insurance. If you choose a different provider, you will have to complete a waiver and submit the necessary documents to prove you are insured.
- International student athletes and students participating in intramural or club sports must purchase an insurance plan that covers these activities.
- Insurance coverage start date should be your arrival date in the U.S., or the start of orientation if you currently live in the U.S.
- Read more about health and wellness while at Millersville.
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STEP 10: Contact your Academic Advisor & Register
A. Notice on incoming academic holds:Back to top
- All international applicants seeking a student visa have a hold placed on their account that prevents registration in coursework. Once IPS is made aware & can confirm an applicant has a visa, this hold can be removed.
- A transcript hold is placed on an admitted students accounts related to transcripts. If final and official transcripts have not been received by Millersville University by the start of your initial academic term, this hold will remain and will prevent registration for future registration until official materials are received by the International Admissions office.
B. Once you are ready to register:
- Students can find their academic advisor via their MAX account. Note: All MU-related student accounts (MAX, MU Email, myVillePotal, D2L, etc.) can be found at the bottom of any MU webpage. Scroll down and select "Logins".
- If you're a first-year student, the Registrar's Office will take care of your class registration in collaboration with the academic departments.
- Transfer students will create their own schedules and can refer to these instructions for guidance in registering.
- Students attending Millersville on an F visa will be eligible for registration once confirmation that the visa has been awarded has been received by IPS staff.
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STEP 11: Pay your MU Bill
Millersville University has partnered with TransferMate to provide seamless international payments through your online student account.
- Students should pay their bill in full before arriving to Millersville.
- Log into your Student Account Manager (SAM), select Make A Payment, choose TransferMate from the dropdown menu of Payment Type options, and follow prompts.
- You will receive full banking instructions to make your payment.
- Payments will not be applied to student accounts until funds are received. TransferMate is intended as a payment method for university billed charges only.
- Log into your Student Account Manager (SAM), select Make A Payment, choose TransferMate from the dropdown menu of Payment Type options, and follow prompts.
- For a more detailed step-by-step guide, click here or watch this video.
- TransferMate offers 24/7 customer support in multiple languages CONTACT TRANSFERMATE.
- Additional payment options can be found on the Office of Student Accounts website
- Note: Initiating payment prior to the receipt of your bill is acceptable. All credits will be retained on the account for future use. The Office of Student Accounts (OSA) is available to guide you.
- Students should pay their bill in full before arriving to Millersville.
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STEP 12: Complete the Check-In & Arrival Forms
- Let us know when you plan to check-in with IPS before the start of orientation by completing the Arrival Form.
- Check the orientation website to monitor important arrival dates and information, and plan accordingly
- Access your MyGlobalMU Portal to upload your immigration and insurance confirmation documents.
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STEP 13: Prepare for International Student Orientation
- Participation in International Student Orientation is a mandatory visa requirement.
- International applicants should watch for invitation emails for Voyage to the 'Ville - our pre-orientation sessions. Please reach out to staff if you are not receiving these invitations.
- Additionally, all students have the opportunity to complete the online orientation for further introduction to Millersville.
- Online orientation does not replace taking part in on-campus orientation before the start of the semester.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION (Summary & Dates)
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Supplemental Information
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Immigration Documentation
To enter the U.S., you will need the following documents:
- Millersville University I-20 Form for F-1 students or DS-2019 Form for J-1 students
- A valid F-1/J-1 visa* (the visa sticker in your passport) issued by the U.S. embassy/consulate in your country of origin
- A valid passport
- Your SEVIS fee receipt
- A letter of admission from Millersville University
* Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not have a visa sticker in their passports.
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Entering the USA & the I-94 Form
Please be advised that you may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days prior to the start date listed in section 5 on your I-20 or on your DS-2019.
The United States Customs and Border Protection tracks your proof of legal visitor status to the U.S. and recent travel history. This information is saved through your I-94 number/record. It is advised that you keep a copy of your most recent I-94 record after each entry to the U.S., which you can find on the I-94 website. Select “Get Most Recent I-94" to access your record.
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Departing & Re-entering the USA
When you re-enter the United States, you should expect more thorough screening procedures at airports and other ports of entry. Your identity and the validity of your visa and immigration document I-20 or DS-2019 will be checked against U.S. law enforcement databases.
You may also be subject to in-depth questioning about your immigration status, travel history, the purpose of your visit, background, and other issues, and potentially inspection of personal belongings and luggage, photocopying of documents, etc. You can potentially be delayed by a “secondary inspection” if you do not have proper documents, had some previous immigration problem or error, or simply fall under certain criteria or circumstance.
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Local Transportation
BUS
International students can use the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) to access local buses. MU students may access the MU Xpress, MU Park City Xpress and Route 16 at no charge by showing their student ID cards, which students receive during International Student Orientation. It is important to know that there can often be delays for bus routes in the United States so be sure to leave a bit early.Note: These bus routes are only active during the fall and spring academic terms, and are generally not provided during holidays.
MU students who would like to travel to other locations on RRTA's buses will need to transfer bus lines. Students can show their student ID cards for the base fare on Route 16 and MU Park City Xpress and ask the driver for a transfer slip. When you transfer to another bus, give the driver the transfer slip and additional money.
AMTRAK TRAIN
There is an Amtrak train station in Lancaster city, about 10-15 minutes from campus. The Lancaster station is connected to the Philadelphia station. From the Philadelphia station, students can access, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.TAXI/RIDE SHARE
Students can use Uber, Lyft, or other local taxi services. Many of these require the use of a smart phone and require downloading a phone application. -
Off-Campus Housing Options
Immerse International: Immerse was founded in 1987 to be a multicultural community where international students can thrive in personal relationships, professional development and spiritual formation. They are not part of Millersville University. Click HERE for more information.Back to top
Most rooms are double occupancy. The leases/contracts are for 12 months, but shorter terms can be arranged upon request. 25% of the residents are American students that have expressed interest in making friendships with international students. Utilities, WiFi, Cable TV, and meals/self-service food is included.
Student Lodging Inc.: This company is an off-campus housing provider many Millersville students use. SLI strives to give students more freedom than residence hall living, but keep the safety and security as close as possible to the standards on-campus. Their properties are all within a close proximity of MU. Click HERE for more information.
Manor House Apartments: Apartments can be found in the vicinity of Millersville University’s campus. Manor House offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with options for fully furnished apartments. The complex comes with several amenities like a community swimming pool, 24/7 fitness center, and community center. Click HERE for more information.
Millers Crossing Apartments: Apartments can be found in the vicinity of Millersville University’s campus. The complex comes with different amenities like a tennis court, community swimming pool, and fitness center. Click HERE for more information.
Other Options: There are a number of shared local apartments; many are in walking distance to MU’s campus. If you decide that you wish to live in an apartment, you will be solely responsible for contacting your landlord, arranging your deposit payment which will be due before you arrive in the US, your check-in day, obtaining furniture, finding roommates, etc.
*Keep in mind that off-campus apartments are typically unfurnished so you would be responsible for purchasing and transporting furniture once you arrive.
If you live at Immerse International, food items are provided in the student kitchen for self-service meals.
If you are in an apartment you will be responsible for cooking meals on your own. There is a John Herr’s grocery store within a 20
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Selecting Courses
Once you have your Millersville student ID and login information you may begin selecting courses. To research courses for the specific term you want to study at Millersville, you need to access the Registrar's Website.
The above link brings you to the Registrar’s Office website. Under WEB SCHEDULES you can look up courses by subject, department, or other categories. Our office recommends looking up courses by using the Search by Subject.
The Academic Calendar is also listed on the Registrar's Office website. You can view important semester dates, as well as access the university course catalog. The catalog provides an entire list of courses at Millersville with short course descriptions.
To search courses:
- Select Search by Subject
- Select the term for the session you need to register for.
- Select the subject by scrolling through the subject list.
- Select the appropriate course type (Undergraduate or Graduate Courses) and All Courses.
- Click Submit. You will then see the list of all courses offered in that subject during the term you selected.
Classes will appear in a chart with the following information:
- CRN number,
- Course code indicating the subject,
- Credits,
- Course title,
- Days and times,
- Location building and room number (You may see “TBD” To Be Determined, which means the location may be updated closer to the start of the term),
- Name of the professor,
- The number of open/available seats.
- The final column is only necessary for degree-seeking students, it will indicate which general education attributes are assigned.
Important Notes:
- The words course and class are considered to have the same meaning.
- Be sure to communicate with your academic advisor(s) at Millersville University (or for Exchange and Visiting students, be in contact with your academic advisor at your home university) so that they approve the classes you are planning to take.
- After the start of the academic term, you only have 1 week to add or change class schedules.
- To find out more information about what is taught in each course, you may click on the title for a short description.
Prerequisites & Corequisites:
Under the course title in red text, important notices are listed about the class, including if there are any required prerequisite courses. Prerequisites are classes that students must take before they are allowed to take another course. For example, you cannot take an upper level Spanish Language course if you have not taken the beginner level Spanish Language course. Corequisites are classes that must be taken at the same time.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS?
If you have specific questions regarding the entry process for international students please contact International.Services@Millersville.edu.