New Student Checklist

• Paying your deposit is the first step to become a student at UAlbany. You can access your UAlbany online account 1-2 business days after paying the deposit.
• Inbound undergraduate exchange and study abroad students working through the Global Academic Programs office (Jacqueline Ledermann) do not need complete this step.  Please follow the instructions from Global Academic Programs.

• Review information about how to apply for a F-1 or J-1 visa at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate
• You will need to pay the DHS I-901 fee at least 3 business days prior to your visa appointment.
• You can complete the other items on this pre-arrival checklist while waiting for your visa appointment.
• This step is required for students who were issued an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1).  Students in other visa categories should follow the requirements for their visa category.

• Set up your UAlbany NetID and email account. Check your albany.edu email address at least twice a week before arrival and daily once classes start. All official communication from the University will be sent to your albany.edu email address
  • Save [email protected] as a contact to prevent any important messages from going to your junk/spam folder
• Logging in to the University system requires 2-step verification through the DUO app for 2-step verification.
• Review the Get Ready with ITS- New Student Guide to Technology at UAlbany for information on logging in, setting up your email and MyUAlbany accounts, Zoom, Blackboard, and more.

Students must submit required health documentation to the University.  Health documents must be submitted and approved by Student Health Services before a student can register for Orientation, enroll in classes, or sign up for on-campus housing.  It is critical that you submit these documents as soon as possible or let ISSS know if you are having difficulty with completing these requirements. These documents can be submitted through the Student Health Documentation Portal in MyUAlbany or by emailing the documents to [email protected].  Requirements include:

1. MMR Immunity: New York State Public Health Law requires college students to submit proof of immunity to the diseases measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).  Please review the MMR documentation requirements and other information on Student Health Service's website.
2. Meningitis Requirement: New York State Public Health Law requires college students to receive and acknowledge receipt of information on Meningitis. Students must read the Meningitis Disease Fact Sheet from the New York State Department of Health then log in to MyUAlbany and select the Meningitis link under the Required Agreements section. 
3. Required Health Form: The Required Health form must be completed by the student and does not require a physician evaluation. The form is found at the Pending Forms link on the Student Health Portal. The student will be notified if other tests are necessary to satisfy the Tuberculosis requirement.  If Student Health Services determines you need to be tested for TB, you’ll receive an email with further instructions (please check your albany.edu email account). Please review the Health Form & TB documentation requirements and other information on Student Health Service's website.
4. Permission to Treat Under 18: This form should be submitted for students who are under 18 years of age.

Spring 2024 International Student Orientation is required for all new students.  It will begin online in November and continue in person Sunday, January 14, 2024 through Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  Registration will open November 15 for students who have paid their enrollment deposit and submitted all required health forms.

• Undergraduate Freshmen/First Year Students - Register Here

You will attend international orientation sessions and University freshman/first year orientation sessions.  Registering for Orientation is the first step to being assigned an academic advisor and registering for classes.  An academic advisor will contact you after you register for Orientation to help you set up your class schedule. There is a New Student Fee that will be charged to your account for Freshmen/First Year Orientation. 

• Undergraduate Transfer Students - Register Here

You will attend international orientation sessions and University transfer orientation sessions.  Registering for Orientation is the first step to being assigned an academic advisor and registering for classes.  An academic advisor will contact you after you register for Orientation to help you set up your class schedule. There is a New Student Fee that will be charged to your account for Transfer Orientation.

• Graduate Students (Master's, PhD, & Graduate Certificate) - Register Here

You will attend international orientation sessions and any sessions organized by your academic department.  Please contact the academic advisor listed on your acceptance letter to register for classes.

• Exchange  & Study Abroad Students - Register Here

You will attend international orientation sessions and are also welcome to attend the University's transfer student orientation sessions as well. Exchange students have the option to attend University Transfer Orientation as well. Please work with your advisor, Jacqueline Ledermann, to register for classes.

If you encounter problems registering for Orientation please contact Orientation and Transition Programs at [email protected].   To sign in for Orientation you will use the email and password you created when you applied to the university.

On-Campus Housing 

• On-campus housing sign-up is done through the Office of Residential Life.
• Freshmen/first-year students-  Review information on housing sign-up for freshmen/first-year students.
• Transfer students- Review information on housing sign-up for transfer students.
• Exchange & study abroad students are also eligible to live on campus. Review information on housing sign-up. 
• Limited on-campus housing is available for graduate students.  Review information on housing sign-up for graduate students. On-campus housing sign-up is done through the Office of Residential Life. 

Housing assignments will be sent to your Albany.edu email address in early January. New international students living on campus may move in the morning of Sunday, January 14 as long as they have completed all health requirements prior to move in.  If you arrive before your move-in date please arrange for a hotel. 

Off-Campus Housing

• Students living off-campus should review our page on Off Campus Housing 
• ISSS cannot arrange off-campus housing for students; students must find their own housing. 
• Please be sure to have accommodation before arriving to Albany.  You may need to use a temporary accommodation (like a hotel or other short term rental) while looking for a place to live.

• Upload your photo at least two weeks before you arrive so that your ID card is ready for you.  You can keep a virtual ID card on your phone using the Mobile ID App.
• ID Card gives students access to the bus, on-campus housing, dining plans, and other campus resources.  

• How do I get to Albany? 
• What should I bring?
• Can you help me find any local area hotels?
• How do I pay my bill online? Where can I find more information?
• What is the cost of tuition and other fees?
• What can I use my ID Card for?  How do the dining plans work?
• What is life in the United States like?
• Where can I find a map of campus?

International Online Orientation will cover a different important topic each week.  The Online Orientation will take place from November-January. Students are expected to complete all components of Online Orientation prior to arrival for in-person Orientation on January 14, 2024.  Here are access instructions and the weekly schedule.

• After you arrive to the United States you must complete the New Student Arrival Reporting EForm and upload copies of your passport, visa, I-20, and I-94.  
• Graduate Students with a Graduate Assistantship or Teaching Assistantship position: International students are automatically enrolled in International Insurance through UnitedHealthcare, but certain eligible Graduate Assistant (GA)/Teaching Assistant (TA) employees have the option to opt-in to employment-based insurance through the Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP) instead.  If you are eligible for this other plan and intend to enroll you must provide a copy of your Social Security card, as well as additional documentation such as a copy of your birth certificate or passport. If you do not yet have a Social Security Number/Social Security card please complete the following steps as soon as you arrive to the U.S. to help speed up the enrollment process with SEHP:
  1. 1You must be enrolled in classes full-time and report a SEVIS USA address (i.e. where you are living in Albany)
  2. Submit your New Student Arrival Reporting EForm to active your F-1 program. 
  3. Also submit the Social Security Status Letter EForm (including a copy of your GA/TA offer letter) to request a letter from ISSS which you can use to apply for a SSN.  There may be up to 3-10 business day waiting period from when your F-1 record is activated by ISSS to when the Social Security Administration receives your information in their federal system and can allow you to apply for a SSN.  

• The Virtual Resource Table has information to help you after arrival.  This includes information on opening a bank account; applying for a social security number (if eligible); driving in the US; academic and language support programs; local restaurants and attractions; and more