International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Your First Week at SIUE checklist

If you were NOT successful in securing a visa or scheduling an interview occurring at least two weeks before orientation, please email International Admissions at intladm@siue.edu for next steps. 

The following partial list of “things to do” is for new international students. These are business matters you’ll want to take care of before classes begin.

After you arrive to the U.S:

• Virtual Check in is required with the Office of International Affairs. 

• • SIUE I-20/DS-2019 with your signature   
  • Passport photo page    
  • Visa
  • Student Information Form 
  • Student Statement of Responsibility    

• Attend New International Student Orientation. Summer orientation activities will be conducted in a virtual format because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to see the Orientation Schedule. 
• Submit your immunization records to SIUE Health Service. Immunizations are due on the first day of class, so we encourage you to send your records ahead of time via email at cougarcare@siue.edu. A $25 fine will be charged to students and a hold to prevent class registration will be placed on your account if documents are not submitted as required. Insurance waivers are due by the 10 day of each semester. If you don't have immunization records and will need to get immunizations at SIUE, please call 618-650-2842 or log into CougarCare to make an appointment ahead of time.
• COVID-19 guidelines. Beginning August 9, 2021, all individuals will be required to complete weekly COVID-19 testing by Friday of the first week coming to any SIUE campus (Alton, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, or clinical sites) and each week thereafter. You can request an exemption from required screening testing for the following reasons: 
  • If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (2 weeks from date of last vaccination dose)
  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days
• Pay your student bill. Tuition and fees may be paid in full or in installments online to the Office of the Bursar. If a third party is paying your account, submit your Financial Guarantee to the Bursar's Office before the payment due dates so classes are not dropped. Download the International Pay your Bill Handout for all the info you need! If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of the Bursar via email at bursar@siue.edu or call 618-650-3123. 
• Get your student I.D. card (Cougar Card).  Students are encouraged to upload their photo prior to orientation week and complete the CougarCard agreement form online. For additional information about your cougar ID card, please visit the  Cougar Card webpage. To check on the status of photos uploaded and for additional instructions to pick up, please call 618-650-2080 or email cougarcard@siue.edu.
• Get your books. All students must be enrolled in courses prior to obtaining textbooks. If you are on a waitlist, you will need to wait to get your books. Visit the Textbook Rental for the latest updates about their operations. Privacy laws require the student and no one else pick up their books. Graduate students: Check with your professor if your book is available through the rental program. If not, you may borrow books from the library or purchase them on Amazon or at the University bookstore in the Morris University Center (618-650-2132).
• Retrieve and print your I-94 by following these instructions. We recommend checking the record for accuracy. However, you are only required to present this document if you need to apply for a social security card. 

• Complete Sexual Assault Awareness Training. All SIUE students are required to complete Not Anymore Sexual Assault training in order to register for future terms. Failure to complete Not Anymore Sexual Assault training prior to registering for your next term, will place a hold on your student account and keep you from registering for a future term.

Complete during or before the first week of class:

COVID-19 Note: New international students arriving from international locations must quarantine for 7 days if not vaccinated. Please do not violate quarantine requirements for any reason, including completing any of the tasks below

• Submit pending admissions documents.  If you are unsure whether you have any pending documents, please check your admission letter.
• Open a bank account. Information on how to open a bank account will commuicated to you later.
• Find the local bus services. SIUE partners with MCT to provide a free shuttle from Peck Hall to Cougar Village every 10 minutes. To learn more about the MCT bus routes, check out the MCT website.
• Obtain a parking permit (if you have a car in the US). Students who will be driving to class the rest of the semester, need to purchase a parking permit online  from Parking Services. More information is available on Parking Services' website. The "red or yellow" lots have open parking during semester break periods, when classes are not in session.
• Find an on-campus job. International students have job opportunities on campus to earn money while becoming a valuable part of the campus community. All available jobs on campus are posted on the Student Employment website. You need to be enrolled in the required number of classes in order to have access to the site. Once you get a job offer, you will need to apply for a Social Security Number. More information is available at our ISSS Employment webpage.