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Now that you have obtained your Form I-20

Phase 2: While waiting for your US visa

Schedule your visa appointment

Go to the visa appointment with:

    • your DS-160 bar code receipt
    • the SEVIS fee receipt
    • the Form I-20, printed and signed
    • passport
    • proofs of financial ability

Tips and advice:

  • Be organized– Make sure you have all documents ready and can access them quickly during the interview.   
  • Speak for yourself– The interview will most likely be with just you; your parents or family members will not be with you.
  • Speak English– The interview will most likely be in English, so be prepared to speak in English. One suggestion is to practice before the interview. Translations are also needed with any documents not in English.
  • Be ready to answer these questions: 
    • How long do you plan to stay in the U.S.?
    • Why do you want to study in the U.S. instead of your own country?
    • Explain your reasons for studying at JMU.
    • How this will help you achieve your career goals once you return home?
  • Be Concise– You may only have 2 to 5 minutes for the interview so your first impression is crucial. Keep your answers short and to the point. 
  • Be ready to explain your ties to your country and your plans to use your U.S. education when you return to your home country:
    • Financial– Current bank account statements. For instance, family-owned business and/or ownership of property such as vehicles, land, and/or house in home country.   
    • Family– Immediate family in home country; leaving spouse and/or children in home country.
    • Share your plan for potential employment upon returning to your home country

Update your Designated School Official of your progress to figure out the next proper steps to take and/or obtain tips and advice!

Off-Campus Life (OCL) office

OCL is the JMU office that provides assistance to students with all of the steps involved with living off campus! You can e-mail: ocl@jmu.edu, call: (540) 568-6071, and definitely go to OCL's webpage.

Review these resources:  

I don’t have a US guarantor nor a Social Security Number

A US Social Security Number (SSN) is what allows a company/vendor/employer to check someone’s financial history in the US. A guarantor is a US citizen who is expected to pay if the renter does not honor their lease. An SSN and guarantor are almost always requested when completing a housing interest/application form. Finding a financial guarantor and obtaining a SSN at this point in time is very unlikely.The reason a landlord or property manager is asking for this information is to evaluate your credit history and whether you are fiscally responsible. To resolve this situation and to provide proof of revenue: 
  • Option A- Share your graduate assistantship’s (GA) offer letter (if any) since it stipulates what your assistantship pays and covers. 
  • Option B- If Option A did not work or does not apply to you, contact Thomas Lavenir and ask for a letter stipulating that you have provided proof of funding to the ISSS office to obtain a student visa.
Most housing interest/application forms are online and may require the SSN and Guarantor answer fields to be completed. See if you can leave the field blank by pressing the space bar a few times, enter “n/a” or enter: “111111111”. At times this will be the only way that you can obtain the landlord/property manager’s email address. Once you do, you can explain your situation to them.

Keep in mind:

  • When reaching out to potential roommates, ask them if they are undergraduate or graduate students. Undergraduate student lifestyles can differ greatly from those of graduate students.
  • While most of the apartments may be around JMU, make sure to ask where the nearest bus stops can be found.
  • If the apartment that you are considering is not listed in the Housing Guide ask the contact person for plenty of information such as photos and walking distances to JMU.
  • In addition to the deposit (most likely twice the monthly rent) and the agreed-upon rent cost, additional fees may apply. Some of these extra fees may include:
    • Internet activation fee
    • Renter’s insurance provides you, the tenant, coverage for loss or damages to property, etc. if there is an incident in your apartment or on the apartment property that leads to damage. If you need to purchase your own renter's insurance, conduct an online search for renter's insurance and run a few comparisons to find the best choice.
    • Utilities (electricity, water, internet, etc.) If you will need to pay separately for utilities, use the UDAP Program to simplify this process. The online UDAP Form will ask for your US Driver’s License Number. If you do not have one:   
      • Create a fake number that starts with a letter of your choice followed by 8 numbers of your choice. Example: A12345678
      • For the Driver’s License Expiration Date, enter the Program End Date on your I-20.
      • For the Driver’s License State, enter VA.  
      • Complete and submit the contract. Use your 5-digit UDAP contract number to connect your utilities without a deposit. 
  • We recomment to wait until you are in phase 3 before signing any forms (online ones included). 

By virtue of being a JMU student on a F-1 or J-1 visa, you must have health insurance. ISSS therefore enrolls every student with the health insurance company CISI (Cultural Insurance Services International) for health insurance coverage. If you currently hold an insurance policy that provides equal levels of coverage and lasts for the entire academic year, you may qualify to waive the JMU-sponsored health insurance plan through CISI. If you wish to apply for a waiver, you must complete an insurance waiver application.

It is required by law, that everyone who studies in Virginia is immunized has had a set of vaccinations.

  • Every JMU student must complete this immunization form before the first day of classes. If you do not submit it, a hold will be placed on your JMU record, which will prevent you from making changes to your academic schedule, etc. Refer to the translated version of the JMU immunization form to complete this requirement before you travel.
    1. Obtaining your vaccinations at home may be cheaper and
    2. Completing this form signed by your doctor in your own country may be more convenient. 
  • Once the form is completed and signed, save the document as a PDF file and upload it to your MYJMUChart.

Will your phone plan work in the US? How will you contact your family to let them know that you arrived safely? What if you need to get an Uber or taxi?   

We recommend that you: 

  • Bring your own phone to JMU. Get a US phone number before you leave your home country and start using your new phone service as soon as you leave.
  • CampusSIMS/Mint Mobile uses the T-Mobile 5G network which is a friendly plan for international travelers. You will be able to choose a short/temporary plan which will come in handy during your first few days in the US and like many JMU international students do, you can continue using this plan for the rest of your time at JMU!

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Center for Global Engagement - Study Abroad
Holland Yates Hall (formerly Madison Hall)
MSC 5731
100 East Grace Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Email Us
540/568-5209
Fax: 540/568-3310