We look forward to welcoming our graduate and professional students to campus!
Master’s and doctoral students within the Graduate School and Mendoza GBP:
Fall Graduate Student Orientation is the Monday and Tuesday before classes start, and the Maintaining Status and F-1 Registration sessions are embedded in that programming. We strongly recommend the students arrive in the U.S. no later than 5:00pm the Friday before orientation to get settled. Most housing offices close at 5:00pm for the weekend.
More details about Summer and Fall Graduate Student Orientation and Maintaining Status sessions are sent in the weeks prior to the program start date or semester.
Professional students in the Law School and the ESTEEM program:
Your college or school will provide information about summer or fall orientation, and they will invite us to present the required "Maintaining Status and F-1 Registration" session within that programming.
Housing
Graduate students or students living off campus, should contact their landlord to arrange a move in time prior to the start of Graduate Student Orientation. We generally advise students to arrive Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, so as to collect keys. Generally apartment complexes are only open at those times, and if you arrive outside of those hours, you may need to arrange a hotel.
It is important to understand the obligations of any lease, particularly if signing before you have the visa. A few things to consider:
- Be sure you understand the difference between applying for an apartment and signing the lease for an apartment. Once you sign the lease, you will be held responsible for the cost of the entire lease.
- Never sign more than one lease.
- If you are unable to arrive in the U.S., even if through no fault of your own, in most cases, you will still be held liable for the lease.
- Students unable to arrive in the U.S. may also attempt to sublease their rental on the offcampus.nd.edu website, subject to the terms of their lease agreement.
- Before signing a lease, be sure you understand how far it is from campus. Public transportation in South Bend is limited, so you want to consider HOW you intend to get to campus.
Students who need temporary housing prior to moving into their permanent residence, may stay at Sacred Heart Parish Center for a fee by contacting Christina Maciejczyk or calling +1 574-631-9436.
For more information about temporary housing or hotels, please visit find.nd.edu.
Expenses on arrival
Students should plan on having access to at least $750 in funds at arrival to help cover initial expenses such as extra food and snacks, the purchase of essential items for their dorm room/apartment such as sheets and towels, and taxi cabs if necessary. Large airports have money exchanges and ATMs for debit card use are widely available in the United States.
If you are living in an apartment, you will also want to make sure that you have enough funds to cover a number of immediate expenses: security deposit for your apartment (often equivalent to one month’s rent), security deposits for setting up utilities such as electricity, gas, phone, internet, etc., furniture, and the purchase of basic household goods such as linens and kitchen supplies.
PHONES
Many phone companies require a Social Security number (SSN) or a U.S. credit history to register for their services. Since many international students do not have a SSN or U.S. credit history, companies may charge you a substantial deposit or higher rates. Students should plan on asking and comparing options. Phone companies in the area are Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Cricket.
BANKING
ISSA will provide information about setting up a bank account, and on Friday, we will provide the opportunity to visit a local bank to set up a U.S. bank account. There are many regional banks, including First Source (located on campus) and Key Bank; the main nationally known bank is Chase.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Please refer to University Health Services for all questions regarding health insurance.
All F-1/J-1 international students are automatically enrolled in the Notre Dame health insurance plan, Aetna Student Health unless they present proof of comparable coverage to Aetna and are permitted to waive out of the ND plan. Students' health insurance charges will be added to their account and any questions can be directed to University Health Services.
Students will also need to present immunization records, and some will need to attend an immunization clinic the Friday before classes. More details to come in summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maintaining Status Session really mandatory? Why?
Yes, Orientation is mandatory for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. The primary goals of the program are to help new international students comply with their U.S. visa-related obligations and connect the with Notre Dame's vibrant international community.
Is there a fee to attend orientation?
No, Notre Dame does not charge a fee to attend the Maintaining Status Session.
I am getting ready to buy my plane ticket to Notre Dame. What day should I fly in?
If your travel plans allow for it, we recommend you arrive at least a week prior to orientation. If they do not, then you should not arrive any later than the day prior to your scheduled orientation session. Plan to arrive in South Bend, Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm so you can access your apartment keys and move in.
Flights from my country do not go to South Bend. What airport should I fly in to?
We highly recommend flying into Chicago if you cannot get a flight to South Bend, as there is no convenient public transportation from Indianapolis, IN, or Detroit, MI, to South Bend.
More information about getting to campus can be found here.
I will be coming to Notre Dame by myself, and I am not sure where to go once I’m in South Bend. How do I get to campus?
If you arrive at the South Bend Airport, there will be a variety of taxis waiting at the airport that can drive you to campus for a fee of about $20-$30. You can ask a driver to drop you off at Eck Visitor Center.
What is the difference between visa registration, class registration, and ND Roll Call? What will happen if I have a hold on my account and do not complete ND Roll Call?
Students with an F-1 or J-1 visa have multiple registration obligations while at Notre Dame. It is important to manage each registration, as they are required to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status.
Class registration: students must be enrolled full time each semester. Class registration is when you add courses to your schedule.
ND Roll Call: a required process for all Notre Dame students each semester which confirms to the University that you are attending that particular semester. ISSA uses ND Roll Call to register you with the U.S. government, so it is imperative you complete this each semester through insideND. If you have a hold on your account and do not complete ND Roll Call, then you will not be registered with the U.S. government.
F-1 and J-1 Registration: ISSA reports to the U.S. government that you have arrived on campus to begin your program.
When will I receive information about international student orientation?
International Student Orientation / Maintaining Status Session for graduate students is part of Graduate Student Orientation; we typically send information out a month prior to the start of the semester.
According to my department, I have a class/orientation/workshop during International Student Orientation. What should I do?
A few University departments have orientations that overlap with the Maintaining Status session. If you have a conflict with your department’s orientation schedule, please email issa@nd.edu as well as your department contact. We’ll find a way to make it work for you.
My spouse will be joining me in the U.S. What should they do while I am at orientation?
Your spouse is welcome to join you. Each year, many international student spouses attend the Maintaining Status session; we believe it is key for spouses to get involved on campus right from the start. Unfortunately, children cannot attend; other arrangements should be made.
When should I sign a lease for my apartment?
We recommend students wait until they have the F-1 or J-1 visa before signing a lease, or be sure that you can cancel the lease if you are not able to arrive on campus. As a lease contract is between the student and the landlord, the University cannot assist with problems related to canceling a lease.