We look forward to welcoming students to campus!
International Student Orientation
International Student Orientation (ISO) is mandatory as it provides F-1 and J-1 international students with invaluable information about maintaining their visa status, confirms their immigration registration, and connects them to the international community that will help each student make the most of their time at Notre Dame.
U.S. citizens abroad are invited to participate in International Student Orientation and will receive RSVP information beforehand.
ISO is carefully scheduled to lead into Welcome Weekend activities (planned by the Division of Student Affairs).
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Spring 2024 ISO |
Fall 2024 ISO |
|---|---|
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Tuesday, January 16 7:00-8:30pm ET Virtual |
Thursday, August 22 8:30am-9:00pm Move in same day |
Spring 2024 - International Student Orientation
Students should plan to attend the virtual International Student Orientation on Tuesday, Jan 16, 7:00 PM (ET).
ISSA will email further instructions and a Zoom link in January. Res Life and First Year Advising will also email important information about starting the ND program and moving in.
Fall 2024 - International Student Orientation
Fall ISO is one full day that includes early move In, ISO check-in and welcome, immigration registration, maintaining Your Status, parent/family reception, and international community building.
Times and locations are subject to change; details will be emailed to students in the months and weeks before orientation.
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Fall 2024 ISO Schedule - Thursday |
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|---|---|---|
| 8:30-10:30am |
ISO Check-in |
students & guests |
| 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. |
Move in to residence halls - times not yet official |
students & guests |
| 12:45-1:15pm |
Late ISO check-in |
students & guests |
| 1:30-3:15pm | Welcome & Maintaining Status | F-1/J-1 students and their guests |
| 2:15-3:15pm | Welcome & Global Nomads Panel | U.S. citizens and their guests |
| 3:15-4:30pm | International Ambassador Groups | students only |
| 3:30-5:00pm | Family Reception and Panel | all guests |
| 4:15-6:00pm | Target Shuttle | students only |
| 6:30-7:15pm | Dinner with International Ambassadors at Dining Hall | students only |
| 6:45-9:00pm | Community Night | students only |
| Fall 2024 ISO Schedule - Friday | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-10:00pm | Breakfast with IAs at Dining Halls | students only |
| 10-11:00am | Workshop: Social Security Numbers & Driving | students & guests |
| 11:00am-1:00pm | Bus to Bank (with IAs) | students only |
| 1-3:00pm | Immigration Q&A with ISSA (drop-in session) | students & guests |
| TBD | University Health Services - Immunizations Confirmation | students & guests |
| Welcome Weekend begins | students & guests |
Students will be able to connect with banking and phone resources, as well as additional shopping times, during Welcome Weekend.
Fall 2024 Orientation Details
More details about ISO will be distributed in the spring and summer, so students should carefully monitor their emails from the University. This includes ISSA, Res Life, First Year Advising, and the Welcome Weekend team.
Move In
Students should be ready to move in to their hall between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 22. Res Life will confirm actual move in times and information in July.
- If you will need assistance moving into your residence hall, ISSA can help! More info to come.
If travel plans allow for it, we recommend students arrive the day before their assigned move-in time. This will ensure flight delays do not impact move-in time and students get an extra night of rest before moving in. Students will be responsible for any housing and travel accommodations prior to the scheduled move in time.
Parents and family members are not permitted to stay overnight in residence hall rooms. If your family joins you for orientation, they will need to make their own housing arrangements.
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.
Visit the Arriving in the U.S. page for more information on getting to campus.
Students should plan to be in the Notre Dame area by the morning of their scheduled move-in; they are required to attend both ISO and Welcome Weekend activities.
Dorm Essentials
Students will have opportunities to visit local stores (Target / Costco) during ISO and Welcome Weekend to pick up dorm essentials. More details to come in summer.
Transporting all belongings to campus can be challenging! Students may ship packages to their residence halls, but the delivery cannot arrive before the assigned move-in time. If it arrives before that move-in time, the delivery will be returned. ISSA CANNOT accept packages or shipments for students. Information on receiving mail and packages can be found here.
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.
Resource Fair
Students can attend The Student Services Resource Fair where they can find a variety of resources from local vendors, services, and departments across campus. Before arriving and attending the fair, there are some things students should take into consideration.
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
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 Orientation 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.
What is the difference between International Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend?
International Student Orientation (ISO) is different than Welcome Weekend, and it’s important to understand that both are required for incoming international undergraduates. While ISSA organizes International Student Orientation, Student Affairs organizes Welcome Week; you will receive information from both divisions regarding your participation.
International Student Orientation provides international students with important information and resources to maintain their visa status, engage the international community at the university, and navigate the adjustment to U.S. and Notre Dame culture.
Welcome Weekend is designed to help all new students make connections, learn about campus resources, and form community.
Is there a fee to attend international student orientation?
No, Notre Dame does not charge a fee to attend International Student Orientation.
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 arriving the day before your assigned move-in time. You will be responsible for any housing and travel accommodations, but students have consistently said they appreciated the extra night of rest before moving in. This also ensures that flight delays do not impact your move in time.
Flights from my country do not go to South Bend. What airport should I fly in to?
The closest airport to Notre Dame is the South Bend International Airport, and it is the most convenient.
Most students fly into Chicago-O’Hare Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway (MDW) and take an UBER to campus. You can also take the CTA train to downtown Chicago, then take the South ShorelineTrain to South Bend Airport. From there, it's a 20 minute cab to campus.
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.
ISSA also offers a shuttle from O'Hare to campus the day before orientation. More details to come in summer.
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. If you arrive at the Notre Dame Bus Stop, you will be on campus and right next to the 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.
How do I arrange health insurance? How do I pay for it?
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. Health insurance charges will be billed directly to your student account. Please refer to University Health Services for questions regarding health insurance.
My parents will be coming to Notre Dame with me. Do I need to stay on campus during International Student Orientation?
While you must move in at your assigned time, you may stay with your parents off-campus, if you prefer. If you plan to stay with your parents during Orientation, we recommend that you tell your Rector your plans when you move items into your residence hall.
Can my parents stay in my room with me?
Your parents may NOT stay in the residence hall with you during Orientation or Welcome Week. They must make their own housing arrangements. Options can be found on find.nd.edu.
Can I talk to a Notre Dame student from my country?
We recommend that you contact the student club representing your home country or region – many clubs maintain active websites and even provide tips for adjustment to the U.S. in your native language. For a complete list of Notre Dame Cultural Clubs, visit SAO.nd.edu. and MSPS.nd.edu. We also recommend you reach out to the Notre Dame Club in your home country.
Can I ship packages to campus? If so, where can I ship them?
Yes, undergraduates may ship packages to their residence halls, but they cannot arrive before your assigned move in time. If a package arrives any earlier, it will likely be returned to sender.
ISSA CANNOT accept packages or shipments for students since we do not have secure storage space. If you ship a personal package to our office, your package will be returned to sender.
The ISSA staff would like to remind you to plan carefully if you are shipping packages or luggage to campus. We understand the challenges of transporting all of your belongings to campus and encourage you to plan carefully.