{"id":90,"date":"2020-02-04T13:20:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T13:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu.master-7rqtwti-ytf57z7frat4e.us-2.platformsh.site\/isss\/?page_id=90"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T17:08:12","slug":"arrival-checklists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/new-students\/arrival-checklists\/","title":{"rendered":"Arrival checklists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prior to departure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting started<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review the <a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/orientation\/international-student-welcome-guide\/\">International Student Welcome Guide<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out the <a href=\"\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/daily-life\/\">Living in Columbia<\/a> section to learn about life in Columbia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plan to attend <a href=\"\/isss\/new-students\/isw\/\">International Student Welcome<\/a>, MU&#8217;s mandatory orientation program for new international students, and a <a href=\"\/isss\/new-students\/isw\/#check-in\">check-in session<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.missouri.edu\/club_signup?category_tags=6551559&amp;group_type=9999\">student organizations<\/a> to learn more about student life and housing in Columbia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/doit.missouri.edu\/students\/\">MU username<\/a> and permanent password. You should have received an email with a temporary password. Need help? Contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/doit.missouri.edu\/tech-support\/\">Division of Information Technology Tech Support<\/a> at +1 573-882-5000.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visa tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pay <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ice.gov\/sevis\/i901\/index.htm\">SEVIS I-901 fee<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas.html\">visa appointment fee<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review <a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/additional-immigration-resources\/#visa-interview\">visa interview resources<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply for a student visa at the nearest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usembassy.gov\/\">U.S. embassy or consulate<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add your spouse or children to your SEVIS record, if applicable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Housing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/housing.missouri.edu\/international-students\">On-campus housing<\/a> is available for undergraduate and graduate students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Planning to live off campus? Plan ahead and consult the resources available from <a href=\"https:\/\/offcampus.missouri.edu\/\">Off-Campus Student Services<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/educationusa.state.gov\/\">EducationUSA<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/sevis\/students\">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> websites for helpful information about immigration and living in the United States.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make your travel arrangements. Remember to arrive before <a href=\"\/isss\/new-students\/isw\/\">International Student Welcome<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Become familiar with the required travel documents and port of entry procedures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make plans to get from your airport of arrival <a href=\"\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/getting-to-columbia\/\">to the MU campus<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important items to remember<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Obtain your <a href=\"https:\/\/wellbeing.missouri.edu\/medical-care-services\/immunizations\/\">immunization records<\/a> and bring them with you to MU.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look into information regarding <a href=\"\/isss\/current-students\/health-insurance\/\">health insurance<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anticipate funding needs for your first few weeks (minimum $1,500 USD for housing, meals and purchasing items to set up your room\/apartment). Use an ATM\/debit or credit card to avoid carrying large sums of cash with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider having important documents (school transcripts, marriage licenses, prescriptions, etc.) translated into English before you leave your country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make copies of important documents, such as passport, immigration documents, transcripts, financial statements, street address where you will be going when you arrive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact your academic adviser or department about registering for classes. Don&#8217;t know who your adviser is? Check <a href=\"http:\/\/myzou.missouri.edu\">myZou<\/a> or with your department.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to pack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pack your travel documents and any valuables in your carry-on bag, and carry your immigration documents with you during your flight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring any medications you use, including extra eyeglasses or contact lenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pack lightly \u2014 if you forget things, you can purchase them when you arrive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include your name and address in the U.S. on your bags.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider bringing recipes for favorite foods, small souvenirs from your home country, a camera, cultural clothing, your favorite music or photos from home.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsa.gov\/travel\/security-screening\/prohibited-items\">Do not pack:<\/a> weapons, electrical appliances, candles or incense, animals, illegal drugs, fresh food, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">After your arrival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Orientation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/isss\/new-students\/isw\/#check-in\">Check in<\/a> with International Student and Scholar Services. You will need to upload your passport, visa, I-20\/DS-2019 and MU admission letter as part of the check-in process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attend <a href=\"\/isss\/new-students\/isw\/\">International Student Welcome<\/a> and the orientation offered by your <a href=\"https:\/\/majors.missouri.edu\/schools\/\">school\/college or department<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Academics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meet with your academic adviser. Don&#8217;t know who your adviser is? Check <a href=\"http:\/\/myzou.missouri.edu\">myZou<\/a> or with your department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/registrar.missouri.edu\/registration-classes\/registration\/\">Register for classes<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take the <a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/cell\/ele\/\">English language exam<\/a> if you are an undergraduate student or are enrolled in a graduate program that requires it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get your <a href=\"https:\/\/doit.missouri.edu\/services\/id-card\/\">MU ID card<\/a> at the Mizzou Store (in the <a href=\"http:\/\/map.missouri.edu\/index.html?bldg=37268\">MU Student Center<\/a>). Bring your passport with you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your <a href=\"https:\/\/webmail.missouri.edu\/\">MU email account<\/a>. This is the primary way MU and International Student and Scholar Services will provide you with important information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call or email home to let your family know you&#8217;ve arrived safely. You can access wireless internet on campus after you set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/doit.missouri.edu\/students\/\">MU username<\/a> and permanent password.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important essentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open a <a href=\"\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/daily-life\/money-and-banking\/\">bank account<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get a <a href=\"\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/daily-life\/communication\/\">phone<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply for a <a href=\"\/isss\/living-in-columbia\/identification-documents\/\">Social Security card<\/a> (if you have a job offer).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cashiers.missouri.edu\/\">Pay<\/a> any outstanding bills before registering for classes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prior to departure Getting started Visa tips Housing Travel Important items to remember What to pack After your arrival Orientation Academics Communication Important essentials<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":22,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-90","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3359,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90\/revisions\/3359"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}