Pre-Departure Brief

Sources of Pre-departure Help and Information

In planning your move to the United States, you may wish to seek assistance from a professional international student adviser. This kind of help is available from an advising center in your home country and from the international student adviser at your U.S. college or university.

International Student Advisers

On almost all U.S. university campuses, the international student adviser (ISA) is the main source of assistance, advice, and other personal support you might need while you are in the United States. The ISA usually is based in an International Students Office, or department with a similar name, and is the person responsible for your orientation on arrival and for helping with visa and tax issues. If there is no official international student adviser at your chosen college or university, there will be some other person assigned to work with international students, at least on a part-time basis. When you receive your acceptance letter, you should receive the name of the international student adviser or of another person who acts in this capacity. If no name is listed, request the information from the admissions office or check your college's or university's website. Write to the international student adviser or other appropriate person, informing him or her of your arrival date.