Admitted Graduate Students

Welcome to the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences!

Now that you’ve made your decision to come study with us, there are a few important steps that need to be taken before your arrival on campus.

Important Visa Information

Once you have accepted your offer of admission online, you will also receive an official acceptance packet in the mail. In this packet you will find your formal certificate of admission which you will need to apply for your visa.

For International Students Who Completed a Bachelor outside of the United States

1. Submit a Certification of Funds form, if you have received an offer of admission without financial support.
   1. You must submit proof of financial stability during your time at Rutgers from you or a sponsor in order to obtain your I-20 or DS-2019. Account balances must show a minimum amount of funding, indicated on the Certification of Funds form, and must match the name of your sponsor or yourself. The statement must be from no earlier than 9 months before the term of admission at Rutgers.
2. Pay your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee.
   1. Once you have received your I-20 or DS-2019, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee required by the Department of Homeland Security. You will need your SEVIS ID found on your I-20 or DS-2019 to make the payment. For F-1 students the fee is $200 and for J-1 students it is $180.
   2. It is imperative that you print your receipt and take it with you to your visa interview appointment. You also may be asked to show it at your port of entry or later on in the future, so it is strongly advised to keep it in a safe place.
3. Set up an appointment at your local U.S. embassy or consulate.
   1. Make sure you bring all your important documents with you to your appointment.
      1. For J-1 visa applicants, please see more information on how to apply, interview, and necessary documents on the U.S. Department of State’s website.
      2. For F-1 visa applicants, more information such as tips for visa interviews and important documents to bring can be found at the Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States website.
   2. Please see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website for more details on visa appointments. A list of embassies and consulates in your country can be found at USEmbassy.gov.

For International Students Who Completed Undergraduate Studies in the United States

If you are coming from another U.S. institution or are on OPT or CPT, the immigration process will look slightly different for you. Since you already have a SEVIS ID, your record will need to be transferred over to Rutgers by submitting a Foreign Student Adviser’s Report (FSAR). Note that you will not have to repay your I-901 SEVIS fee if you are using the same SEVIS ID.

Pre-Arrival Steps

1. Obtain and activate your NetID and Scarletmail account.
   1. Your NetID is a unique username you will receive that gives you access to many of the electronic services available to you at Rutgers, including course registration and email. Get into the habit of checking your Rutgers email as soon as possible, because you will be receiving important information from the university through that address.
   2. Please note that your NetID is different from your RUID. Your RUID acts as a personal identification number like a social security number which helps identify you on class rosters, placement tests, and advising, among others. You will need either your RUID or A-Number from Admissions in order to activate your account.
2. Complete your Immunization Forms.
   1. It is a requirement by the state of New Jersey that all new students have certain immunizations before arriving on campus. You should have received the Pre-Entrance Immunization Packet and relevant forms which can also be downloaded. More information on the required immunizations can be found at the Office of Student Health’s information page for incoming students.
   2. On the Rutgers Immunization Portal you will be able to find and report the information needed to fulfill these requirements. Select Rutgers from the dropdown menu and then login with your Net ID and password.
   3. You must complete your immunization forms by mid-July.
3. Map out your arrival to campus.
   1. Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services has compiled a fantastic document to help you map out any necessary pre-arrival preparations. Please view the Pre-departure checklist.
4. Create your RGlobal account, log in, and complete your data.
   1. You may begin this process before you arrive in the United States; however, check-in must be completely upon your arrival as a legal requirement of your F-1 or J-1 status. You will need your Rutgers NetID and password to create your RGlobal account.
   2. Access the check-in form under “Orientation” in the RGlobal portal. You can start entering your data before you arrive in the United States. Save a draft of the form to complete upon your arrival to the U.S.
5. Register for classes.
   1. Consult your program’s guidelines to determine the best classes for you to take.
   2. Search the University Schedule of Classes to find information about courses in your program.
   3. Register for your chosen courses through the WebReg site.
   4. Make sure to sign up for at least 9 credits, as that is the requirement to maintain legal status as a graduate student.
6. Pay your term bill.
   1. Once you’ve registered for classes, you will get an email from the Office of Student Accounting, Billing, and Cashiering with your term bill. You can view your statement and pay your bill online. Generally Fall term bills are available in July and due in August, and Spring term bills are available in November and due in January.

Post-Arrival Steps

1. Check in with Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services through RGlobal.
   1. Checking in through RGlobal is essential for ensuring your legal status in the United States and must be done immediately upon your arrival and before classes begin. To check in, you will need to scan and upload photos of your passport biographical page, visa page, and your I-20.
2. Attend the International Student Orientation hosted by Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services.
   1. This is a mandatory program for all new international students at Rutgers. This orientation was designed to assist you in adjusting to your new life in the United States and at Rutgers, including valuable visa and immigration information, as well as all kinds of opportunities and resources now available to you. This is a great way for you to kick-start your social and professional network as you will meet other new students as well as returning students.
   2. The School of Graduate Studies also provides a mandatory two-hour orientation during this same week.