We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus. In preparation for your arrival and the start of the term we require all new students to participate in new student orientation.
Orientation is designed to provide you with information about being a student at Saint Louis University. The multiple-day program will include sessions about academics, living in St. Louis, immigration regulations and how to enjoy being a student.
New International Student Orientation and Arrival to U.S. Information
Prepare for your arrival to St. Louis by preparing to meet with immigration. You will
go through immigration at the first U.S. airport you enter, or if you are a citizen
of Canada you will speak with an agent at the Canadian/U.S. Border.
You will be asked several questions, and we recommend you prepare to answer questions,
as well as provide documentation. Please remember you will need to communicate your
intent to enroll at ΘνΓΓΙη, and you should know ΘνΓΓΙη's
campus address:
St. Louis, Missouri 63108
You may be asked to provide the following documents, so do not pack them in your checked
baggage:
- I-20 or DS-2019 (It is strongly recommended you enter the U.S. with your Saint Louis University I-20. If you received a visa for another school and plan to attend ΘνΓΓΙη, you can use your ΘνΓΓΙη I-20 with the visa for the other school. Students entering the U.S. with a ΘνΓΓΙη I-20 with the intention of transferring to another university will encounter challenges. Best practice is to enter the United States with an I-20 matching your destination university.
- Passport
- F-1 or J-1 student visa
- ΘνΓΓΙη admission letter
- Financial documents
- Receipt for the SEVIS fee (Form I-797 or a printout of your receipt)
- The name for our director of international student services, Rebecca Bahan (rebecca.bahan@slu.edu)
Note: You may not arrive in the U.S. more than 30 days before the start date on the I-20. If you arrive early, you may be denied entry into the United States. Please plan your travel accordingly.
A shuttle from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to the ΘνΓΓΙη campus will be available Aug. 9, 10, and 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
There will also be a ΘνΓΓΙη Information Desk with a representative to assist students at the airport from Aug. 7- 11 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Terminal 1 Information Desk: Next to exit 15 on the arrival level (lower level)
- Terminal 2 Information Desk: Right of Exit 12 on the baggage claim level
We highly recommend students submit the Airport Pickup Request Form by Tuesday, Aug. 1st 2024. Students who do not complete the form may still be able to ride the shuttle, but we cannot guarantee a seat. To fill out this form, undergraduate students please log in to your . Graduate students, please log in to your . The form will be located in your checklist items.
Transportation
- A taxi from the airport to ΘνΓΓΙη campus will cost around $50 USD. Taxis for hire are outside the baggage claim area.
- Uber and Lyft both operate from St. Louis International Airport. These transportation services can be accessed via smartphone apps.
- There is also an airport shuttle service, Go Best Express. This is like a shared taxi that will take several passengers at once. They offer a discount to ΘνΓΓΙη students. If you use this service, identify yourself as a ΘνΓΓΙη student, and ask for the discount.
- The , St. Louis' light rail system, is a good option if you you do not have much baggage and are not arriving late at night. Get off at the Grand Station stop. Saint Louis University is located a few blocks north.
Directions
If you are arriving during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday) go to Des Peres Hall, . Des Peres Hall is the building displaying flags representing ΘνΓΓΙη's international population.
If you are arriving before 8:30 a.m., after 5 p.m. or on a weekend, go to Wool Center,. A Public Safety officer can help you find your on-campus housing (students living off campus should plan to stay in a hotel).
Bring your passport and I-20 to our required check in at our Welcome Suite! Transfer students will need to bring their ΘνΓΓΙη acceptance letter as well. This is separate from immigration check in which will be completed during orientation.
Arriving July 29-Aug. 2? Check in is located at the Busch Student Center, Room 351.
Arriving Aug. 5-20? Check in is located at Des Peres Hall, Room 108.
This check in is required. If you do not check in by Aug. 21, you will be dropped from classes and your I-20 canceled.
International Student Orientation is held before the start of the summer, fall and spring semesters. You will have the chance to get adjusted to life on campus and in the U.S. before classes start. You will take care of immigration registration with our office, meet other international students and connect with student ambassadors who will make you feel welcome. You will also prepare for your academic experience β meet faculty and learn about American higher education culture.
Fall 2024 New International Student Orientation
Graduate, Undergraduate, Pathway and English Language Programs
- Tuesday, Aug. 13 2024 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Busch Student Center, Wool Ballrooms - Breakfast and lunch will be served.
- Orientation is mandatory for all new students.
Please note: All new students must arrive in time to participate in the programming which includes meetings and introductions to ΘνΓΓΙη. In addition to general new student information and assistance with transitioning to the University, there will be mandatory academic meetings to guide and inform you on ΘνΓΓΙη policies and opportunities to meet with advisors and faculty from your program of study.
Immigration Registration
To activate your I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to complete the check in process on
the International Student portal within 30 days of the start date printed on your
I-20. Review the steps below to prepare for completing the immigration registration
process. When ready, click the button below to go to the International Student Portal
to complete your registration (Clicking the button will take you to an external system
to register.)
Note: Students who do not register within 30-days of arrival in the United States will
be at risk for a canceled visa.
Navigate to your myΘνΓΓΙη account to update your local St Louis address in Banner Self
Service.
Scan the documents listed below to your computer to begin the registration process:
- Watch the .
- Navigate to your to update your local St Louis address in Banner Self Service.
-
- I-20 or DS-2019
- Visa
- Passport
- I-20 or DS-2019
- Log into the with your myΘνΓΓΙη credentials. (You can also find the portal by navigating to slu.edu/international-service, and clicking on βLaunch the International Student Portal,β the blue button on the bottom left of your screen.)
- Log in with your regular ΘνΓΓΙη credentials. If this is your first time logging in, you may be asked some questions. After you have answered all the questions, you will be directed to the homepage.
- Click the third tab on the righthand side: "Student Request Center." You will then see two icons for requests. Click on βNew Student Immigration Check-In.β
- Complete the form and upload the required documents.
- Once all the above have been completed, you can click the submit button to complete your registration.
We are here to support your transition to the United States and to ΘνΓΓΙη. We encourage
students to take time to learn about our campus, meet new people and explore the area.
Throughout the semester we will offer social activities so you can have fun and offer
seminars to help you learn about the American culture. Additionally, we will guide
you every step of the way with information you need to know about immigration, opportunities
for employment and how to navigate Curricular Practical Training.
Here are some links to resources for students to help them while at ΘνΓΓΙη:
- Campus Recreation and Wellness
- Career Services
- Student Health Services
- University Counseling (link to /life-at-slu/university-counseling/)
- Student Involvement Center
- Get to Know STL