International Check-in and Orientation
Georgia State Main Campus
What is Required?
- Start@State: All newly admitted students must complete Start@State. First Year undergraduate F-1 students must also attend a virtual new student academic advising session.
- International Student Orientation: This is a series of info sessions to help you understand and protect your immigration status and to adjust to life at Georgia State!
- Immigration Check-in: Incoming F-1 and J-1 students are required to document arrival and report required information to the U.S. Government. Failure to check-in puts your immigration status at risk.
Who Attends International Student Orientation?
- All new F-1 / J-1 and Transfer F-1 International Students (including those transferring from U.S. high schools)
When is International Student Orientation?
The International Student Orientation (ISO) starts on August 15, 2022 with a required virtual session. There will be various optional in-person events to attend throughout the week.
The Fall 2022 ISO schedule will be published soon.
Below are details for the required session and eForm submissions:
- Required Virtual International Orientation Session for Incoming Students: Monday, August 15, 2022 at 10 am EST. Register for International Student Orientation in iStart to receive a link to the live, virtual session. The deadline to submit this eForm is August 12, 2022.
- Arrival Confirmation eForm Submission: Submit your Arrival Confirmation eForm in iStart by August 26, 2022. This eForm is required to complete immigration check-in and register your SEVIS record.
- Virtual Late Orientation: Friday, August 26, 2022 at 10 am EST. A link to the live, virtual session will be sent to students who do not attend the orientation session on Monday, August 15, 2022.
Georgia State Perimeter College
What is Required?
- Start@State: All newly admitted students must complete Start@State. First Year undergraduate F-1 students must also attend a virtual new student academic advising session.
- International Orientation & Immigration Check-in: Information sessions to help you understand and protect your immigration status, to adjust to life at Georgia State and to document your arrival to report required information to the U.S. Government.
Who Attends International Student Orientation?
- All new F-1 and transfer F-1 International Students (including those transferring from U.S. high schools)
- All: International Orientation & Check-in are required. Failure to check in puts your immigration status at risk.
When is International Student Orientation?
All Perimeter College Campuses
The Fall 2022 ISO schedule will available soon.
Below are the details for the required International Student Orientation and eForm submissions:
Virtual International Orientation & Check-in: Tuesday, August 16, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. A link to the live, virtual session will be sent to students after completing all Pre-Arrival & Orientation eForms in iStart. The Pre-Arrival & Orientation eForm submission deadline for the August 16th ISO is August 12, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
Virtual Check-in eForm Submissions: All required documentation for reporting purposes is submitted via Orientation eForms in iStart. These eForms are found below the Pre-Arrival eForm list in iStart.
Virtual Late International Orientation & Check-in: Friday, August 26, 2022 @ 2:00 p.m. A link to the live, virtual session will be sent to students who were not able to attend the international orientation on August 16th. The Pre-Arrival & Orientation eForms submission deadline for the August 26th Late ISO is August 24, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
Arrival Checklist
International Check-in and Orientation FAQ
To provide information about:
- federal immigration regulations and individual responsibilities as an F or J student
- how to navigate the campus & administration of Georgia State
- basic needs such as housing, transportation, food and money
- cultural adjustment to life in the United States and in Atlanta
- unique characteristics of the U.S. classroom
To complete administrative processes:
- confirm immigration documents (passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019, I-94)
- SEVIS Reporting
- GSTEP and other English placement testing
- Math Placement Exam (for freshmen only)
- academic advising
- course registration
To create connections with:
- other new students to form initial friendships
- continuing students for advice and support
- students’ academic departments
- relevant campus services, programs and facilities
To welcome you to Georgia State in a positive, friendly and helpful manner.
You will also attend international student orientation and check-in, not regular university new student orientation.
New international students can enter up to 30 days prior to the start date of their I-20.
Notify ISSS and attend Non-transfer check-in and orientation.
Check-in is required. ISSS will have to terminate your status if you do not check-in.
If you do not attend orientation, you will not be able to complete check-in. You are required to attend. You will learn how to protect your status and be prepared for life at Georgia State.
For downtown students - No, that program is for U.S. domestic students and requires a fee. International orientation is provided by ISSS and is free. For perimeter students - yes, you are required to attend.
Contact Us
ISSS is committed to maintaining support and services to you during this time and will continue to operate under normal operating procedures for the remainder of the semester, just from a remote and online platform. This means you can call us directly or email us to request information and/or telephone/web appointments for advisement during our regular advisement hours.
For the Atlanta campuses, please call 404-413-2070 or email isss@gsu.edu.
For Perimeter campuses, please call 678-891-3235 or email issspc@gsu.edu.
Location:
Sparks Hall - Room 252
ISSS, Georgia State University
33 Gilmer St. SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404-413-2070
Fax: 404-413-2072
Email: isss@gsu.edu
Mailing Address (please use our physical address above for express mail):
International Student and Scholar Services
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3987
Atlanta, GA 30302-3987
USA
Georgia State-sponsored H-1B, TN, O-1, J-1 Scholar and Permanent Residency Petitions
Any advising for employment-based visas, green cards or hosting a J-1 Scholar (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Student Intern, Specialist) which are sponsored by Georgia State needs to be set up by appointment after the hiring department has requested the immigration process they wish to sponsor.
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students) are as follow:
Monday: 1-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 1-4 p.m.
Thursday: 1-4 p.m.
Friday: 1-4 p.m.
ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest and most efficient way possible.
Beginning Spring 2022: F-1 and J-1 students wishing to speak with an ISSS advisor at the Atlanta Campus over the phone or in-person must access the QLESS system in order to get into our virtual queue. Once in the virtual queue you will receive instructions regarding a call back from one of our available advisors or instructions on when to come into the ISSS lobby to meet an advisor.
If you wish to speak with an ISSS advisor, please click the QLESS link below during advising hours and get into the virtual queue.
Clarkston Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building CN 2230 (Student Center)
ISSS, Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
555 N. Indian Creek Dr.
Clarkson, GA 30021
Telephone: 678-891-3235
Fax: 678-891-3068
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Dunwoody Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building NB
Room 1200
ISSS, Perimeter College, Dunwoody Campus
2101 Womack Rd.
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Telephone: 770-274-5570
Fax: 770-274-5253
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Walk-in Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students):
9-11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday
1:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Occasionally it may be necessary to make emergency cancellations of advising times last minute. We apologize for any inconvenience.