Admitted to CECH

• Log into your status portal. Confirm your admission to UC and pay your admission fee.
• 24-48 hours after the confirmation form is submitted, student will receive an email with instructions prompting them to create student accounts such as email and their iBearcatsGlobal account.
• Use your new UC student email account to...
  - Graduate Students: Email your faculty advisor to schedule an appointment to enroll in courses. (Refer to your admission letter for your faculty advisor contact email)
  - Undergraduate First Year: Register for orientation.
  - Undergraduate Transfer: Schedule advising appointment in MyBearcat Network. 
• Submit financial documents such as bank or loan statements to International Services through the iBearcatsGlobal account for the I-20. 
• Once the I-20 is approved and received, pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee.
• Apply for F1 visa by completing the DS-160 Form and paying $185 fee. (Ensure you have your I-20 and paid SEVIS fee first).
• Contact the US embassy or consulate to make an appointment for the visa interview at least 4-8 weeks in advance.
• Prepare for visa interview and bring the following documents to interview:
  - Passport
  - Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Application
  - Application Fee Receipt 
  - Copy of the I-20
  - Passport photo
• Once approved, contact UC International Services at international.services@uc.edu to notify of F1 visa status:
  - If your visa is denied, make sure to drop any courses if you have enrolled and email cechrecruit@uc.edu to learn more about next steps. 
  - If your visa is denied, email UC International at international.services@uc.edu. Provide the date and location of your visa interview, and the reason given by the visa officer for the denial. We will help you reapply or determine your next steps. You may reapply for a visa within 12 months without having to pay the SEVIS fee again.

• Login to iBearcatsGlobal to complete the New International Checklist. (Read carefully as you will have specific tasks to complete. Important items that you will find here are listed below.)
• Request a ride to campus from the airport.
• Complete check-in.
• Get connected to campus resources
• Attend Pre-Arrival virtual visit with International Services Director, Ron Cushing. (Registration is not required.)  
• Register for the CECH Next Steps Webinar.
• Register for classes by meeting with your assigned faculty advisor.

Research your housing and dining options whether on-campus or offsite. Take a look at UC's International Cost and Finances page.

• Make an appointment with health care provider.
• Complete the immunization record sheet and tuberculosis risk assessment forms.
• Upload the completed forms to Bearcats Health App (use your UC login) 

All international students with foreign health coverage will be required to carry the UC Student Health Insurance Policy. (Insurance fees will be included on your first semester bill) 

• Purchase plane ticket and carry the following documentation:
  - Copy of I-20
  - Financial documents (loan letter)
  - University offer letter

Refer to the documents checklist below.

• Will obtain a I-94 once student arrives to the US. You can plan to arrive as early as 30   days prior to the semester. 
• Student packs appropriate attire and necessities. Be mindful of weather conditions on arrival.
• Register for CECH Welcome Tour (you will receive an email invitation).
• Ensure you have coordinated transportation to campus from the airport through iBearcatsGlobal and have received your unique code. 

Here’s a list of documents you should arrange for and keep safely in a folder. Ensure that you have this folder handy as you will need to present these documents to the US immigration officers.

• Valid passport
• Student visa
• Air tickets
• Unconditional acceptance letter from the US university
• University-mandated forms and documents
• Original academic transcripts
• Final year project report/ thesis
• Standardized entrance exam score sheets, such as GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, etc.
• SEVIS Fee receipt (proof of payment for the I-901 SEVIS Fee at the US embassy)
• Form I-20 (a document certifying your admission and financial support for U.S. studies)
• Vaccination record
• Letter of Recommendation
• SOP (Statement of Purpose), etc.

Please note: For the exact list of documents please refer to the US immigration website. Also, make sure you have a pen and passport-size pictures in your folder. Furthermore, it is a good practice to carry photocopies of all these crucial documents in a separate folder.

Your travel checklist for the US will include all the essentials that you would need to keep handy while you are traveling to the USA from your country. It includes essential items like your air ticket, passport, student visa, other important documents, payment cards, electronic gadgets, chargers, and adapters. Keep all these things separately in a small handbag.

Carry loose US currency (not more than $1,000 USD) in separate denominations to make quick payments while traveling. Carry most of your money on Forex cards as they are cost-effective. Also, for making any payments to the university, it is best to wire the money directly.

Additionally, here’s a list of gadgets for your reference. You may add to the list according to your need.

• Mobile phone
• Laptop/Tablet
• Chargers, adapters, and USB cables
• Hard disk and pen drives
• Watch/ smart-watch
• Scientific calculator
• Headphones
• A clock with alarm
• Extra batteries
• Indian pin to US pin converters
• Flash drive
• External hard disk (500 GB)

This checklist includes all the health-related things that you must carry for your overall well-being and to deal with medical emergencies. Here's what you should bring with you:

• Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Basic medicines for common ailments that include:
  - Anti-Allergies
  - Painkillers
  - Medicine for cough and cold

Also, carry any prescribed medicines along with a stamped medical prescription, your vaccination record, sanitizers, and medical bandages.

If you use spectacles or contact lenses, it is good to carry an extra pair of eye glasses and contact lenses along with their cleaning solution.

This US travel checklist includes all the clothing items that you would need there. But, first, research the kind of clothes people typically wear in that particular area of the US. Also, despite any season, keep a few clothing items for all seasons.

The absolute clothing checklist will vary from individual to individual, however, here’s a list of recommended items that you might like to skim through.

• Formals shirts
• Formal trousers
• Blazers/suits/ ties
• T-shirts/ tops
• Jeans/ pants/ shorts
• Undergarments
• Socks
• Towel/wash cloths/ handkerchiefs
• Swimming wear
• Winter wear, including light and thick jackets, sweaters, etc.
• Shoes/ sandals/ other footwear

Accessories:

• Sunglasses
• Umbrella
• Wallet
• Handbag
• Belt for clothes

Carry a separate kit for toiletries that includes:

• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Floss
• Hairbrush, comb
• Face wash/ body wash/ creams/ moisturizer 
• Deodorant /perfume
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
• Tissues, etc.

You must avoid carrying certain items to the US that include banned substances or things that would add extra load to your travel baggage.

Here’s a list of these items:

• Heavy bottles of liquid
• Expensive jewelry
• Heavy books or reading material
• Too many winter clothes (One jacket and a sweater are sufficient)
• Groceries including rice, oil, legumes, etc. (You will get these things in the supermarket)

• Get your Bearcat Card. This is your student identification card.
  - Visit the following address to obtain your Bearcat Card:
  4 Edwards Center
  51 West Corry Blvd
  Cincinnati, Ohio
  45221-0215

Additional Items to Consider:

• Get a phone connection. Our most common wireless carriers in the United States are AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The bill of most of these carriers for basic plans (Calls+ Text+ Web) is more than $60, whether it is pre-paid or post.

• Attend Orientation and view the schedule for housing, registrar’s office, OneStop, Campus Rec Center, and other items relates to the UC Experience. 
• Visit CECH and tour the campus.  You can also visit the CECH Student Recruitment Office to meet with your enrollment advisor.
• Review the Academic Calendar to check for enrollment deadline dates and payment details.
• Be aware of personal safety on campus and the resources available on campus. UC Public Safety is tasked with providing a safe environment.
• Learn shopping locations surrounding the UC Campus.  Use the UC Campus Map to view the campus and surrounding areas.
  
• Prior to attending class, visit the UC Bookstore for books and other related items needed.
  

• Attend cultural events scheduled with CECH OIE to learn more about on-campus culture. 
• Connect with people from your home country on campus. Check UC Student Organizations to learn more.  

View on-campus jobs via the UC On Campus Jobs link to check for availability.

Please note that many apartments in Cincinnati are unfurnished, meaning there will not be couches, tables, chairs, or beds. These items will need to be purchased upon arrival unless your lease specifically states otherwise.

• Twin or Queen bed & mattress
• Small end table
• Fan
• Two soft chairs or a couch
• Dresser
• Kitchen table & chairs
• Blankets (to fit your mattress)
• Pillows
• Pillow sheets
• Bed sheets (to fit your mattress)
• Comforters

Please note that even with a furnished apartment you will be required to stock your own kitchen unless this is specifically stated otherwise in your lease agreement.

• Pressure cooker
• Blender  
• Medium size skillet or wok
• 3 qt sauce pan with lid
• Serving spoons (of various sizes)
• Plates, bowls
• Cutting knives
• Peeler
• Vegetable cutting board
• Mugs & cups
• Tongs
• Spoons & forks
• Rolling pin
• Tea strainer
• Water bottle
• Measuring spoons/cups

• Glass cleaner
• Floor cleaner
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Tub/shower/all-purpose cleaner
• Sponges & cleaning cloths
• Vacuum cleaner
• Broom & dustpan
• Napkins/paper towels
• Laundry detergent
• Fabric softener
• Dish soap