Orientation allows you to get acquainted with the campus, facilities, and services on campus. All international students will go through:
- Orientation for their respective program of study
- Immigration Orientation
The information below provides details on how you will receive orientation information.
Attendance is required for ALL new students, international students included. International undergraduate students may opt to participate in a pre-arrival program that would allow for early move-in, but ultimately all students must go through regular new student orientation.
In addition, the Center for Immigration Services & Support will require that all new students complete an Online Immigration Orientation and an In Person and Online Immigration Check in. Both sessions must be completed in ISSDeacs by the last day to add a class for the semester. The required orientation will review pertinent immigration regulations and provide information on settling into Winston-Salem such as getting a driver’s license or state ID card, employment eligibility, and much more.
Details on new student orientation for undergraduate students can be found by visiting the New Students website.
Graduate and professional students will be sent information regarding orientations by their respective schools.
For Graduate & Professional programs beginning in August, the Center for Immigration Services & Support will require that all new students complete an Online Immigration Orientation and an Online and in person Immigration Check in. Both sessions must be completed in ISSDeacs by the last day to add a class for the semester. The required orientation will review pertinent immigration regulations and provide information on settling into Winston-Salem, such as getting a driver’s license or state ID card, employment eligibility, and much more.
I’m in town early and need DMV, employment, and other information early. What can I do?
Please review the Global Guidebook, a comprehensive source of information regarding visas, immigration, travel and re-entry, and settling into Winston-Salem and the Wake Forest communities. You can also download the book for easier reading and to print out/transport.
Please note, if you are in town early, before you can proceed to the Division of Motor Vehicles, you must complete the online and in person Immigration Check-in ISS first. After the in person and online Immigration Check-in is completed, ISS will be able to activate your SEVIS record. Once your SEVIS record is activated, you may then proceed to the DMV.
ALL students that begin a new program of study (including those that are returning WFU alumni who will begin a new program of study), must complete the Immigration Check-in process.
Immigration Check-in Instructions
Step 1: Gather Documents
- Passport
- F or J Visa Stamp
- Form I-94
- Go to cbp.gov/i94
- Click “Get I-94 Number Now” in the top right corner of the page
- Click “Yes” to agree with the terms and conditions of the website
- Fill in your passport information
- Click “Get Most Recent I-94”
- Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
- Emergency Contact Information
Step 2: Check-in
Make PDF copies of the above documents to upload to the Check-In portion of your Online Orientation application in your ISSDeacs account. You may also upload photos of these documents from your phone as long as the photos are clear. You will also bring the original documents to in-person check-in.