Guide for New International Students

Important Information for New International Students Arriving in August 2014 Benedictine College Center for International Education www.benedictine.edu/international

Welcome to Benedictine College!

Checklist for New International Students arriving in August 2014  Apply for your student visa.

Details are on the Web site of the U.S. consulate in your country.

 Register for classes.

E-mail your academic adviser to enroll in your classes. Instructions for viewing available classes are on the IT sheets with your usernames and passwords for OASIS. Some students will take a placement test upon arrival to determine their class schedules. The international student academic adviser is Dr. Laura Moley, lmoley@benedictine.edu.

 Order your bedding and towels online by August 1.

Students provide their own bedding (blankets, sheets, towels, etc.) for their residence hall rooms. If you order online by August 1, the items will be in your room when you arrive. If you do not purchase bedding before you arrive, we will go to Wal-Mart.

Go to DormCo, http://www.dormco.com/?Click=76189, and order by August 1. Have all the items mailed to: Your Name Benedictine College 1020 N. Second St. Atchison, KS 66002 USA

 Send us health and vaccination records by August 1.

All students are required to provide Benedictine College with a complete medical history and documentation of vaccinations. Please send us the following form with your doctor’s signature on your vaccination records: http://www.benedictine.edu/sites/default/files/bc_student_health_form.pdf.

You may send the form by fax to +1.913.360.7970 or e-mail it to afaucett@benedictine.edu.

 Choose your health insurance by August 1.

All International students must have their own health and medical insurance and meet the following requirements: o Provides coverage between August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015 o Provides at least $100,000 U.S. dollars in medical benefits for each accident or illness o Repatriation benefit of at least $7,500 U.S. dollars o Medical evacuation benefit of at least $10,000 U.S. dollars

 Pay your bill by August 1. Payment is due in full by this date. The college does not accept payment in monthly installments. You can view your bill online on your OASIS account. Students do not pay Benedictine College directly for their textbooks. Students living off-campus do not pay Benedictine College for housing and meals. o You may pay your bill online on your OASIS account with VISA, MasterCard or Discover. o To pay by bank wire transfer: Contact afaucett@benedictine.edu for instructions.

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o To pay by international money order: Mail your payment to: Benedictine College P.O. Box 871048 Kansas City, MO 64187-1048 USA. Include your name and student ID number with the payment.

 Get at least $400 in American currency.

International students typically spend $150 during their first full day at Benedictine College buying items for their rooms. It is difficult to convert foreign currency into U.S. currency after you arrive in Atchison, Kansas. Other costs to consider include cell phone bills, school supplies, and personal expenses such as: laundry, shopping, movies and restaurants. Most students prepare to spend at least $2,000 a year.

 Get a credit card if you do not already have one.  Mail clothes and personal items to Benedictine College (optional) If you wish to mail any items in advance to Benedictine College, send them to: Your Name Benedictine College 1020 N. Second St. Atchison, KS 66002-1499 USA Packages are available for pickup on campus Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plan to carry any essential or valuable items with you on the plane in case you arrive at Benedictine College when the mailroom is closed.

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August 2014 Arrival Dates & New International Student Orientation Schedule

Date Tuesday, August 19

Wednesday, August 20 Friday, August 22 Saturday, August 23; Tuesday, August 26 Wednesday, August 27

Activity New international students arrive at Kansas City Airport.

Benedictine College representatives will greet students and take them to their residence halls.

New international student orientation.

All Benedictine College new student orientation  R.O.C. Leaders Classes start

2014 - 2015 Academic Calendar & Guidelines for Buying Plane Tickets August August October November December December January January March April May May May

19 27 23-26 26-30 11-16 17 11 14 7-15 2-5 7-12 13 16

Students arrive at Kansas City airport First day of school for fall semester Fall break.

Thanksgiving break. Residence halls closed Fall final exams Christmas Break. Residence halls closed Students return to campus First day of school for spring semester Spring break.

Easter break.

Spring final exams Students leave campus Graduation

Make sure to follow these important dates as you buy your plane tickets!

When should I buy plane tickets?

The U.S. State Department recommends students wait to buy nonrefundable plane tickets until they have received student visas. Nobody can guarantee a student will get a visa. Some students may choose to buy tickets before they have a visa because of a scarcity of flights.

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What airport should I fly to?

Students should arrive and leave at the Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in Kansas City, Missouri. It is about 45 minutes from Benedictine College.

Websites for purchasing plane tickets.

If you will be receiving your degree at Benedictine College and plan to travel to and from your home country frequently, it is recommended you sign up for a mileage program with a specific airline. Other inexpensive websites include:   

www.expedia.com www.travelocity.com www.studentuniverse.com

How do I go between the Kansas City airport and Benedictine College?

The Center for International Education (CIE) will provide trips to and from the airport at the beginning and end of each semester. For other trips, rides from CIE will be provided based on availability. Students can get rides from friends who have cars or pay for a shuttle service. A shuttle to the airport usually costs about $70 one way.

Breaks During Thanksgiving break and Christmas break the Residence Halls are closed. International students usually travel around the USA or go to homes of American friends. Students may spend breaks with host families in other cities for the cost of room and board.

December 2014 or May 2015 departure Are you graduating or finishing your exchange program? The U.S. government allows students like you to stay in the USA for 60 days after the last day of finals.

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Guide to Campus Life Center for International Education Academic Life Registration for Classes Your academic adviser pre-registers you for classes before you arrive. During orientation, you and your adviser will meet to discuss your class schedule. The international student academic adviser is Dr. Laura Moley, lmoley@benedictine.edu.

Transcripts and Grades Students can request an official Benedictine College transcript from www.getmytranscript.com . Students may see their grades on their OASIS account.

Tutors Students can see free tutors on campus for about 20 subjects, including English, biology, history and economics.

Life on Campus Mail Your new address will be: Your name Box # 1020 N. Second St. Atchison, KS 66002 USA Your mailbox is in the Student Union. You will have the same mailbox every year at Benedictine College, even if you move off-campus or change dorms.

Post Office Students can buy stamps and mail packages internationally at Benedictine College.

Medical Care The Benedictine Student Health Center is open about four hours each day Monday through Friday. Most services are free to students.

In addition, the Benedictine College Counseling Center is free for students. Students can get help for depression, stress, boyfriend-girlfriend problems, homesickness and other issues with professional counselors.

Campus Jobs A few international students each year work on-campus. They earn $250 to $1,000 each year. The U.S. government requires students to be enrolled for one year before they can apply for permission to work off-campus.

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Life in Atchison Banking and Money Most international students do one of the following to handle their money while they are attending Benedictine College.

1) Open a free checking account at UMB Bank in Atchison after they arrive. Students receive a debit card with their account. The debit card can be used free at the UMB ATM on the Benedictine College campus.

2) Open a bank account in their home country. Students use a credit or debit card from this bank to make their purchases. Students get cash when they shop at Wal-Mart in Atchison. When shoppers use a debit card to buy items at Wal-Mart, they can get cash from their card with no fee from Wal-Mart.

Besides UMB Bank, other banks in Atchison are Wells Fargo, Exchange Bank, United Bank of Kansas and Bank of Atchison.

Medical Care There are many dentists and doctors in Atchison if students need to see a doctor in an emergency when the campus health center is closed. The Atchison Hospital emergency room is about 10 minutes from campus by car.

All international students are required to have health insurance. Students should know the hospital and emergency room are expensive. One visit to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars even with health insurance.

Transportation Benedictine College provides complimentary trips to and from the Kansas City airport at the beginning and end of each semester.

It is common in the USA for college students without cars to get rides from friends who have cars. Private airport shuttles are also available for a fee for trips to the Kansas City airport. A limited taxi service is available within Atchison.

The state of Kansas requires all car owners to register their car with the state and show proof of car insurance. It costs about $35 to apply for a Kansas driver’s license. A local driving school is also available.

Free parking is available on the Benedictine College campus.

Weather Safety Any region of the world may have destructive events, such as earthquakes, typhoons or wildfires. Sometimes tornados happen in the USA. However, very destructive tornados are rare. Most Americans have never personally seen one.

We encourage you to learn how to be safe in the event of a tornado. You can learn more at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html.

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Living on Campus Benedictine College has 14 residence halls. Students are placed in residence halls based on their age and gender. You may view pictures and descriptions of each residence hall at www.benedictine.edu/housing .

The Benedictine College Residence Life office matches new students with roommates based on the answers in their housing applications. International students are matched with American roommates whenever possible.

Beds, dressers, desks and closets are provided for students with their rooms. Laundry rooms and private or shared kitchens are also a part of each hall. A Residence Director and a team of trained students (RAs) live in and oversee the residence halls. RAs also plan social events and help students adjust to college.

Please see www.benedictine.edu/housing for the following information:

 Photos of each residence hall  Room sizes  Detailed information about each residence hall Residence Hall Policies

 Can I smoke on campus?

Smoking is allowed only in parking lots and streets on campus.

Smoking is not allowed inside buildings, on sidewalks, grass or within 25 feet of any building.

 Is there storage on campus? Students will be allowed to keep their items in their rooms during holidays and breaks during the school year. Limited storage is available during the summer for international students.

 Can students drink alcohol in their rooms?

The College follows U.S. and state laws for the use of alcohol. Students under the age of 21 are not allowed to use or have alcohol in their rooms.

Students 21 and older may not drink alcohol in the presence of students under 21.

 What may I bring to my room?

Stereos, TVs, microwaves, coffee pots, electric razors, fans and heating pads are allowed. Roommates may bring one refrigerator (about 115 liters or smaller) for their room. All rooms are air-conditioned and heated.

 What is not permitted in rooms? Some items are restricted because of safety and insurance standards. Not permitted are: candles & candle warmers, incense, hot plates, halogen lights, grills, skillets, toaster ovens, sun lamps, electric heaters, electric blankets, gas appliances and refrigerators larger than about 115 liters.

 Can I have a pet? Yes, you may have fish.

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Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa Reprinted from NAFSA.

1. Ties to Your Home Country Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. "Ties" to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country.

Each person's situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was available but not with a specific intent to immigrate. If you overstayed your authorized stay in the United States previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation, if available.

2. English Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.

3. Speak for Yourself Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there is case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.

4. Know the Program and How It Fits Your Career Plans If you are not able to articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the United States relates to your future professional career when you return home.

5. Be Brief Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer's questions short and to the point.

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6. Additional Documentation It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you are lucky.

7. Not All Countries are Equal Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the United States as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.

8. Employment Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the United States. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the United States. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.

9. Dependents Remaining at Home If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support them, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.

10. Maintain a Positive Attitude Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

NAFSA would like to credit Gerald A. Wunsch, Esq., 1997, then a member of the Consular Issues Working Group, and a former U.S. Consular Officer in Mexico, Suriname, and the Netherlands; and Martha Wailes of Indiana University for their contributions to this document. NAFSA also appreciates the input of the U.S. Department of State.

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August 2014 Guide to Packing Your Luggage & Entering the USA  Gather items to pack in your luggage. o o

Bring souvenirs from your country, such as postcards, small gifts and clothing. You will have the opportunity to share these at international student events at Benedictine.

Bring clothes for the seasons of Kansas or plan to buy them here. You will experience four distinct seasons during your stay at Benedictine College. You will experience rain, snow and wind.

Season Fall (September-November) Winter (December- February) Spring (March-May) Summer (June- August)

Temperature 5C to 30C –20C to 5C 5C to 30C 20C to 40C

 You do not need to bring: o o

Sheets, blankets and towels. You can buy these from DormCo in advance or when you arrive.

School supplies, bathroom supplies for more than a few days and clothes hangers. You can buy these inexpensively in the USA.

 Gather information to carry on the plane to the United States.

Make sure to carry the following documents with you on the plane. Don’t put them in your luggage! o Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay o Your I-20. o Your health insurance information. o Information about your medical conditions or treatments, prescriptions for medication and glasses or contact lenses.

The U.S. government strongly recommends that you also hand carry the following documents: o Evidence of financial resources, such as bank statements and scholarship award letters. o Evidence of student status, such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts. o Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee, Form I-797. o The name and phone numbers of the Benedictine College PDSO, Anne Faucett.

Instructions You can call Anne Faucett’s office directly.

Phone number 913-360-7538 or 913-426-2050

You can call the Benedictine College operator and leave a message for Anne Faucett.

You may call Campus Security and leave a message for Anne Faucett

913-367-5340

Hours available Generally available 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., central standard time, Monday through Friday. She will be checking her messages the day new international students arrive.

Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

913-360-8888

Open 24 hours every day.

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 Arrive in the United States & show your documents to a U.S. immigration officer.

A flight attendant will give you a customs form. You’ll complete this before your plane lands. When you arrive at your first U.S. airport, give the immigration officer: o Your passport o I-20 o Customs form Be prepared to give:

o o o o

Evidence of financial resources, such as bank statements and scholarship award letters.

Evidence of student status, such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts.

Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee, Form I-797.

The name and phone numbers of the Benedictine College PDSO, Anne Faucett.

It is important that you tell the officer that you will be a student. Tell the officers you will study at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

 Take your connecting flight to Kansas City.

After you go through the final exit, you will then check your bags for the final portion of your journey to Kansas City International Airport. If your luggage has not arrived, you can receive assistance from the Customs Office in the claim area or at the airline counter of the airline with which you traveled.

 Arrive at the Kansas City International Airport.

Please wait in the baggage claim if you do not immediately see someone with a Benedictine College sign. A Benedictine College representative will pick you up and drive you to your residence hall.

For more information about traveling to and arriving in the United States, visit: http://www.educationusa.info/pages/students/travel.php

Have a great trip!

We look forward to meeting you!

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