Congratulations on your acceptance into the University of West Georgia. We are excited that you will be joining our international family. After you have received your acceptance packet in the mail with your I-20 or DS-2019, there are still a few things that you have to complete. Follow these steps below to ensure a smooth arrival in the United States and transition into UWG.
Pre-Arrival Handbook
The handbook below will give you all of the information you need before you arrive to UWG. We recommend that you also review the rest of our website after you have finished the new student checklist. Our website will be used to assist you throughout your stay in the USA and at UWG, so it is important you are familiar with the information.
Newly Admitted International Student Checklist
Read through the following information below to complete the new student checklist.
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Set Up MyUWG Account
The first step is to set up your MyUWG Account. This account gives you access to your courses, your student email account, registration status, and much more.
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Getting Your I-20
International Students have 2 options of how to receive their I-20 or DS-2019 from the International student Admissions & Programs Office:
- Standard Mail
- Express Mail
The next step will take you to find out which document you will be receiving and how to select your preferred mailing method.
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Obtaining a Visa
Now that you have been accepted into the University of West Georgia and have obtained your I-20 or DS-2019, you will need to get a visa before you can enter into the United States.
There are 2 main visa types that UWG international students can obtain:
- F-1 Visa: for students who are seeking a degree from UWG
- J-1 Visa: for students who are studying abroad at UWG (usually for a semester or year)
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International Student Orientation
Each Fall and Spring Semester, the International Student Admissions & Programs office holds an orientation for all incoming international students. This orientation is MANDATORY for all incoming international students. Several important topics are covered during this orientation, including:
- Maintaining Status
- SEVIS Check-In
- Life at UWG
- Resources for Students
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Airport Pickups
Before orientation, UWG provides transportation for incoming students from the airport to their housing. We provide these transportation shuttles a few days before the International Student Orientation. In order to register for the airport shuttle, you will need the following information:
- Incoming flight number, date, and time.
- Contact information for yourself and an emergency contact.
- Information on where you will be living while at UWG.
Check the dates and times of the upcoming airport pickup BEFORE you reserve your housing. You can see the dates/time by clicking the button below. Communicate with your housing choice the date and time you will be arriving to ensure they have make prior arrangements to accommodate your arrival.
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Housing
Before your arrival into the United States, be sure to secure housing. International students are able to live either on or off campus in most cases. There are several considerations you should take into account before you choose your housing arrangements, including:
- price
- travel to the UWG campus
- number of roommates you expect to have
- access to a kitchen and laundry units
- any other special needs or wants
We explore several of the different housing options below.
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Immunization Records
UWG requires certain immunizations of all students. If you have received any of the required immunizations from your home country, it is recommended that you print out the immunization form and have a doctor give you a copy of your records before you arrive in the United States. To see a current list of required immunizations along with the Immunization Policy, please click below.
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Health Insurance Requirements
All international students are required to have health insurance during their stay in the United States. There are several different options available to students. When considering which health insurance you should buy, please consider the following:
- price and affordability of the plan
- coverage amounts
- cost for doctor and hospital visits
- any medical conditions you have and how your plan will cover your needs
We review how health insurance works in the United States and also several of the options that are available to International Students below.
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Tuition and Fee Payments
The Bursar's office is the only office on campus that can accept tuition payments. All inquires about bills and payments should be made to their office.
Tuition and fee payment deadlines usually occur approximately one week after the start of the semester. It is important that students know and be aware of the final payment deadline. Failure to pay all fees and tuition before this due date will result in all classes being dropped. There are several ways in which a student can pay their tuition.
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Transferring Credits Credit
Coursework completed or taken at an institution other than the University of West Georgia is considered transfer credit. Students must submit an official transcript from all previously attended institutions. Here at UWG, Transfer Evaluations are processed in the order they are received. The evaluation is typically processed within 2 weeks after a student has been accepted by Admissions. Once processed, students receive email notification that the transfer evaluation may be accessed via myUWG.