Preparing for Your Move

Now that you have received your visa and are preparing to leave your home country to study at LR, there are a few important details to take care of before travel to the U.S.

If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to us in the Shuford Center for International Education.

Student Health Form

All students must complete the student health form.

Immunizations

You must also provide a copy of your immunization record for review. 

For ease of processing, please send the form and immunization records, as soon as possible, directly to Brittany Marinelli, director of international education, at brittany.marinelli@lr.edu or 828.328.7375. Once the form has been reviewed by the Student Health Center, we will inform you of any additional immunizations you may need.

It is a good idea to have your immunizations taken care of before you arrive in the U.S. They tend to be cheaper for you at home, and since we do not provide immunizations on campus, you will need to arrange transportation to and from providers in the U.S. You are required by North Carolina law to do your TB screening (called a PPD test) in the U.S. 

Get in Touch with Your I-PAL

The Shuford Center for International Education will assign you a U.S. student to be your I-Pal. This student will show you how to get integrated into life at LR successfully, introduce you to friends, socialize with you and answer your cultural adjustment questions. The center will provide you with contact information for your I-Pal prior to your arrival.

Living on Campus

If you are 22 or under, the Shuford Center for International Education will house you in a residential learning community called the Global Village. You will have the opportunity to learn about other students’ cultures, share your own and have a great time participating in intercultural engagement activities of your own design.

You will live with U.S. and other international students in apartment-style housing, including double rooms (single rooms available upon request) a shared bathroom, living room and kitchen. Get ready to prepare a dish from home for other Global Village residents and have lots of fun. 

Our staff can purchase a bedding set, towel, washcloth and hand towel, as well as a few snacks before you arrive on campus so that you are ready for your first night in your new residence hall. There is a fee of approximately $50 fee for this service, payable to the Business Office. Contact the Shuford Center before you leave your home country to arrange for this service and/or to discuss housing options on campus.

Travel Arrangements

It is important to wait until after you receive your visa to make your flight arrangements. Remember, you cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the start date listed on your DS-2019 form.

We use the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), and the Shuford Center offers a complimentary shuttle on the designated arrival day to get you from CLT to campus.

  • Before you Book Your Flights

    You are required to provide your flight arrival information, even if you do not use the Shuford Center for transportation to campus. The Shuford Center needs to share your travel dates with the insurance company to ensure coverage prior to the start of the semester. 

    Before you book your flights, make sure that you confirm with Brittany Marinelli the required arrival date.  We want to ensure that you arrive in time to participate in mandatory orientation sessions.

    Then email the full flight information to the U.S. to Brittany Marinelli at brittany.marinelli@lr.edu.

    • City of departure
    • Flight numbers
    • Dates and times of each of your flights
    • Confirmation number associated with your booking

    If you wish to purchase your return air ticket, you can plan on moving out of your dorm the day after the last day of exams. We will provide a return shuttle to the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) on that day.

    When booking your flight, keep in mind that J-1 students can arrive 30 days prior to the start date listed on their DS-2019 and a 30-day grace period following the end date listed on their DS-2019.

  • Arriving in the U.S.

    Carry your original immigration documents with you onto the plane because you will be required to present your passport and these documents to the immigration officer at your port of entry. 

    When you arrive at your port of entry, you will be inspected for admission into the U.S. At this time, you will present your passport, DS-2019 form and other requested information to the U.S. Immigration Officer. Remain patient and polite and answer all questions honestly. 

    Your passport will be stamped with an entry date. Make sure that the stamp notes J-1 and D/S, which stands for Duration of Status. If your entry stamp is not correct, please ask the Immigration Officer to correct the stamp. 

    Put these documents in a safe place because you will need to present them to Shuford Center upon your arrival at LR. Losing these documents will cost you significant time and money to replace.

    Please Note: You are required to attend the institution whose immigration documents you use to enter the U.S.

    If you do not have the documentation needed to enter the U.S., you may be given an I-515A and granted temporary admission to the U.S. If you receive an I-515A, notify the Shuford Center immediately for assistance.

  • Reporting to LR

    Once you enter the U.S., you must report to LR within 30 days. Keep in mind that that the Shuford Center for International Education will host a mandatory immigration orientation a few days before classes begin. 

    At this orientation, you will check-in with the Shuford Center, per immigration regulations, and your SEVIS record will be registered, depending on your status. If you fail to check-in with the Shuford Center, you are not maintaining your status, which can lead to serious consequences.