International Students

Information for international students admitted to Kuyper College

The road from acceptance to beginning your studies (2006)

1. Acceptance packets are mailed to admitted students.
2. Send in your scholarship acceptance letter and a tuition deposit of $2,000.
3. When the deposit is received, Kuyper College will issue your I-20 and aSEVIS receipt and send you the originals.
4. Set up an appointment at the embassy in your home country to apply for an F-1 visa. Be sure to have all the documents that will be required. Let Mary VanderMeer mvandermeer@kuyper.edu know the date of your visa interview.
5. Send your health forms and housing application to Kuyper College.
6. When you receive word about your visa approval or denial, immediately inform Mary VanderMeer mvandermeer@kuyper.edu of the outcome.
7. If the visa was denied, you may have your tuition deposit refunded, or you may ask to reapply for admission for the following school year.
8. If visa was approved, make travel arrangements and let us know your plans. It is highly recommended that you fly io Grand Rapids International Airport. (Detroit and Chicago are approximately a four-hour drive from Kuyper College.)  If you would like to be picked up at the airport, let us know the airline, the flight number, and when the flight will arrive. Plan to move into the campus dormitories on August 22. (If you expect to arrive in the U.S. sooner, you will need to make arrangements to stay with friends or family who live in the U.S.  However, you may not legally arrive in the U.S. until 30 days before the start date indicated on your I-20 form, which means you should arrive after July 25.) Your acceptance packet will contain information about what to expect at the port of entry.
9. Move into Kuyper student housing on Tuesday, August 22.
10. International Student Orientation: August 23-24. (Revisit the Kuyper College Web site in July for the final schedule.)
11. New Student Orientation: August 25-28.
12. Classes begin August 29.

Preparing for Your Visa Interview

• Call ahead or meet with an educational advisor to find out the exact requirements for the visa application process in your country. It is crucial to realize, too, that these requirements often change from year to year.
• Questions are often asked about finances. Be prepared and have your scholarship letter with you for the interview, if you were granted a scholarship. Take any other important financial documents with you as well.
• Take with you a passport that is valid for at least six months after your planned date of entry into the U.S.
• Bring your materials from Kuyper College: your admission letter, your scholarship award letter, your I-20 form, and your I-901 SEVIS fee receipt.
• In most countries, a fee is charged for visa processing.
• Visa officials will want to see some indication that your time in the USA will be temporary-only for the length of your studies-and that you have plans to return once your schooling is completed.
• Be prepared to explain the reason you chose Kuyper College, your major area of study, and your awareness of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area.
• Visa officials will want proof that you qualify for entrance to Kuyper College. It is advisable to have copies of your transcripts and test scores.

Packing for Your Stay in the U.S.

Do not bring:

• A computer or other electronics
• Bedding
• Winter clothing
• Toiletries

The money that you sent for your tuition deposit may be used for bedding and toiletries when you arrive. There are many inexpensive places in the U.S. to buy winter clothing.

Bring:

• Family photos
• Mailing addresses and e-mail addresses
• Any forms of personal identification and all your visa and immigration information
• Prescription medications you need and an extra pair of glasses if you wear glasses.
• Mementos of your country for your room, and ethnic clothing specific to your country.
• Comfortable clothing. American attitudes about dress have become increasingly casual in recent years, although you may want one nice outfit for church and occasions that still require less casual attire. You may also want a warm coat for Michigan's cold winters and a swimsuit for summer, since Kuyper College is not far from the beaches of Lake Michigan.
• A healthy body: if possible, it is wise to get a physical and a dental exam before you leave your country.
   

What to Expect at the U.S. Port of Entry

• Do not arrive earlier than 30 days before the program start date specified on your I-20 form.
• Keep your passport and your I-20 form with you at all times, not packed inside your baggage. If your baggage is lost or delayed in transit and these documents are stored in your baggage, you will be unable to present the documents at your port of entry. It is also recommended that you carry the following documentation with you at all times during your travels:
  • Evidence of financial resources.
  • Evidence of student status, such as tuition receipts and transcripts.
  • Your SEVIS fee receipt.
  • Name and contact information for your DSO (Mary VanderMeer), including a 24-hour emergency contact number. (This will be provided when you notify MaryVanderMeer) mvandermeer@kuyper.edu about your flight arrangements.)
  • While you are on the plane, flight attendants will distribute Customs Declaration (CF-6059) forms and Arrival Departure Record (I-94) forms. These must be completed before the plane lands.
  • When you arrive at the terminal, have the following documents available: your passport, your I-20 form, your I-94 form, and the CF-6059 form. Tell the Customs Office that you have come to this country as a student, and be ready to supply the name and address of the college.
  • When inspection is completed, the officer will stamp your SEVIS form for duration of status (D/S) and stamp the I-94 and staple it in your passport.
  • If you encounter problems during inspection, contact Mary VanderMeer.  

Working in the U.S.

• Students on F-1 visas may only work on-campus at the college that issued the I-20.
• In order to be hired, students should speak personally with a supervisor on campus, and then ask the supervisor to write a letter for you to take to the Social Security office. Once you have been in the U.S. for 10 days, you may apply for your Social Security card, and then you may begin working. After you receive your card in the mail, show it to the Business Office so you can receive paychecks. The international student services coordinator will help you gather the proper documents to apply for your Social Security card.
• Later in your program of study, you may apply for Curricular Practical Training, or Optional Practical Training, which makes it legal to work off-campus in a job related to your field of study. Details about these options will be explained at orientation.
   

Referrals: information for pastors, counselors, and others who want to help students involved in a college search

Are you a youth pastor or a high school guidance counselor? Do you know a student who seeks to know where God will lead his or her for post-secondary education? Perhaps you know someone who is looking for the type of ministry-focused Christian leadership education that we provide. Contact Kuyper's Admissions staff. We can assist with the right college fit.

Complete and submit our online referral form, and we'll gladly contact the student with more information on how TheKee-The Kuyper Education Experience-can open important doors for them!

Financial Aid and Tuition