Admitted International Students

• Monday, July 31, 2023: This is the earliest day undergraduate international students can arrive in the US (students are allowed to arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on their Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students).
• Thursday, August 31, 2023 - Mandatory Global Student Orientation: All international students must attend the Global Student Orientation full day event. During this time, students will review immigration benefits and responsibilities and participate in sessions relating to adjustment and life at Fairfield University. More details about Global Student Orientation will be sent closer to the date.
• Tuesday, September 5, 2023: Classes begin.

F-1 Graduate Students: There is currently no designated on-campus housing for graduate students. The University has provided some recommendations to find off-campus housing in the surrounding area on the Graduate Student Housing Hub.

Complete the Graduate Student Medical Report and provide supporting documents, and e-mail them to health@fairfield.edu before your arrival. Students enrolled in a degree seeing program are required to provide proof of immunity or screening against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, meningitis and tuberculosis.

All F-1 international students will be enrolled in the University’s health insurance plan.

In addition to the Graduate Student Medical Form, please upload your Covid-19 vaccination documentation to the Student Health Center secure portal at www.fairfield.edu/immunization. If you have any difficulty with the upload, email the documentation to health@fairfield.edu.

Please be aware that you are not allowed to initially come into the United States earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the Form I-20.

U.S. Customs

Before collecting luggage in the airport, students will need to pass through the first stage of Customs. Students will need to present their immigration documents to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who will review the documents and ask about their plans for their stay in the U.S. After verifying that the information in a valid passport, visa, and Form I-20 is correct, the immigration officer will return the documents and will stamp students’ passport book with the I-94 entry stamp showing the date of entry to the U.S. and the visa status.

Students may also have brief fingerprints or a photograph taken. Students will present a Customs Declaration form, which will need to be filled out on the plane, to the Customs officer. Do not bring fruits, plants, or meats when traveling. Possession of these items may require additional inspection, resulting in delay.

Students may bring currency with them, but if you are carrying more than $10,000 USD in any form, you will need to fill out a reporting slip and possibly owe taxes on the money. We suggest bringing enough money to last a couple of weeks, and then opening a U.S. bank account where you can electronically transfer funds from your home country.

If admitted to the United States, you may remain in the United States even if your visa expires. In F-1 status, students can remain in the United States for the duration of their status (D/S) or as long as they maintain a F-1 status. If students are in F-1 status and they leave the United States after their visa expires, they must obtain a new F-1 visa to re-enter and continue their program.

Please contact Global Fairfield (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu) if you have any questions related to the validity of your visa or duration of status.

The Form I-20 proves that students are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. The Form I-20 should not be taken from students.

Students have an option to arrange their transportation from the airport using GO Airport Shuttle. They will pick up from JFK Airport or LaGuardia Airport in New York and will drop off on campus and there is a special rate for Fairfield University students for a shared ride to campus. Since we do not offer graduate on campus housing, you would need to arrange for transportation from campus to where you will be living off campus.

*Please note: Although Bradley International Airport is in Hartford, Connecticut, we do not recommend that you travel there. Transportation to the University is not as frequent and is more expensive.

If you want to take the train from New York City to the area, you can take the Metro-North train (New Haven line) from Grand Central Station to the Fairfield station (located in downtown Fairfield), the Fairfield Metro station (on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line), or the Bridgeport station (downtown Bridgeport). Depending on where you will be living, the Metro-North train (New Haven line) has stops through the City of New Haven. For your reference, if you are taking the train to campus, the Fairfield train station is a five-minute drive from campus (in case you decide to Uber or take a taxi), or approximately a 20-minute walk.

Graduate students are required to be on campus on January 13 for Global Student Orientation.

Complete payments include University tuition, health insurance, and any other applicable fees billed to the student account. Payment for all University charges for undergraduates is due by August 1, 2023 for fall semester.

Payment can be made via Flywire. Holidays and other celebrations may delay processing of international payments, therefore, it is recommended that students initiate their payment at least 10 business days before the payment deadline to ensure timely processing. Incoming payments must be limited to the cost of University tuition, fees, and health insurance charged to the student account for the current semester.

Bursar Contact Information
Phone: 203-254-4000 ext. 4102, 2410, 4191 or 2165
Email: bursar@fairfield.edu

• Monday, July 31, 2023: This is the earliest day undergraduate international students can arrive in the US (students are allowed to arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on their Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students).
• Wednesday, August 30, 2023: International students with on-campus housing are expected to arrive on campus. This is the date stated on the Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students as the program start date. This date is the last day students may arrive in the United States. Late arrivals are not accepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). (J1 students and F1 undergraduate students – this will be the first day students will have access to their on-campus housing.)
• Thursday, August 31, 2023 - Mandatory Global Student Orientation: All international students must attend the Global Student Orientation full day event. During this time, students will review immigration benefits and responsibilities and participate in sessions relating to adjustment and life at Fairfield University. More details about Global Student Orientation will be sent closer to the date.
• Tuesday, September 5, 2023: Classes begin.

F-1 Undergraduate Students and J-1 Exchange Students: Please follow the instructions provided by the Office of Residence Life (F-1 students) or Global Fairfield Office (J-1 students) on how to indicate preferred housing. The Office of Residence Life will contact F-1 Undergraduate Students and J-1 Exchange Students via their Fairfield e-mail account to confirm their rooming assignment. Contact the Office of Residence Life at residencelife@fairfield.edu for further assistance.

Complete the Undergraduate Student Medical Report (F-1 and J-1 undergraduates) and provide supporting documents, and e-mail them to health@fairfield.edu before your arrival. F-1 undergraduate students or J-1 exchange students will not be able to live on campus or register for classes without this completed form.

All F-1 and J-1 students will be enrolled in the University’s health insurance plan.

In addition to the Student Medical Form, please upload your Covid-19 vaccination documentation to the Student Health Center secure portal at www.fairfield.edu/immunization. If you have any difficulty with the upload, email the documentation to health@fairfield.edu.

Before a visa appointment, students must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee online at www.FMJfee.com. Make sure to enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your passport. The name on your visa must agree with your name on your passport and Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students and Form I-20 for graduate students. The SEVIS ID number is on your Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students and Form I-20 for graduate students.

Afterwards, schedule a visa interview with the US Consulate or Embassy. This interview will be conducted in English. Before the interview, complete Form DS-160 (Google “DS-160” for the most up to date form).

Be sure to bring all of your documents to the interview:

• Undergraduate Students: Form I-20/Form DS-2019, passport, SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, Form DS-160, financial documents (Proof of Financial Means) and Admission Letter (F-1) or Exchange Decision email from Global Fairfield (J-1). You may also be asked to present academic records and test scores, and may be asked to provide proof of compelling ties to your home country (what will prevent you from permanently moving to the U.S.: family, property, previous US travel, etc.). Check with your Consulate’s website for their visa appointment requirements to ensure that you are fully prepared.
• Graduate Students: Form I-20, passport, SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, Form DS-160, financial documents and Admission Letter. You may also be asked to present academic records and test scores, and may be asked to provide proof of compelling ties to your home country (what will prevent you from permanently moving to the U.S.: family, property, previous US travel, etc.). Check with your Consulate’s website for their visa appointment requirements to ensure that you are fully prepared.

Please be aware that you are not allowed to initially come into the United States earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the Form I-20. 

U.S. Customs

Before collecting luggage in the airport, students will need to pass through the first stage of Customs. Students will need to present their immigration documents to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who will review the documents and ask about their plans for their stay in the U.S. After verifying that the information in a valid passport, visa, and Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is correct, the immigration officer will return the documents and will stamp students’ passport book with the I-94 entry stamp showing the date of entry to the U.S. and the visa status.

Students may also have brief fingerprints or a photograph taken. Students will present a Customs Declaration form, which will need to be filled out on the plane, to the Customs officer. Do not bring fruits, plants, or meats when traveling. Possession of these items may require additional inspection, resulting in delay.

Students may bring currency with them, but if you are carrying more than $10,000 USD in any form, you will need to fill out a reporting slip and possibly owe taxes on the money. We suggest bringing enough money to last a couple of weeks, and then opening a U.S. bank account where you can electronically transfer funds from your home country.

If admitted to the United States, you may remain in the United States even if your visa expires. In F-1 status, students can remain in the United States for the duration of their status (D/S) or as long as they maintain a F-1 status. If students are in F-1 status and they leave the United States after their visa expires, they must obtain a new F-1 visa to re-enter and continue their program.

In J-1 status, students can remain in the United States through the 30-day grace period following their program end date, providing students maintain their status during your program of study. Once a student in J-1 status departs the US during their 30-day grace period, they are not allowed to re-enter.

Please contact Global Fairfield (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu) if you have any questions related to the validity of your visa or duration of status.

The Form I-20 or the Form DS-2019 prove that students are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. The Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 should not be taken from students.

To best support our students with on campus housing for the fall semester, students with on campus housing (undergraduates and J-1 students) are expected to arrive to the United States on Wednesday, August 28, 2023 and should arrange for their transportation to bring them directly to campus: 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. We would recommend that you book a flight that arrives in the US as early in the day on August 28^th as possible.

Students with on campus housing are encouraged to arrange their transportation to campus using GO Airport Shuttle. They will pick up from JFK Airport or LaGuardia Airport in New York and will drop off on campus and there is a special rate for Fairfield University students for a shared ride to campus. We will let you know closer to your date of arrival where to go when you arrive on campus.

*Please note: Although Bradley International Airport is in Hartford, Connecticut, we do not recommend that you travel there. Transportation to the University is not as frequent and is more expensive.

If you want to take the train from New York City to the area, you can take the Metro-North train (New Haven line) from Grand Central Station to the Fairfield station (located in downtown Fairfield), the Fairfield Metro station (on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line), or the Bridgeport station (downtown Bridgeport). Depending on where you will be living, the Metro-North train (New Haven line) has stops through the City of New Haven. For your reference, if you are taking the train to campus, the Fairfield train station is a five-minute drive from campus (in case you decide to Uber or take a taxi), or approximately a 20-minute walk.

Complete payments include University tuition, health insurance, and any other applicable fees billed to the student account. Payment for all University charges for undergraduates is due by August 1, 2023 for fall semester.

Payment can be made via Flywire. Holidays and other celebrations may delay processing of international payments, therefore, it is recommended that students initiate their payment at least 10 business days before the payment deadline to ensure timely processing. Incoming payments must be limited to the cost of University tuition, fees, and health insurance charged to the student account for the current semester.

Bursar Contact Information:  Phone: 203-254-4000 ext. 4102, 2410, 4191 or 2165

Email: bursar@fairfield.edu

If students decide to order bedding or other necessities to be used when they are on campus, please have the items sent to the following address. Any packages received for students will be held for pickup on campus.

(Provide your name here)

Fairfield University

1073 North Benson Road, Box L

Fairfield, CT 06824