Admitted International Students
Congratulations on your acceptance to Grand Valley State University! We look forward to getting to know you better and meeting you on campus. As an international student, you will have some wonderful new experiences during your time here in the United States, and we are excited to be your host. Your presence adds greatly to our campus community and we hope to learn as much from you as you learn from us!
Now that you've been admitted, you can find the next steps towards becoming Laker. For any questions or guidance, you can email the Admissions Office at [email protected].
- I-20 and Student Visa Information
- Funding and Scholarships
- Housing
- Course Registration
- International Student Services
Contact Us
If you need assistance or guidance prior to attending Grand Valley, feel free to contact us.
Admissions Office
phone: (616) 331-2025
email: [email protected]
Padnos International Center
phone: (616) 331-3878
email: [email protected]
website: Padnos International Center
Getting Your I-20
Now that you have been admitted to Grand Valley, getting your I-20 is the next step in your process.
In order to get your I-20, you will need to complete the financial verification in the international student portal, and also upload your bank statement and passport information for you and all dependents that will be joining you.
BANK DOCUMENTS FOR THE I-20
As part of the I-20 process, all international students must have enough financial support to cover the estimated costs of academic and living expenses for one academic year.
What are acceptable financial documents?
- Personal bank statements indicating required currency amount in liquid asset form (business accounts are not accepted)
- Cash deposits, certificates of deposit, savings accounts, term deposits and checking accounts are acceptable
- Investment statements indicating liquid assets
- Submissions need to include clear evidence of the fund’s liquidity and the cash surrender value
- Graduate assistantship award letter
- Athletic scholarship letter from a Grand Valley athletic team
- Government funding
- Letter must have contact information of the organization providing funding
- Education loan confirmation letter
What information does my bank statement need to have?
- All financial documents must have at least three months of transaction history or proof that the account has been active for more than three months
- All certificate of deposit and term deposit statements must include the maturity date
- All financial documents must be in English. Documents not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation.
- All financial documents must be printed on official bank letterhead and must be signed by the appropriate bank official.
Only original financial documents or scanned documents in a pdf format will be accepted. We are not able to accept screenshots, photos of bank statements, bank statements scanned with smartphone apps, Internet banking print outs or financial documents with no identifying bank or account holder information.
Student Visa
After you have received your I-20, your next step is to get a visa appointment.
Pay your SEVIS Fee (I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information)
There is a mandatory fee all F and J students must pay before your visa interview. You will pay your SEVIS fee at FMJfee.com either online or through Western Union.
- F students: $350
- J students: $220
Check Documents
Before applying for your student visa, please make sure the I-20 is correct. Pay special attention to the spelling of your name, date of birth, program of study, and funding source (family support, scholarship, graduate assistantship, etc.).
Visa Appointment
Once you have the receipt showing you paid for your SEVIS fee, you should visit the U.S. Embassy website in your country and apply for a visa appointment. You can find the closest embassy on the U.S. Embassy website.
Visa Application Questions
To help you with the visa interview, we have some helpful visa interview tips.
Point of Contact
When you are asked for your point of contact in the U.S., please use the following information:
- Kate Stoetzner
Director of International Students
Grand Valley State University
130 Lake Ontario Hall
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401
Phone: (616) 331-3898
Email: [email protected]
Housing
When should I apply for housing?
Once admitted, it is suggested that you apply for housing as soon as possible. International students wanting to live on campus must apply for housing by July 1 (fall start) or November 1 (winter start) and there is a $150 required housing deposit. You can start the housing application from your student portal or on the Housing and Residence Life website. When completing the application, you will need your network ID and password which can found in your student portal. You can find more information about the different housing styles on the Housing website.
Who will I live with at Grand Valley?
You will be notified of your housing and roommate assignment via email before you arrive on campus. Roommate and housing style choice can be requested on the housing application, but there are no guarantees that you top choice will be selected.
Do I need to live on campus?
First year students (freshmen) are required to live on campus. Transfer students and graduate students are not required to live on campus.
Course Registration
Undergraduate
All new undergraduate students will need to schedule an Advising and Registration session. At this session, you will meet with an academic advisor to discuss your program and select your courses. All advising and registration sessions are virtual but students currently in the United States can choose an in person session. There is no cost for the course registration session. If you have questions about course registration, you can contact us at [email protected]. Don't forget to download the international enrollment information guide.
Freshman
Freshman students can find more information about orientation here - https://www.gvsu.edu/admissions/preparing-for-freshman-orientation-77.htm.
Transfer/J-1 students
Transfer and J-1 students can find more information about transfer orientation here - https://www.gvsu.edu/admissions/preparing-for-transfer-orientation-93.htm.
Graduate
Graduate students will need to contact their program director to get more information about the program curriculum and course registration process. The name of the program director is in your student portal and on your acceptance letter. If you are unable to find your program director, you can contact us at [email protected].
International Students Services
The ISS Team at Grand Valley advocates for international students on campus and serves as a primary resource for legal, cultural, and social matters for international students. We work closely with many offices across campus, as well as organizations in our community to help international students feel at home and connected with the community. We look forward to working with as you continue your journey.
International Student Events
Attending one of our events is a great way to get information about becoming an international student at Grand Valley. Whether you want general information, details pertaining to a specific program, or just want to see what Grand Valley has to offer, explore these options and choose which is right for you. We have group sessions, individual appointments, or virtual office hours available.