Please follow the below checklist to best plan for your arrival.

  • Confirm your admission: pay the enrollment deposit through the Admissions Portal
  • Set up your UMass Lowell student email account
  • Apply for your visa document (I-20 or DS-2019)
  • Review your visa document for accuracy
  • Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee
  • Secure your visa appointment & prepare by reviewing the Study in the States Guide. After you receive your visa, review it to ensure there are no errors.
  • Be sure to submit your immunization records to Health Services as soon as possible in order to avoid a hold on your SiS account preventing you from maintaining your student status. Please see Health Services, Health Requirements, and Forms.
  • Read through the Pre-Arrival and Arrival Information
  • Reserve FREE Airport Transportation
  • Secure housing accommodations
    • On-campus housing: secure your housing with Residence Life
    • Off-campus housing: Finding an apartment can take time. Be sure to review the official UMass Lowell Off-Campus Housing website to search for housing options, search for a roommate, and other important information about living off-campus.
    • You will need to arrange temporary accommodations PRIOR to your arrival if you arrive with no permanent housing. UMass Lowell is unable to provide temporary housing. 
  • Register for classes
  • Arrive to the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date on your visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) but no later than the first day of classes.
  • Review our Financial Resources section for information on the estimated cost of attending UMass Lowell, scholarship information, money management tips, and more!

Upon arrival to the U.S.

Be sure to bring the following documentation with you:

  • Passport with F-1 or J-1 Visa (Students from Canada will not have a visa in their passport).
  • Form I-20/DS-2019
  • Financial funding information

Some students may wish to arrive to the U.S. sooner than the first day of orientation. When choosing an arrival date, consider the following:

  • Do you have children that need to be set up in local public schools?
  • Will you be apartment searching?
  • What other logistical items are you hoping to get settled prior to the start of the semester?