International Students
Welcome to the Hotel School community! Over the next year, you will be faced with many changes as you continue to adjust to life at Cornell and in the US. You will have many decisions to make, and we hope that you will find these resources helpful.
As an international student at Cornell, your most valuable resource is the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). We encourage you to find out about all the services that the ISSO offers, and make use of them! You will automatically be placed on the e-lists for the ISSO newsletters, so you will receive regular updates about important visa and immigration information, legal issues, campus information, international community news, trips, and social events.
The ISSO publishes the following guides for new international students:
Getting Started
All newly arriving international student MUST check in with the ISSO office, no later than 30 days after the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019 form. If you do not check in with the ISSO, you may lose your valid immigration status in the US.
To check in, go to the ISSO office at B-50 Caldwell Hall, and bring with you:
- your passport;
- your I-94 card;
- your I-20 or DS-2019 form.
PREPARE Program: August 18-21, 2008
The ISSO PREPARE program is a 4-day, international pre-orientation program. University orientation for the entire freshman class does not officially begin until August 22, so PREPARE will give you a chance to recover from travel fatigue and jet lag before plunging into other orientation activities and academic tasks! PREPARE will teach you about Cornell's student life, international community, and traditions, as well as covering practical matters. The program provides unique opportunities to ask questions and discuss issues with officials throughout the university, including staff from health services, campus police, and academic departments.