Pre-Departure Information for Exchange Students

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that all J-1 applicants pay a nonrefundable US$220 SEVIS Fee at least three days before they apply for a visa. You can find more information about the SEVIS Fee by visiting: www.wichita.edu/SEVIS

Most students will need to obtain a J-1 visa (exchange visitor visa) before coming to Wichita. We strongly advise applying for the J-1 visa from your country of citizenship or residence. Depending on the country, obtaining a visa can range from being quite easy to very difficult. To apply for an exchange visitor visa, you must submit the following to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

1. Form DS-160 (completed online)
2. Nonrefundable US$185 visa application fee
3. Receipt* that you paid the US$185 nonrefundable visa fee *Make sure to keep the receipt and bring it with you to the U.S.
4. A passport valid for at least 6 months (plus any old passports you may have).
5. A current Form DS-2019 from Wichita State University (or other program sponsor, such as ISEP).
6. A 2x2 photo (Visit: http://travel.state.gov/photorequirements)
7. Evidence of sufficient funds to study in the U.S. including a bank statement.
8. U.S. Visa requirements differ from country to country, find visa information for your country by visiting: www.usembassy.gov/

Check out our Visa Interview Tips at www.wichita.edu/VisaTips

**A $250 visa integrity fee to be paid at the time of visa issuance may be required. More information about this requirement is forthcoming

All University offices are open Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Prior to arrival, you will receive an email with more information about check-in and orientation for J-1 program students.

We offer FREE airport transportation from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. from the Wichita airport called Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (code ICT). We only provide rides from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and will not provide pickups from any other airport. We only provide rides within specific dates. You can choose to take a taxi/uber to the University, taxi/uber fare is approximately US$20-$35. More information about requesting airport pickup will be emailed to you at a later date.

Before you book your flight, if you have an arrival time after 5:00 P.M., check with housing before as you may have to stay in a hotel for one night at your own expense. There are many hotels near the airport which cost approximately US$75-$100 per night. If you have to spend the night in a hotel, we recommend you stay at the Hyatt Place at Wichita State University which is located on the WSU campus. We also recommend checking the official move-in and move-out dates prior to booking your flights.

Hyatt Place at Wichita State University: www.hyatt.com/wichitastateuniversity

For departure, students must find their own transportation to the airport at their own expense. 

We recommend and encourage all exchange students to live on-campus. You can begin to review the on-campus accommodation options on the Housing and Residence Life website: www.wichita.edu/housing

Please apply online and pay any necessary fees to the University Housing Office as soon as possible to reserve your place in our residence halls. Single private rooms are very limited in the residence halls and are generally not available. Please contact the WSU Housing Office directly if you have any questions regarding this.

Please see the housing contract for the official move-in and move-out dates and check the predeparture information for the arrival date and suggested departure date for exchange students. If you arrive before or leave after the housing contract start/end date you may be subject to additional nightly fees or you may have to find off-campus accommodation. Please contact the WSU Housing Office for specific costs at housing.wsu@wichita.edu.

For more information about on-campus housing or if you have questions about living in one of the University’s residence halls, please visit: www.wichita.edu/housing

If you wish to live off-campus, please email us for more information. 

Wichita State University requires that all J-1 students have medical insurance that meets the specifications as set by the Department of State.

You will automatically be charged for qualifying medical insurance when you register for classes (the cost is approximately US$1,200 for one semester). If you already have medical insurance, you will need to submit an insurance waiver to ECI Services. Your proof of medical insurance coverage must contain the coverage amount and the coverage period. If you have adequate medical insurance coverage and are approved for a waiver, you will not be required to purchase a new insurance policy. A tuberculin (TB) blood test, requiring an initial payment of approximately US$90, is required for all new students and is given by WSU’s Student Health Service. Please bring your vaccination records with you to the U.S. If you need any vaccinations when you arrive, you can get many of them at Student Health. We recommend that you take care of any existing medical or dental problems at home since student medical insurance does not cover routine dental work or eye examinations.

Before purchasing your own insurance plan, please send your plan to ECI Services at waiver@eciservices.com to ensure that it will be approved for a waiver.

For more details, please visit: Medical Insurance: http://wichita.edu/MedicalInsurance

TB Testing and Routine Medical Care: http://wichita.edu/TBTesting

Upon your arrival in Wichita, you will be expected to pay for your housing and meals, books, and medical insurance. You will not be allowed to attend classes or live in a university residence hall without making arrangements to pay all of the above items. Please note that the estimate below can change at any time.

Estimated Cost (per semester):
Housing & Meals (The Flats): $5,920
Books: $600
Medical Insurance: $1,200

*See www.wichita.edu/housing for exact costs based on residence hall and meal plans. If you live off-campus, the cost would vary. 

After you arrive in Wichita, you may open a bank account. We have three popular banks nearby Campus Credit Union is located in the Rhatigan Student Center at WSU, Bank of America has a branch next to our campus and Meritrust Bank has a branch near The Flats. In order to open an account, you will need to show your passport and proof of your address in Wichita (such as your housing contract or apartment rental contract). You will automatically receive a debit card so you can get cash quickly and easily. Opening a bank account is free. 

• Electronic bank transfer – Wichita State University has partnered with Flywire to streamline the process of international wire transfers. Please visit our website for more information: http://www.wichita.edu/pay
• Check, Bank Draft, Money Order, or Traveler’s Checks – If you bring a check or bank draft with you to Wichita, it is very important that the check be made payable to “Wichita State University” (and not to you). Your check should include the address of the bank in the U.S. for collections. If the check is made payable to you, you will not be able to use the money for some time after the check is deposited.
• Credit Card – If you use a credit card to pay for your medical insurance or housing, you will be charged a service fee to use the credit card.
• Cash is not accepted at WSU – If you bring cash with you, you will need to open a U.S. bank account, deposit your cash into it, and then do a bank transfer.

Important Documents

• Passport
• Itinerary
• Boarding pass
• DS-2019 and all admission documents

Cash

• USD$300-500; keep $100 in wallet, have $10s & $20s; keep $100 bills separate

Electronics

• Cell phone and charger
• Laptop/tablet and charger
• Converter/adapter
• Portable charger/power bank charger
• Headphones/earphones

Other

• Pens (1-2 for filling out forms)
• Small notepad (keeps school address, important contact information, etc.)
• Snacks/cookies (meat products not allowed)
• Chewing gum (reduces earaches on airplane)
• Hand/body lotion (aircraft cabin is dry)
• Eye-drops (eyes dry after long flight)
• A pair of socks (it may be cold on the plane)
• Light sweater/jacket (in case it’s cold on the plane)
• Books/magazines

Clothes (quantity depends on laundry habits)

• Short sleeves, long sleeves, T-Shirts, dress shirts
• Shorts, skirts
• Pants (slacks, khakis), Jeans
• Sweaters
• Light jacket and coat
• Cultural costume
• Sportswear, swimsuit
• Pajamas
• Underwear
• Socks
• Warm hat, scarf, gloves
• Sneakers, dress shoes, sandals, flip flops

Bathroom/Personal Care

• Comb, nail clippers, toothbrush, small toothpaste
• Traveler-size shampoo, conditioner, shower soap
• Skincare products, cosmetics

Daily Necessities

• Eyeglasses/ contact lenses (with spare ones), sunglasses
• Contact lens solution
• Personal medicines

School Supplies and Other

• Schoolbag/backpack or tote bag
• Pens/pencils
• Cultural products/ souvenirs

• Towels, wash cloths
• Bed linens (mattress pads, sheets, pillow, and blankets)—all twin extra-long mattresses are 36”x81— Single bedroom in flats use full size bedding
• Laundry basket, detergent, dryer sheets
• Clothes hangers
• Toilet paper
• Hair dryer, straightener, curling iron
• Iron with automatic shutoff and a small ironing board (do not iron on the floor or furniture)
• Multi-plug extension that is UL approved with a surge protector
• First aid kit
• Small can opener
• A few dishes and utensils (cup, plate, bowl, silverware, pan, fork, knife, spoon, etc.)
• Umbrella, raincoat
• Bicycle, bike lock (U-lock suggested) – bike racks available outside each building
• Painter tape—do not use Command strips as they tend to damage the walls

• Personally-owned upholstered “stuffed” furniture such as sofas, cushioned chairs, bean bags, bed/futon mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and bed toppers thicker than 3”
• Halogen lamps-- most lamps that do not use your standard bulbs or florescent tubes are halogen
• Pets (only non-dangerous fish are permitted in a clean, odor free aquarium, less than 20 gallons)
• Multi-plug extensions that are not UL approved and do not have a surge protector
• Abrasive cleaning supplies—some cleaning supplies are available through the Information Desk at no additional charge with your Shocker Card
• Double-sided foam tape such as Command strips, duct tape, Scotch tape, Box tape, wall paper and borders (these items cause considerable amounts of damage to walls, doors and furniture)
• Items that hang from the ceiling
• Incense and candles
• Lighter fluid
• Firearms and weapons
• Items that have an open heating element such as toasters, toaster ovens, George Foreman grills, and traditional coffee makers without an automatic shutoff feature
• Freezer units
• Refrigerators larger than 5 cubic feet
• Possession of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs
• Alcohol or drug paraphernalia (this includes, but is not limited to: beer can collections, shot glasses, wine bottles, bongs, empty alcohol containers, etc.)