Arrival & Orientation

Fall 2020 Students Next Steps

Attendance Options

International Students will have a choice of the following three (3) options for attendance for the Fall 2020:

The following options are made available to accommodate students affected by travel and visa restrictions as a result of COVID-19 worldwide. The below options are only available to new incoming students and you must select one option or risk cancellation of your admission to USF.

Incoming International Transfer Students should contact both International Student Services as well as their academic advisor to determine if online instruction will be permitted for the Fall 2020 semester.

Option 1 - Fall 2020 on campus, face-to-face instruction

New students who are able to obtain necessary immigration paperwork and who can travel into the US and arrive on campus in time for the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester should choose this option. Students should arrive to campus no later than Thursday, August 27, 2020. Failure to check in on campus during the first week of classes will result in cancellation of your Fall 2020 application.

Option 2 - Fall 2020 virtual, online instruction from home country

New students who are unable to secure necessary immigration paperwork or visa appointment to arrive on campus in time for the start of the Fall 2020 semester by Thursday, August 27 should choose this option. New students who have been awarded a USF scholarship for the Fall 2020 semester should choose this option as the award is not guaranteed if you fail to enroll in full-time study for the Fall 2020 semester.
NOTE: Per USF Export Control - The US Office of Foreign Assets Control administered sanctions not only cover the export of goods, they also cover the export of services. For example, distance learning services may not be provided to Cuba, Iran, Sudan or Syria under the current OFAC sanctions without a license. See the University of South Florida's Distance Learning policy - 10-067 (PDF). Therefore, students from these countries are not able to study online from outside the US.

International Students should choose the below option for attendance for the Spring 2021 term:

Option 3 - Update your application to begin at USF in Spring 2021

New students who are unable or unwilling to travel into the US to arrive on campus in time for Fall 2020 instruction should choose this option. Students receiving a USF scholarship for the Fall 2020 semester may forfeit the award when choosing this option.

 

Next Steps for New Students

Option 1 - Fall 2020 on campus, face-to-face instruction

  1. Fill out the E-Form to select this option via iStart.

  2. Submit admissions deposit via your MyBullsPath portal.

  3. Register for Orientation via your MyBullsPath portal. Orientation is mandatory for each new student, and orientation for the Fall 2020 semester will be online.

  4. Complete the Student Health Services (SHS) immunizations and insurance requirements and provide necessary paperwork. This will include having any existing holds cleared before you are able to register for classes. Failure to comply with the USF Immunization policy by the first day of class could result in the cancellation of your Fall 2020 classes.
    1. Visit your MyBullsPath portal to determine which Student Health Services items are outstanding.

    2. If an item has a "T" or an "N" status code, you must take action to resolve the item. If left unresolved, you will be unable to register for Fall 2020 classes.
  5. Apply for housing via your MyBullsPath portal. You must also fill out this survey to indicate your housing preference.

  6. Research USF dining meal plans.

  7. Obtain your official and final documents and bring them with you for "doc check" upon your arrival to campus in August. You may also have a school counselor email the final documents to international@usf.edu for processing. 

 

Option 2 - Fall 2020 virtual, online instruction from home country

  1. Fill out the E-Form to select this option via iStart.

  2. Submit admissions deposit via your MyBullsPath portal.

  3. Register for Orientation via your MyBullsPath portal. Orientation is mandatory for each new student, and orientation for the Fall 2020 semester will be online.

  4. Complete the Student Health Services (SHS) immunizations and insurance requirements and provide necessary paperwork. This will include having any existing holds cleared before you are able to register for classes. Failure to comply with the USF Immunization policy by the first day of class could result in the cancellation of your Fall 2020 classes.
    1. Visit your MyBullsPath portal to determine which Student Health Services items are outstanding.

    2. If an item has a "T" or an "N" status code, you must take action to resolve the item. If left unresolved, you will be unable to register for Fall 2020 classes.
    3. If you have notified USF International Services via the iStart e-form that you will be studying outside of the U.S. for the entirety of the Fall 2020 semester, the grace period for complying will be extended. Student Health Services will grant a temporary waiver releasing the Immunizations (IM), Medical History (MH), and Insurance (SI) holds for Fall 2020.

  5. If you have secured housing for the Fall 2020/Spring 2021 semester, you will need to cancel this reservation prior to the August 1, 2020 deadline to qualify for housing deposit refund.
    1. Email housing at housing@usf.edu; provide your name and USF ID number, and mention that because of COVID-19 you would like to cancel your housing reservation.

    2. Cancel your 2020-2021 Housing Application.
      1. Go to the USF housing website
      2. Under “Process for New Students” select Option 4, “Complete your Housing
        Application”, then “My Applications”
      3. Select “Cancel App”, select “Fall/Spring”, “2020-2021 Housing Application”

    3. Begin a new Housing Application for Spring 2021 if you wish to live on campus for Spring 2021; this application will open September 1, 2020.

  6. If you have secured a meal plan with USF Dining, you will need to cancel this reservation as soon as possible to avoid being charged. Please email dining@usf.edu to cancel all meal plans.

  7. Students beginning USF online for Fall 2020 will need to submit final official documents and transcripts. Final transcripts must be sent to international@usf.edu directly from a school counselor; external results may be sent to international@usf.edu from either a school counselor, board administrator, or exam officer.  iStart paperwork, including immigration documents and financials, will need to be submitted through the iStart portal.
  

 

Option 3 - Update your application to begin at USF in Spring 2021

  1. Fill out the E-Form to select this option via iStart.

  2. Email International Admissions at international@usf.edu, and submit an application update form. Once in the student applicant portal, select "FORMS", then select the Application Update form and complete accordingly.

  3. Submit admissions deposit via your MyBullsPath portal.

  4. Register for Orientation via your MyBullsPath portal. Orientation is mandatory for each new student, and orientation dates for the Spring 2021semester will be posted when available.

  5. Complete the Student Health Services (SHS) immunizations and insurance requirements and provide necessary paperwork. This will include having any existing holds cleared before you are able to register for classes. Failure to comply with the USF Immunization policy by the first day of Spring 2021 classes could result in the cancellation of your semester classes.
    1. Visit your MyBullsPath portal to determine which Student Health Services items are outstanding.

    2. If an item has a "T" or an "N" status code, you must take action to resolve the item. If left unresolved, you will be unable to register for Spring 2021 classes.
  6. If you have secured housing for the Fall 2020/Spring 2021 semester, you will need to cancel this reservation prior to the August 1, 2020 deadline to qualify for housing deposit refund.
    1. Email housing at housing@usf.edu; provide your name and USF ID number, and mention that because of COVID-19 you would like to cancel your housing reservation.

    2. Cancel your 2020-2021 Housing Application.
      1. Go to the USF housing website
      2. Under “Process for New Students” select Option 4, “Complete your Housing Application”, then “My Applications”
      3. Select “Cancel App”, select “Fall/Spring”, “2020-2021 Housing Application”

    3. Begin a new Housing Application for Spring 2021 if you wish to live on campus for Spring 2021; this application will open September 1, 2020.

  7. If you have secured a meal plan with USF Dining, you will need to cancel this reservation as soon as possible to avoid being charged. Please email dining@usf.edu to cancel all meal plans.

  8. Students beginning USF on campus in Spring 2021 will need to submit final official documents and transcripts prior to attending classes. Final transcripts must be sent to international@usf.edu directly from a school counselor; external results may be sent to international@usf.edu from either a school counselor, board administrator, or exam officer.  iStart paperwork, including immigration documents and financials, will need to be submitted through the iStart portal.
  

 

More Information and FAQs

Questions regarding immigration processing can be directed to immigrationprocessing@usf.edu.

You may contact International Admissions at international@usf.edu for additional admissions questions.

You may also contact Orientation at myorientation@usf.edu.

You may contact Student Health services regarding immunizations requirements at immunization@shs.usf.edu; for questions regarding insurance compliance, please email insurance@shs.usf.edu. 

You may also contact Housing at housing@usf.edu.

Please monitor www.usf.com/coronavirus for campus updates.