Office of International Education and Services
Apply
Dear New Student or Scholar,
Welcome to Southeast Missouri State University. You have been
accepted for a full course of study. A full course of
study is a minimum of 12 credit hours of study for undergraduate
students (9 credit hours for graduate level students) in either
the spring or fall semesters, regardless of visa type (F-1 or
J-1). To help you make your
arrangements for obtaining your visa and traveling to Cape
Girardeau, Missouri, we provide the following guide. You are
responsible for reading and understanding the information given
in these instructions.
Obtaining a Visa
Making Travel Plans
Air
Ground
Making Your Housing Arrangements
Residence Hall Living Requirements
On Campus Housing (Residence Halls)
Off Campus Housing (if Residence Hall Living Requirements
(above) are met)
University Bills
Health Information
Our Health Insurance Program
On Campus Health Services
Completing Your Medical History Form
How Much Money to Bring
New International Student Orientation (Required)
Choosing and Enrolling in Classes
Transferring Credit
About Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
Please read over the following information very carefully. If
you have additional questions or need further information,
please seek answers on our web site at
http://www2.semo.edu/intadmit/,
or you may e-mail us at: intadmit@semo.edu.
George Dordoni, Assistant Director
Office of International Education and Services
Obtaining a Visa
If you are applying to be a student or scholar from outside the
United States, and you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful
permanent resident of the U.S., you will be required to obtain
the appropriate visa. If you have received a form I-20 from us,
this will be an F-1 Student visa. If you received a form DS2019
from us, the visa is a J-1 Exchange Visitor in the appropriate
category. Call, write, or e-mail the Consulate General of the
United States of America, Non-Immigrant Visa section for the
procedures appropriate for your country. You can obtain this
information from the following website:
http://usembassy.state.gov/.
You will be required to pay two fees as follows: a fee for I-901
(SEVIS support fee) and a visa application fee. The SEVIS
support fee is $200.00. The visa application fee varies and it
is best to check with the U.S. Consulate General for current fee
and I-901 payment information. Frequently asked questions about
the I-901 fee are answered at:
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.
As a part of the process you are required to stand for a
consular interview.
Here are some tips to help you be prepared for the consular
interview:
The consular official wants to know that you have been accepted
for a full course of study at an approved school. You will need
to show evidence in the form of original acceptance letters or
other correspondence from Southeast Missouri State University,
as well as the form I-20 or DS2019.
The consular official wants to know why studying at Southeast
Missouri State University is the next best step in your
educational program and how it is related to your life plans and
goals. Why did you choose our University?
The consular official wants to know if you are academically
prepared to study at our school. Do you have the appropriate
educational background and test scores?
The consular official wants to know if you have adequate
finances at your disposal to be able to study without having to
work illegally. Can you provide evidence of adequate funds (bank
statements for last six months or more, sponsor’s statement,
scholarship or graduate assistantship award letter)?
The consular official wants to know that you will return to your
country of residence after completion of your program. Can you
provide evidence of as many of the following as possible:
Residence outside the U.S.A. that you do not intend to abandon?
Evidence of close familial ties in your country?
Family or job obligations that would pull you back home on
completion of studies?
Property or business ownership outside the U.S. (and especially
in home country)?
Bank account, other funds or investments in your name that will
remain in home country?
Evidence of previous trips to the U.S. (by you or close
relatives) with returns to your home country?
Evidence that your financial support is your own or your
immediate family’s (not borrowed from other people including
relatives)?
Offers of a job back home after completion of your studies?
Think about your answers carefully in advance. Often you may not
be given much time to explain yourself at the consulate. You
need to be able to be clear and sure of yourself without
sounding “over-rehearsed.” Providing written documentation of
the above “evidence,” provided it is brief, clear and
to-the-point, can be helpful.
If you have been denied a visa, respectfully ask for the reason
in writing. Sometimes, and in some countries, it is common to be
refused the first few times. In these cases, some gentle and
polite persistence may be successful. Do not be rude or
argumentative with the consular official, as this will be
counterproductive.
Other Visa Matters
Once the Consular official is satisfied that you are a genuine
student applicant, and that you intend to return after your
studies, (If you are an F-1 visa-seeking student) he or she will
take your I-20 from Southeast Missouri State, and place it into
an envelope that will be specially sealed; (if you are a J-1
Exchange visitor visa seeker) he or she may take part of the
form DS2019 and return the rest to you in an envelope. You will
be instructed not to open this envelope yourself, but to present
it to the border official who will check your documents upon
your arrival in the U.S.
During your flight, you will be given a form to complete as you
approach the United States. If crossing from Mexico or Canada by
car, you will be given this form at the border crossing. It is a
form I-94 “Arrival Departure Record.” It is important to fill
the form out accurately according to the directions you are
given.
Upon your arrival in the U.S., the border official will want to
see your passport, envelope with the I-20 or DS2019 and I-94. On
some rare occasions, they have asked students to present a copy
of the acceptance letter from the University. The border
official will check your passport validity, visa, and I-94 form
for completeness and accuracy. He or she will open the envelope
and examine the I-20 or DS2019 for the arrival date. Given that
everything is fine, s/he will stamp the I-20 or DS2019, your
passport and the form I-94 with the appropriate status of your
arrival (F-1 or J-1). S/he may transcribe the I-94 number onto
your passport and I-20. Take good care to keep the I-94 card
together with your passport and I-20 or DS2019 if at all
possible, and in a safe place. Do not report to any other
university first, no matter how your plans may have changed.
Report to the university listed on the I-20 or DS2019 that you
presented to the border official.
At some airports in the U.S. the DHS (Department of Homeland
Security) is experimenting with electronically produced forms
I-94. These look very much like an airline ticket. The purpose
is the same, and the I-94 should be handled in similar fashion.
Making Travel Plans
After you have secured the appropriate visa, you will want to
make your travel plans to come to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This
will involve arranging for air and (likely) ground
transportation. The earlier you can make the arrangements, the
more likely it will be for you to have trouble-free travel. You
will want to be sure that your entire travel plan, including air
and ground transportation is confirmed in advance of your
departure.
Air Transportation
Although the closest international airport to Cape Girardeau,
Missouri, is in St. Louis, Missouri, there is a small airport in
Cape Girardeau. However, at this time there are no commercial
carriers flying into or out of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.
The airport administration has informed us that travel into and
out of the airport will return late summer of 2007. Please check
with the airlines prior to making flight arrangements into Cape
Girardeau.
Ground Transportation
If you will arrive in St. Louis, Missouri, and you will not fly
into Cape Girardeau, you will need to make arrangements with a
private van service for ground transportation to Cape. The only
provider of this service is Bootheel Area Regional
Transportation or BART. They provide a professionally-driven van
with comfortable seats and room for your luggage. This van must
be arranged at least three days prior to your need for the
service.
Currently BART charges $60.00 per person for the one-way trip
from St. Louis to Cape Girardeau. Additional persons are charged
a bit less (each) if all are traveling together as a group -- a
family for example ($60 for the first person, $45 each for each
additional). The payment is due immediately upon arrival at the
destination. The BART van will take you to any destination in
Cape Girardeau city limits for this price (University Residence
Hall, specified apartment off campus, etc.). They may charge an
additional fee for flights that arrive after 11:00 p.m. and
before 7 a.m. (often as much as $55.00 additional dollars).
Within the U.S. dial BART toll free at 1-800-284-2278. Outside
the U.S. you must dial (U.S. country code) 573-335-0844 or you
can make reservations on their website
www.bartshuttle.com.
Appropriate long distance charges will apply.
It is possible, though a bit less convenient to take Amtrak
train service from Chicago. The train arrives in Carbondale,
Illinois, which is a one-hour drive away from Cape Girardeau.
Taxi service (Yellow Cab) from Carbondale to Cape Girardeau is
available for about $65.00 as of this writing. If you are
eligible to hire/rent a car, you may wish to rent a car at the
St. Louis airport for the drive to Cape Girardeau. This can be
economical if more than one person is traveling, as you can
share the cost. The University has a special arrangement with
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and they may give students and scholars a
discount.
Accommodation Upon Arrival
If you have a housing contract on file with our Office of
Residence Life and will be traveling alone or with other
Southeast students, you may be able to get accommodation in a
University Residence Hall upon your arrival. If this arrival is
earlier than the “Move-In Date” you should check with the Office
of Residence Life, in advance, about availability and charges
for the additional days (Phone 573-651-2274). You may wish to
contact the Office of Residence Life directly by e-mail at:
residencelife@semo.edu.
If you will live off campus, or you are traveling with others
who are not students (family, friends) you will need to arrange
accommodations at a local hotel or Bed & Breakfast house. Costs
for each night’s stay will vary widely from one hotel to the
next, but generally range between $50.00 to $120.00 per night.
Hotels/Motels Phone Number
Drury Inns, Incorporated 800-325-8300 (Toll free in the U.S.)
Hampton Inn 573-651-3000
Pear Tree Inn 573-334-3000
Budget Inn 573-334-2828
Super 8 Motel 573-339-0808
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 573-334-4491
Victorian Inn 573-651-4486
Bed and Breakfast Houses
Bellevue Bed and Breakfast 573-335-3302
Neumeyer’s Bed and Breakfast 573-335-0449
Rosebed Bed Inn 573-332-7673 (www.rosebedinn.com)
Making Your Housing Arrangements
As quickly as possible after making your decision to come to
Southeast and securing your visa and travel plans, you should
make arrangements for where you will live. Contact the Office of
Residence Life to receive a contract for on-campus housing. If
you elect to live on campus, you should read all documents
carefully, including the reverse side of the “Contract.” Once
the contract is signed and submitted, it is a legally binding
document that cannot be broken.
Residence Hall Living Requirements
University policy requires that you MUST live on campus (in the
Residence Halls) unless:
You are living with immediate lineal relatives (parents or
children, NOT cousins) or legal guardians who live in the Cape
Girardeau area.
You are 21 years old or older.
You are married or have dependent children.
You have already completed at least 57 credit hours of
University-level studies
If none of the above statements are true, you will be charged
the fee for living in the Residence Halls automatically. You
should immediately contact the
Office of Residence Life at our
University by phone at: 573-651-2274, or by e-mail at:
residencelife@semo.edu. You may ask for a brochure that
describes the rooms, facilities and housing options. You must
select from among the options in the Residence Halls brochure.
If you live in the Residence Halls, you must also select a meal
plan -- meals provided by our food service contractor. There are
several options designed to meet your needs. Many international
students choose the 15 meals per week plan with additional
“points” for after-hours eating.
On Campus Housing
There are several types of on-campus rooms available to you.
Read the materials from Residence Life carefully and select the
type that best fits your lifestyle and budget.
The housing contract covers very specific time periods. The
Residence Halls close for a few days around our Thanksgiving
holiday (late November), four-to-five weeks around our winter
holiday season (mid-December to mid- January), and for eight or
nine days during the spring semester (Spring Break) usually
mid-March. The halls also close after the end of final exams in
May for a short period. Unless you choose the twelve-month
option, your room becomes inaccessible during these times. In
addition, there is no mail service or meal service during these
times. It is possible to reserve a different room during these
periods for an additional cost. You will need to add a charge of
$13.50 per day to your estimated living expenses for the
reserved room, and an estimated $10.00 or so for food.
There also are on-campus apartments for students who meet the
eligibility criteria (married, with children, etc.). Please
check with the Office of Residence Life to see if you meet their
criteria.
Off Campus Housing
If may live off-campus according to the requirements listed
above, you may select from among many options including
apartments, houses, sharing a house, renting a room, etc. If you
have friends or other contacts here, you can request a current
copy of the local newspaper, the Southeast Missourian. The paper
carries advertising including apartments and houses for lease or
rent. You can also visit the Southeast Missourian online at
http://www.semissourian.com. In the classified ad section of the
newspaper, you can find listings of apartments and houses for
rent.
“Landlord Directory”
Our Dean of Students’ Office publishes a “Landlord Directory”
with helpful information in it, too. The information includes a
listing of local landlords who wish to offer their properties
for rent/lease to University students. The list is not
exhaustive, but contains only the names of landlords who wish to
advertise through this medium. The University cannot endorse or
recommend any particular landlord or agency. The Directory also
contains information about how to inspect a potential apartment
or house for rent – items to look for with regard to safety and
security, as well as serviceability. There is a handy guide to
how to read a lease (renting agreement), clauses and protective
things to check for inclusion. It also lists how and where to
get utility services. You may request one of these Landlord
Directories from the Dean of Students’ Office at (573) 651-2263.
Off-Campus Housing Immediately Prior to the Beginning of the
Semester
The availability of housing at the beginning of a semester can
be very limited. Often, domestic students will come to town as
much as one month in advance to secure appropriate housing. It
takes some time and “homework” to find and lease a good home or
apartment. Selection is often limited, and other students “get
there first.” Make your plans accordingly, if you are eligible
and would like this option.
What is Provided in Off-Campus Housing?
Furnished Apartments/Houses
If a house or apartment is advertised as “furnished,” it
generally is provided with a few items of living room, bedroom
and dining room furniture and kitchen appliances. It does not
usually come equipped with such things as kitchen utensils,
cooking pots/pans, etc., nor bed linens or bathroom towels.
“Furnished” does not necessarily mean that any of the costs for
utilities (electricity, water, heating, phone or television
service) are included. Read the lease (rental agreement)
carefully to discover what is provided, or not provided by the
landlord.
Unfurnished Apartments/Houses
If a house or apartment is “unfurnished” it will have no chairs
or tables, no beds or mattresses. You will need to provide your
own household furnishings. You will have several options as
follows: (a) buy new (expensive), (b) rent furnishings (also
very expensive), (c) buy used furniture. You can often find
serviceable used furniture and household items at local
second-hand furniture stores, “garage sales,” or advertised by
individuals in the classified ads of the Southeast Missourian
newspaper. Again, such things as utilities (electricity, water,
heat, telephone, and television) are usually not provided.
Unfurnished houses may, or may not have kitchen appliances in
them. These can be quite expensive, so you should check with the
landlord/leasing agent to see if the unfurnished house has
appliances. Unfurnished apartments generally do come with
appliances, but it doesn’t hurt to check and make sure. You
should also ask about the location of the nearest laundry
facilities to your housing.
Costs for off-campus housing vary widely. To give you a general
guide, as of this writing you may be able to find apartments to
rent for $250.00 - $400.00 per month, furnished. A house can
cost from $450.00 to $850.00 in our area for
three-or-four-bedrooms, unfurnished.
University Bills
Our University opens a student billing account upon your
application. You are assigned a student number; this number will
be used to identify your account. Please be sure that your name
and student number is on all correspondence about your student
account.
Your student number will be provided upon request via e-mail or
upon your arrival.
The University begins to charge your account immediately upon
your application as follows:
Upon application, your account is charged the appropriate
application fee.
If you reserve a Residence Hall Room, your account is charged a
deposit of $150.00 to hold the reservation for you.
Tuition and fees are not immediately charged to your account
(see below)
Your bills cannot be finalized (including tuition and fees)
until you have enrolled. This is normally taken care of during
our Orientation program. Our University charges per credit hour
of class taken (not a “flat rate” as some other schools).
Therefore a student taking fewer classes in a given semester is
charged only for the classes s/he is taking, and no more.
The dollar amount on the
Estimated Cost Sheet, usually enclosed
with our application form, is an estimate of both the number of
classes taken, and the living and personal expenses of students.
This amount is NOT an official total bill for attending the
University. Each student’s costs may vary widely. The tuition
and fees were valid at the time of printing of the Cost Sheet.
(The form is especially useful in comparing our University’s
I-20 to any I-20s of other schools that you may have received.)
Charges are due at the end of the first week of classes.
Sometimes our Student Financial Services Office may generate a
bill for you based upon known charges, and they may send it to
you before your arrival. Except the application fee and room
deposit, no other charges are due before your arrival here. Upon
your enrollment in class, a bill is generated for you for the
tuition and fees. It becomes delinquent after the end of the
first week of classes. If your bill is not paid, or an
installment payment arrangements made by the end of the first
week of classes, then your class enrollment may be cancelled. As
long as you do pay, or enroll in the installment payment plan by
the end of business of the first week of classes, your classes
will not be cancelled, nor will your bill be considered
delinquent.
The University accepts major credit cards, travelers cheques,
cashiers’ bank drafts, cash and personal drafts/checks in
payment of your bills. You may contact the
Student Financial
Services Office for more information or over-the-phone payment
at 573-651-2253.
Health Insurance and Related Information
Insurance Program
The University requires international students to carry medical
insurance coverage. Additionally, the U.S. government requires
medical insurance of all exchange visitors. Health care in the
United States is widely available, generally of high quality,
but extremely expensive. So having good health insurance
coverage is essential. We have an arrangement with an insurance
program to offer international students medical coverage that
meets the U.S. government requirements at a reduced cost. See
Estimated Cost Sheet for current prices.
The Center for Health and Counseling
Southeast has an on-campus clinic that offers nursing care, some
diagnostic tests, some over-the-counter and prescription
medicines, and emotional/psychological counseling to all
University students if needed. The services of the
Center for
Health and Counseling are largely paid through your University
fees. Most treatments are offered free, or at a substantially
reduced cost to students. Many medicines are offered at
substantially reduced prices.
Confidential Medical History Form
This form helps our Center for Health and Counseling give
appropriate medical treatment and advice when a student visits.
We ask that you have it completed by a physician in your place
of residence before you come to the United States. You do not
need to submit the form in advance, but please bring the
completed form with you when you come to our orientation
program.
Money Needs and Related Information
Money is often one of the most difficult things to plan for as
you travel to the United States to study. How much should you
bring? In what form should I bring it? When may I convert
currency?
Though needs between people can vary widely, we advise that most
students plan to bring at least $400.00 U.S. in cash and if you
have an ATM card, you will be able to get more US cash if needed. You will
need this for meals and other immediate expenses. The exact
amount you will need depends much upon how long your trip is,
how early you arrive, whether you will live in the residence
halls or need to stay in a hotel (necessitating local
transportation), and related expenses. A typical charge for a
taxicab from a hotel to the campus is approximately $6.00 each
way. It is customary to tip the driver 10% for good service.
Currently there are limited currency conversion services based
in Cape Girardeau. Money in non-U.S. currency may be deposited
into a bank account, but a significant delay may be possible
while the money is converted to U.S. dollars before the amount
is posted or credited to your account. Just be aware of this and
plan about ten days in advance for most transactions in non-U.S.
currency.
New International Student Orientation
Southeast Missouri State University requires that you attend an
orientation program (“NISSO”) specifically designed for
international students new to Southeast Missouri. For students
and scholars this program begins the Thursday of the week before
the first day of classes for any given semester, and consists of
two days of sessions. These sessions are designed to take care
of your immediate needs, as well as help you feel a part of the
University environment. Exchange students (non-degree-seeking)
and graduate students should check with the department that
oversees their programs for additional orientations that may be
required. NISSO sessions include (but are not limited to):
Lunch and snacks each day
Academic expectations and classroom life, jargon and etiquette
in the U.S.
How to receive academic advising in your field and enroll in
classes
Billing and information about how to read your student bill, due
dates, and how to enroll in the installment payment plan
An introduction to the physical environment of the University
campus
A tour of the City of Cape Girardeau with opportunities to shop
for immediate necessities
A welcome from top campus officials
Where to go for medical treatment if necessary
On-campus safety and security, and the safety measures and
features of the campus
Placement tests to assure proper class-level assignment
An introduction to the local history and culture
Opportunities to meet experienced international students
How to find on-campus jobs (as allowed by law and University
policy)
An introduction to the policies and procedures for on- or
off-campus living
Your student visa -- rights and responsibilities
Remember, New Student Orientation is mandatory. Your future
enrollment will be blocked if you do not attend this program.
For your convenience, the charge of $50.00 for the program will
be placed on your student bill, so there is no need to pay for
the program during orientation itself.
|
The
New
International
Student
Orientation
program for you to attend is the Thursday and Friday before your classes
start. Please see your acceptance letter for the specific dates,
time, and location.
|
Please make your travel and accommodation plans accordingly.
(See the section on Making Your Travel Plans and
Making Your
Housing Arrangements to secure “early-arrival” housing).
Academic Information
Choosing and Enrolling In Classes
Unlike many educational systems outside the United States, the
system within the U.S. provides a wide range of choices of
programs of study – even within academic majors. To affect this,
the enrollment system is very flexible, and class choices are
often made by the student discussing his or her goals with an
academic advisor, or a faculty member in the academic
department. It is possible for two people, in the same major, to
take courses or subjects quite different from each other (as
long as the “core” courses are the same).
Graduate students (those working toward Masters Degrees), will
often have their first semester of classes chosen for them in
advance by their graduate advisors. If you are a graduate
student, please contact your advisor as soon as possible to
discuss what courses would be right for you.
Undergraduate students (working toward bachelors degrees) will
need several placement tests and will attend a meeting with
their advisors as a part of the orientation program. This is one
reason why your attendance at the orientation program is
essential, and therefore required.
Transfer of Credit
Credit for courses taken at other schools can be transferred
toward your undergraduate studies at Southeast under certain
conditions, and if the other school and its courses meet our
University’s criteria. The procedure for transferring
undergraduate credit is to submit your original transcripts from
the other university or college when submitting your
application. These transcripts must be sent directly from the
other school to us. We must have copies in the original language
and a certified translation into English. We also require a
complete course description or syllabus in the original language
and an English translation for each course, module, or exam
completed. If your university or college will not give copies
of your transcripts, we can accept attested photocopies.
International Admissions will submit your original documents to
our Registrar’s Office for evaluation. Evaluation of transfer
credit may be completed if we receive your transcripts and
course descriptions at least one month before classes begin.
Otherwise, the evaluations will be completed within a few weeks
of your arrival. After determinations have been made about the
transferability and equivalents of your courses, the Registrar’s
Office will post transfer credit into the computer system
alongside the credits you are taking at Southeast. Please note
that the International Education and Services Office does NOT
make any determinations of transferability of courses, course
equivalencies, or transfer credit.
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
Cape Girardeau, Missouri is located on the west bank of the
Mississippi River in the Southern Midwest of the United States.
It is about 200 kilometers south of St. Louis, Missouri. In this
location, “Cape,” as it is affectionately known, receives
plentiful rainfall and a relatively mild temperate climate.
Summers are quite warm and humid, while winters generally are
cool with more rainfall than snowfall. Some years, Cape gets no
snow at all, other years Cape may experience 20 inches of snow
during a winter season. Annual average temperature is 57.48F
(14.2C). Average winter temperature is 33.17F (.65C) (January),
and average summer temperature is 80.00 (26.667C) (July). The
average annual rainfall is 45.4 inches (1.1m) and snowfall
annual average is 11.00 inches (.28m). Remember that these are
averaged over time, and that individual days in summer may get
as hot as 103 F (39.44C), and in winter temperatures can be as
cold as –10 F (-23.3C), but these don’t happen often, nor do
they last for very long.
The city is 22 square miles in area (about 57 square km). Cape
has a population of about 35,000 people, and neighboring
Jackson, Missouri adds about 15,000 people to the greater Cape
Girardeau area.
There are some wonderful websites that can give you much useful
information about Cape Girardeau listed below:
Convention and Visitors’ Bureau at:
http://www.capegirardeaucvb.org
Southeast Missourian Newspaper:
http://www.semissourian.com
Rose City Net (Cape, Jackson and Scott City):
http://www.rosecity.net/cape.html
City of Cape Parks and Recreation Department:
http://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/ourdepartments/parksandrecreation/trails/default.aspx
We hope that you find this arrival guide helpful and
informative. Please feel free to give us feedback on the
information provided or additional information that would be
helpful to you. If you have additional questions or need further
information, please feel free to e-mail us at
intadmit@semo.edu
or call (573) 986-6863.
Best wishes for smooth and safe plans and a safe and pleasant
journey to
Southeast Missouri State University
from the staff of the
International Education and Services
Office!