Updates for International Students: Fall 2021

Last updated: August 19, 2021

The Center for Global Engagement advising office is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm M-F for general questions and pick up/drop off of documents. Students can meet with an advisor during Zoom-In advising or make an appointment with an advisor by following instructions HERE.

Enrollment

NEW international students arriving from abroad and beginning F-1 or J-1 status at FSU upon entry to the U.S.: You MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE IN-PERSON CLASS on your full-time class schedule. This includes “new” students who were enrolled at FSU while outside the U.S. and did not hold F-1 nonimmigrant status. Online options will be limited at FSU so it should not be difficult to have a schedule that is fully or almost fully in person.

Continuing FSU international students who began study in the U.S. before this fall: ICE/SEVP guidance doesn’t restrict your enrollment in online classes, although online options will be limited at FSU.

International students who began FSU study from abroad and are coming to the U.S. to begin their study as an F-1 or J-1 student: You must have at least one in-person class.

Transfer students (SEVIS record transferred from another U.S. school to FSU): ICE/SEVP guidance doesn’t restrict your enrollment in online classes, although online options will be limited at FSU.

New FSU international students who want to begin study from outside the U.S.: If your academic department has online classes available and allows online enrollment, we can adjust the start date on your I-20 to a future semester start date. You can enroll full-time or part-time, based on the expectations of your department. Immigration regulations do not apply to you.

Travel

See the CGE Travel Updates Page: https://cge.fsu.edu/travel-update

Health Insurance Requirements

  • International students in the US must have health insurance that meets the Florida Board of Governors requirements for coverage (https://studentinsurance.fsu.edu/international-students). FSU offers a plan that meets requirements and provides comprehensive coverage (https://studentinsurance.fsu.edu/purchase-insurance). If you choose an alternative plan, you are responsible for ensuring that your plan meet the Board of Governors requirements. If you purchase the FSU health insurance, the charge goes onto your account. You do not pay for it at the time of “purchase.”
  • If you are a graduate student offered a research or teaching assistantship, you can receive a subsidy (partial payment for your FSU insurance) from the FSU Graduate School if you purchase the FSU health insurance. At the time of the “purchase” the cost of the insurance goes onto your tuition bill. Payment for the insurance will be done through payroll deduction. If you will have the health insurance subsidy, you do NOT need to pay for the insurance by the normal deadline for tuition and fee payment. To elect to receive the subsidy, you MUST respond to an email from The Graduate School that you will receive in the first week of classes. Complete information on the subsidy is HERE.
  • For information on insurance and health holds, visit the University Health Services website HERE.

Banking For New Students

  • Many banks are closed to walk-in appointments and the online appointment times are full. Here are some options that would not require you to have a U.S. social security number when applying:
    • Suntrust (Truist) Bank – (104 N. Woodward Ave, adjacent to the FSU Bookstore, ground level of the parking garage) – You can make an appointment HERE selecting the Florida State University Branch using zip code 32304. You can try going to the campus location in the afternoon, but we cannot guarantee that walk-in will be an option. It is best if you have an appointment. You need to take 2 forms of photo ID, a local address, and check or cash for an initial deposit.
    • Bank of America - Make an appointment HERE and select the branches at 2252 N. Monroe St., 2930 Apalachee Parkway, or 5676 or 3430 Thomasville Road. These branches that are open for help with new accounts. The branch closest to campus at 803 Lake Bradford Rd is not open for full services. If no appointments are available, you may walk in at those locations, but you may need to wait until a representative is available. You must have 2 forms of photo ID, a local address, and a check or cash for an initial deposit.
    • Wells Fargo – Make an appointment HERE. You must have 2 forms of photo ID, a local address, and a check or cash for an initial deposit.

The CGE strongly recommends that new students schedule an appointment prior to their arrival to secure an appointment for soon after arrival.

Obtaining a U.S. Social Security Number

  • Because the Social Security Administration office is closed to walk-in visits you must have an appointment to apply for a number. You are eligible for a number if you have an offer of employment (e.g. graduate assistantship). Departments do NOT currently need an SSN receipt or number to complete your onboarding or I-9 process if you have not been able to obtain an appointment before the department must submit the onboarding process.
  • Before going to the SSN appointment you must ask your department to complete the SSN Form for On-Campus Employment on their department’s letterhead. Your department should give you the completed form do you can upload it in NoleStart. Your CGE advisor will then sign it and send it to you. You cannot apply for the SSN without this form.
  • Set up your voicemail on your phone while you are waiting to receive your SSN form from the CGE.
  • To request an appointment to apply for the SSN, call the Tallahassee Social Security Administration office at (866)-248-2088. The office will take your information and will then contact you by phone for an appointment. The office may take 2-4 weeks to contact you for an appointment. If the SSA leaves a message for you in voice mail, be sure to return the call. If you need an SSN, you should call to request an appointment as soon as possible.
  • Along with the signed SSN Form for On-Campus Employment (F-1 Students), take your passport, I-94 (printed), I-20, and a completed SSN application to the appointment. Students coming from international travel must have been in the U.S. for at least 14 days before the appointment.
  • After the appointment, show the application receipt to your department payroll representative. When the social security card arrives via mail, should show it to the department’s payroll representative.
  • After the appointment, students should show the application receipt to the department payroll representative. When the social security card arrives via mail, the student should show it to the department’s payroll representative and to the registrar’s office (can send it via Noles File Transfer – NiFTY to bethomas@fsu.edu).
  • After providing the SSN information to your hiring FSU department in person (not by email), be sure to safeguard your card and number at all times. The SSN is an important part of your financial identity in the U.S.

FSU Card

  • You can apply for an FSU card online here: https://fsucard.fsu.edu/your-fsucard
  • The FSU card is necessary for identification and for access to FSU buildings and other virtual services. The FSU card is necessary for identification and for access to FSU buildings and other virtual services.

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