Welcome Information for all International Graduate Students

ATTENTION:

International Graduate Students

Contacts: 

Immigration Check-In

All new F-1 international students are required to complete the International Student Immigration Check-in process upon arrival in the United States. 

Step One: Student must complete the OISS Student Visa D2L Course

  1. Enroll in the course and review all modules 
  2. Complete course quiz & score at least 80%
  3. Download and save the course completion certificate

Step Two: Arrive in the U.S. 

  1. Carefully follow the step-by-step Check-In Instructions to complete the International Student Immigration Check-in e-Form online.

  2. An OISS advisor will review the submission and will follow up via email

Social Security Process

Students must wait 72 hours after completing their immigration check-in before requesting their SSN letters.  Students will access the SSN letter request in MyOISS, found under the “Request a Letter” category. 

The application is a two-step process: 

  • F-1 student submits SSN Letter e-form in MyOISS, which requires contact information for someone in the student’s on-campus employer office. 

  • The on-campus employer receives an email with a link to the second part of the e-form. When the employer submits the e-form, the application is complete and is routed to OISS for approval.

International Graduate Student Resources and Welcome Events

  • In-Person events from OISS (watch your MSU e-mail for more information and to RSVP)
    • August 23: International Student Orientation Kick-off and Welcome
    • August 24: Spartan Ice Cream Social
    • August 25: Pancake Breakfast
    • August 26: Welcome Coffee Hour
  • In-Person Graduate Student Welcome & Resource Fair (sponsored by The Graduate School) -  
    • August 27, 2022, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., MSU UNION
  • Graduate Student Cookout (sponsored by Council of Graduate Students (COGS))

    • August 27, 2022 – 12 – 3 p.m., BENEFACTOR PLAZA

International Graduate Student Orientation D2L course

  • Work through this course to learn important information and useful resources for your transition to MSU and East Lansing 

  • International students should be automatically enrolled in this D2L course. If you are not, please e-mail Clara Graucob at graucobc@msu.edu.

Helpful information for incoming international graduate students can also be found at: https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/pre-arrival-orientation/orientation-overview/.

More useful information while settling in at MSU and in East Lansing can be found at: https://iteach.msu.edu/pathways/205/playlist.

Required Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Preparation August 17, 18, and 19, 2022  

2022-23 GTA D2L Course available on August 5, 2022, for self-enrollment. All who have registered by August 2, 2022, will receive detailed information about all components. 

  • International Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation – Kiva at Erickson Hall (620 Farm Ln); Parking in Lot 39 or 40
    • August 17, 2022, 8:30 a.m. (Check-In) – 1:30 p.m. (INCLUDES LUNCH)
  • New Graduate Teaching Assistant Institute (via Zoom)
    • August 18, 2022, 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. 
  • Pedagogy Workshops for any Graduate Teaching Assistants – STEM Teaching & Learning Facility (642 Cedar Rd); Parking in Lot 79

    • August 19, 2022, 8:30 a.m. (Check-In) – 2:30 p.m.

For more information about the Graduate Teaching Assistant Program and to register, please visit https://grad.msu.edu/gtap. 

English Language Center

ELC Testing Office

The MSU Speaking Test is used to determine whether graduate students who have demonstrated English proficiency as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University also meet MSU’s speaking proficiency requirement for teaching assistants. 

International Teaching Assistant (ITA) Program