Our Services

• First step: Be admitted to FGCU, refer to Undergraduate Admissions and review the Pre-Arrival Guide
• Second step: Apply for a student Visa 
• The Office of Admissions issues the I-20 Form (the certificate of eligibility to study in the U.S.) to International Students who intend to pursue full time studies to obtain a degree (undergraduate or graduate). An I-20 Form will not be issued to any student who does not meet the university admission and U.S. immigration requirements. International Students must present the I-20 Form to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate when applying for a student visa (generally this will be an F-1 visa).
• Schedule your visa appointment
• Pay the SEVIS Fee upon receiving your I-20 form. Locate your SEVIS ID number (N000…… on the top right corner of your I-20). In the I-901 SEVIS fee form you should provide your name, date of birth and other information exactly as indicated in the I-20. (Make sure you print a receipt of payment for your records.) 
• If you currently have a U.S. visa, and are in the U.S., you may be required to complete a Visa Clearance Form  or submit additional immigration forms. You may also need to present your I-94 form, your passport, a U.S. visa and any other immigration documents you currently hold, to our office. If you currently have a visa other than an F-1 visa, you should contact our office to discuss your immigration status. Each visa category has restrictions on whether or not the visa holder can enroll at the university. Prospective students who have visas, passports or other immigration documents that are expired may need to seek the services of an immigration attorney. Florida Gulf Coast University does not provide legal advice on immigration matters. Prospective students who are determined to be "out of status" with immigration, cannot be admitted to the university. 
• For information on credits, scholarships and financial aid, medical insurance, housing and transportation, please refer to our International Student Admission Guide. 

 

• Third step: Submit immunization records. 

  All International students must provide proof of vaccination against Rubella and Measles (MMR) as described in the immunization policy before registering for classes. The Florida Legislature, recognizing the potential fatal nature of hepatitis B and meningococcal diseases, has enacted legislation effective July 1, 2008, that all new matriculating students must provide documentation of vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B OR provide a signed waiver for each declined vaccination. This is in addition to the existing requirements for measles and rubella (MMR) vaccines. A student is unable to waive out of the MMR requirement. Refer to the SHS Portal to complete the immunization form online. 

  For more information on required immunizations, please visit the web page of Student Health Services.

• Fourth Step: Enroll in mandatory Health Insurance

  All international students (F1 and J1 students) are required to maintain valid health insurance at all times.

  • Every semester, students will have a hold placed on their account until they provide proof of their health insurance to the International Services Office. Students cannot register for courses until proof of insurance is provided to our office.
  • Deadlines to provide health insurance documentation: August 1st for FALL, December 1st for SPRING
  • For questions regarding proof of insurance please contact Julie Leyden at jleyden@fgcu.edu.
• Review Holds:  Note, your first semester at FGCU you will be registered into classes by your academic advisor (you will register yourself the following semester(s) ). 

• To View Holds

  • Sign into your Gulfline account
  • Click "Student" tab
  • Click "Student Records" tab
  • "View Holds"
• Scholarship opportunities
• Housing options

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

To View Holds Sign into your Gulfline account Click "Student" tab Click "Student Records" tab "View Holds"

 

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

• First step: To be admitted to FGCU, the following forms must be completed and submitted to our office:
  • FGCU Exchange Student Application
  • Instructions for LCOB Exchange Students
  • Home School Approval of Participation Form
  • Financial Support Form from Sponsor
  • Review the Pre-Arrival Guide
• Second step: Apply for a student Visa 

  1.Our office issues the DS-2019 Form (the certificate of eligibility to study in the U.S.) to International Students who intend to pursue full time studies as part of an exchange program. A DS-2019 Form will not be issued to any student who does not meet the university admission and U.S. immigration requirements. International Students must present the DS-2019 Form to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate when applying for a student visa (this will be an J-1 visa). You may also need to present your I-94 form, your passport, a U.S. visa and any other immigration documents you currently hold, to our office.

   2. Schedule your visa appointment

  3. Pay the SEVIS Fee at www.fmjfee.com upon receiving your DS-2019 form. Locate your SEVIS ID number (N000…… on the top right corner of your DS-2019 form). In the       I-901 SEVIS fee form you should provide your name, date of birth and other information exactly as indicated in the  DS-2019. (Make sure you print a receipt of payment for your records.) 

• Third step: Submit immunization records. 

  All International students must provide proof of vaccination against Rubella and Measles (MMR) as described in the immunization policy before registering for classes. The Florida Legislature, recognizing the potential fatal nature of hepatitis B and meningococcal diseases, has enacted legislation effective July 1, 2008, that all new matriculating students must provide documentation of vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B OR provide a signed waiver for each declined vaccination. This is in addition to the existing requirements for measles and rubella (MMR) vaccines. A student is unable to waive out of the MMR requirement. Refer to the SHS Portal to complete the immunization form online. 

  For more information on required immunizations, please visit the web page of Student Health Services.

• Fourth Step: Enroll in mandatory Health Insurance

  All international students (F1 and J1 students) are required to maintain valid health insurance at all times.

  • Every semester, students will have a hold placed on their account until they provide proof of their health insurance to the International Services Office
  • Students must provide proof of insurance before they can register for courses.
  • Medical Insurance Information and Waiver Form
• Review Holds: Once holds are lifted, please contact our office to be pre-registered into courses. Note, your first semester at FGCU you will be registered into classes by your academic advisor (you will register yourself the following semester(s) ). 

   

• To View Holds

  • Sign into your Gulfline account
  • Click "Student" tab
  • Click "Student Records" tab
  • "View Holds"
• Important Forms
  • Wilberforce Pamphlet
  • Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure
• Housing options

Courtesy Faculty appointments at Florida Gulf Coast University may be extended to qualified applicants based upon their individual expertise in support of the curriculum and mission of the University.   These appointments may be extended for one, two or three-year, renewable basis, and do not include any expectation of compensation or space allocation.

 

Elements of the Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated expertise in a given field
• Clearly defined benefits to the curriculum
• Benefits to the scholarly activity of FGCU faculty including collaborations to address the research or educational needs in our five-county service area.
• Other benefits to the FGCU and its programs

 

Nomination Procedure:

• Faculty and Chairs/Directors should submit (in writing) nomination of qualified individuals for courtesy faculty appointments through their respective Deans of the appropriate college.
• Non-college employed personnel may submit written nominations through an Academic Dean or directly to the Provost for consideration.
• Nominations must be accompanied by a current vita.

 

Approval Process:

• Upon nomination through the Office of the Dean and majority vote of the appropriate faculty, the Provost will decide approval of courtesy faculty status.  Notification of the appointment will be sent to the Courtesy Faculty with a copy to the appropriate Dean, Human Resources and Library Dean.
• Approved courtesy faculty applications will be kept on file in the Offices of the Dean and the Provost.

 

Renewal Process:

• All Courtesy appointments will end on May 31 of a designated year.  By February 28^th of the year in which the appointment expires, the appropriate college will notify the Courtesy Faculty that the appointment is about to expire and outline the renewal process.  By April 30^th courtesy faculty members will signify in writing their desire to continue affiliation with the University.  The renewal request to the Dean of the College must be accompanied by a letter requesting re-appointment and an updated CV or resume.  For renewal, the request will be evaluated by the Dean, voted on by the appropriate faculty in the college, and submitted to the Office of the Provost for approval.  Notification of approval will be sent from the Office of the Provost with a copy to the appropriate Dean.

 

Benefits:

• Faculty-level access to the University Library.  An orientation and guidelines for the use of these resources will be provided through the FGCU Library.
• Access to computing facilities including an e-mail account and off-site access to network resources.
• Access to equipment, facilities, and support services if available.
• Faculty discounts at the University Bookstore.
• Ability to process grants through the institution with a faculty sponsor.

   

Expectations:

Courtesy faculty will support FGCU’s curriculum and mission through one or more of the following:

• Guest lectures or seminars.
• Active involvement in student mentoring including student internships and senior research projects.
• Development of inter-institution or agency partnerships or collaborative agreements that include FGCU.
• Other activities as benefits the mission of the institution.

 

Form the visiting scholar must complete: Courtesy Affiliate Personal Data Form

Students are responsible to maintain contact with International Services, their immigration status with the USCIS, and be in good standing student status with FGCU. Meeting these requirements should prevent unexpected problems. Refer to Study in the States for more information.

All international students (F1 and J1 students) are required to maintain valid health insurance at all times.

• Every semester, students will have a hold placed on their account until they provide proof of their health insurance to the International Services Office
• Deadlines to provide health insurance: August 1st for FALL, December 15th for SPRING
• Medical Insurance Information and Waiver Form
• UPLOAD PROOF OF INSURANCE

If you have an emergency that needs to be handled by our office outside of business hours, please contact the Campus Police at 239-590-1911 (or 1911 from a campus phone), who will communicate with International Services to assist you.

Please read email messages and International Student Bulletins sent periodically to your FGCU e-mail account and website announcements and reminders.

In effort to encourage the pursuit of Fulbright Scholars, FGCU will maintain the current base salary for all full-time faculty members who win a Fulbright US Scholar Program Award for the duration of their award. 

Fulbright Scholar Top Off Details 

All persons sponsored by Florida Gulf Coast University in the Exchange Visitor Program who are issued a J-1 visa must register with the FGCU International Services Office after arriving at the university. Either the exchange visitor (scholar) or the scholar’s host department may contact our office at (239) 590-7925 to schedule an appointment to register.   

Process to host an international scholar

 Process to be completed by the host: 

•  Complete Exchange Visitor Request Form to request FGCU International Services to issue a DS-2019 form. Please fill out the form, bearing signatures from the host, hosting supervisor, and the FGCU Department Chair (or Dean) must sign in ink, on the last page  bearing signatures from you, the hosting supervisor and the FGCU department head (or Dean) must sign in ink, on the last page. The sponsoring FGCU department must complete all items on this form. This form is to be completed and approved no less than one month before the intended program start date. 
• Complete the Deemed Export Compliance Form
• Provide Letter of invitation for Prospective Scholar: Including/describing activities the research scholar will be engaging during his Exchange Visitor Program. (Optional)

If the host wishes to grant FGCU Courtesy Faculty Appointment to the scholar, please work with the Provost’s office and ISO on further details and instruction.

 

Process to be completed by the prospective international scholar:

• Complete Exchange Visitor Profile
• Provide Financial Support document/Statement, in U.S. Dollars, to be accompanied by a bank statement (verifying the evidence of funds available, if financial support comes from an outside FGCU source).
• Complete J-1 Insurance Notification Form: All scholars must maintain medical/health insurance coverage for the duration of their program.
• Complete Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Form. Please contact the FGCU Office of Global Initiatives and International Services at Tgjini@fgcu.edu for further information and guidance on available alternative health/medical insurance plans. 
• Provide CV or Resume Copy
• Provide A Photocopy of his/her Passport Biographic Page. Please indicate if a dependent (spouse or child) will be joining scholar in the program to the United States.

All this paperwork needs to be submitted to our office at least 45-60 days in advance of the scholar’s intended program start date. Upon successfully submitting all the required paperwork, our office will work with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs on the Deemed Export Control Review, Legal Counsel’s office, and other stakeholders to process these documents before the scholar visa documentation could be issued.

 

IF THE PROSPECTIVE SCHOLAR HAS PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN A J-1 SCHOLAR PROGRAM IN THE U.S. AND HAS A 212(E) TWO YEAR HOME RESIDENCY RULE PLACED ON THE ANNOTATED SECTION OF THE J-1 VISA, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROSPECTIVE SCHOLAR APPLIES FOR AND RECEIVES A 'No-objection' WAIVER OR RESIDES IN HOME-COUNTRY FOR TWO YEARS, PRIOR TO BEING ABLE TO APPLY TO ANOTHER J-1 EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM.

 

Annotation: Prospective International Scholar: All scholars must maintain medical/health insurance coverage for the duration of their program. Prospective Scholar must sign and send back to us the J-1 Insurance Notification Form (See the attached document titled: Insurance Notification Form ).  If the Scholar has insurance in his/her home country and wishes to utilize that plan during his/her stay at FGCU, she may ask her insurance company agent to fill out the attached Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Document and send it to our office of International Studies, before the program start. Should her current health insurance be deemed to meet the criteria in the Compliance Form (Sickness and Accident Insurance Verification Form), then he/she will not be required to purchase the FGCU Health Insurance Plan through Gallagher Insurance Company. If the Scholar does not wish to utilize another alternative health insurance plan, they may enroll in the FGCU International Scholar Health Insurance Plan through Gallagher Insurance Plan at https://www.gallagherstudent.com/students/user-login.php?idField=1187/ For frequently asked questions about the Gallagher Medical Insurance plan; please visit: https://www.gallagherstudent.com/faqs/2610.pdf and https://www.gallagherstudent.com/brochures/7365.pdf   If the Scholar doesn’t plan to utilize an alternative medical insurance plan, then he/she will be required to enroll in the FGCU medical insurance plan through Gallagher Insurance company (our FGCU scholar insurance plan). If the Scholar plans to utilize another insurance plan and has further questions on which insurance plan would meet the FGCU requirements, please let us know.

• Passports-All international travelers should have a passport issued by their home country’s government.  Some countries (including the US) are now requiring passports to be Machine Readable.  Information on US passports, fees and applications.

  If you are a citizen of a country other than the US, you must contact your home government for information on passports (refer to the Embassies & Consulates section below). 

• Visas- Visas are permits to enter a country and are granted by the destination country government based on the visitor’s intended purpose, length of stay, citizenship and other factors.  Be sure to determine if a visa is needed to enter each country to which you plan to travel.  For information on visas please read the Embassies & Consulates section below. 

• Travel Information and Warnings- The US Department of State publishes Travel Information and Travel Warnings they deem are useful to US citizens traveling or living abroad.  You may want to read these to gain more information in developing programs abroad and as you travel abroad.  Travel information and warnings.

• Embassies & Consulates- Many countries have embassies or consulates in various locations around the world.  Embassies represent foreign governments in the host country and are the center of official diplomatic relations between the host country and the respective embassy’s country.  Visa applications are processed through foreign embassies, often through a consulate office or unit.  These embassies can advise you of their visa requirements and application process, as well as many other informative resources.  

  When traveling abroad you may want to register on arrival with the US Embassy/ Consulate in the foreign country to which you travel, to advise them of your presence there (especially if you are leading a university sponsored program).  The US Embassies provide assistance to US citizens abroad, and may be a critical resource to you, and others in the US, in an emergency and provide useful information and resources as a foreign national traveling outside the US. US Embassies and Consulates.

• Emergencies Abroad- One resource available to US citizens traveling abroad is the US Embassy and services of the US Department of State.  Prior to your travel you should become familiar with the services available, the location of US Embassies and consulates abroad and how to contact them.  It is also important for you to leave this same information with a contact person back home while you are abroad. 

• Other helpful information available 

• Search Engine for Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships
• Rotary
• Fulbright
• The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
• The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
• National Science Foundation
• Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
• James Madison Graduate Fellowships
• Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award - Research Training Grants and Fellowships
• Institute of International Education
• The McKnight Foundation
• International Research & Exchanges Board
• Grants for International Scholars

• Teach Abroad
• WorldTeach
• Peace Corps
• Rotary
• Teach Abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions
• Teach TESOL Abroad with Oxford Seminars
• Study Abroad, Volunteer, Teach with GoAbroad.com
• Tips for Teaching Abroad

We have a number of students and/or colleagues from outside the US who may be available and willing to provide information, be interviewed or help with a class project based on their international experience. Please contact our office to discuss your needs and we will try to determine how we can best support you.

FGCU is permitted to sponsor foreign national students and scholars as professors, researchers, short-term scholars, or specialists under the US Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. You must identify the potential exchange visitor, communicate with him/her to prepare an application and related documents, and coordinate with the International Services Office to formally request FGCU to sponsor your colleague. Detailed instructions, forms and information are found under Forms & Procedures on our main webpage, under the "Exchange Visitor Program/Scholar Forms" section.