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).

  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. 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
  • Deadlines to provide health insurance documentation: August 1st for FALL, December 1st for SPRING
  • Students will be automatically enrolled in FGCU's designated health insurance plan, unless documentation of an accepted alternative insurance is provided by the above deadlines
  • FGCU's Designated Health Insurance
• Scholarship opportunities
• Housing options

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

• First step: Be admitted to FGCU, refer to Graduate Admissions and review the Pre-Arrival Guide
• Second step: Apply for a student Visa 

  Our office 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 (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). 

  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. 

• 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. 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
  • Deadlines to provide health insurance documentation: August 1st for FALL, December 1st for SPRING
  • Students will be automatically enrolled in FGCU's designated health insurance plan, unless documentation of an accepted alternative insurance is provided by the above deadlines
  • FGCU's Designated Health Insurance
• Scholarship opportunities 
• Housing options

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

• First step: Be admitted to FGCU
  • If you are an undergraduate student refer to Undergraduate Admissions 
  • If you are a graduate student refer to Graduate Admissions
  • Review the Pre-Arrival Guide
• Second step: Apply for a student Visa 

  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.

  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. 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
  • Deadlines to provide health insurance documentation: August 1st for FALL, December 1st for SPRING
  • Students will be automatically enrolled in FGCU's designated health insurance plan, unless documentation of an accepted alternative insurance is provided by the above deadlines
  • FGCU's Designated Health Insurance
• Important Forms
  • Wilberforce Pamphlet
  • Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure
• Housing options

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. The scholar should complete this form and bring proof of health insurance OR purchase the required medical insurance coverage during registration. The scholar should also bring his/her passport with U.S. visa, I-94 form, the completed Medical Insurance Compliance form (if applicable) and his/ her DS-2019.

Scholar Registration 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 n: August 1st for FALL, December 1st for SPRING
• Students will be automatically enrolled in FGCU's designated health insurance plan, unless documentation of an accepted alternative insurance is provided by the above deadlines
• FGCU's Designated Health 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.

• 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.