Admitted International Students

There are three ways that F-1 International Students may be employed in the United States: on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training, and Optional Practical Training.

J-1 exchange students may seek employment as a part of their exchange program, on campus or via Academic Training. J-1 students should schedule a meeting with the Global Fairfield office (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu) to discuss the requirements and limitations.

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Under U.S. federal immigration law, all F-1 and J-1 status holders are required to register and complete full-time studies each semester during the student's academic career. Fairfield University considers full-time registration for undergraduate students to be 12 credits. However, a student may be authorized for a reduced course load in certain extraordinary circumstances.

Please contact Global Fairfield via e-mail at globalfairfield@fairfield.edu or by phone +1-203-254-4000 ext. 2773 if you believe you may require a reduced course load for the upcoming semester.

Special Notes and Limitations

• Global Fairfield must receive applications no later than the student's registration date or withdrawal date from a course.

• Failure to receive prior approval for part-time study is a violation of an international student's lawful status in the United States.

• You are only allowed to file for RCL once per degree or academic level

• When filing a RCL due to a certified illness or medical condition, you are allowed to file for a total of 12 aggregate months during any one course of study. You must re-file for RCL before each term, as required.

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If, for any reason, there are questions that Global Fairfield is not able to answer, or you are seeking to change your immigration status, we recommend that you consult an immigration attorney.

Please keep in mind that not all who claim to be immigration attorneys are certified and entitled to advise you. Fraud is very common in this field. Make sure to check credentials and references from the immigration lawyer you are seeking to work with.

While Fairfield University is unable to make specific recommendations on the choice of an attorney, we recommend visiting the lawyer locater service of the American Immigration Law Association (AILA) to find attorneys in the region who are AILA members and who practice in the field of immigration law. Visit www.ailalawyer.com for more information.

These attorneys are neither approved nor endorsed by Fairfield University.

Traveling in the United States

Traveling within the United States is unrestricted. However, it is important for you to keep your documents with you when traveling. Make sure you have your passport, Form I-20 or DS2019, and your Fairfield StagCard. Please notify Global Fairfield if you are planning to travel outside of the New England or Tri-State area.

Traveling outside the United States

If you are planning on traveling outside the United States, there are some things you need to keep in mind in order to make sure that you will be able to re-enter the U.S. and resume your studies at Fairfield. Before going abroad you will need to complete the Student Travel & Request for Travel Endorsement Form in Life@Fairfield, and have your I-20 endorsed for travel on Page 2 by Global Fairfield.

The following documents need to be in order:

• Passport - valid at least six months into the future from the time you come back into the country

• Valid U.S. Visa - If your current visa has expired or you have changed your status while in the U.S., you will need to obtain a new visa at the American Embassy in your place of permanent residence with an I-20 or DS-2019.

• Current Form I-20 or DS-2019 with travel signature

• Proof of Financial Resources - You should carry a letter verifying your fellowship, assistantship, or private resources which are covering your expenses as a student.

*Visa to Enter a Third Country - If you are visiting a country other than your own, you may need a visa from the third country to enter it. For details, contact the embassy or consulate of the country in question

Please be on the lookout for communication from Fairfield University's Global Fairfield Team! They will begin requesting documents to begin the I-20 process, which is the first step to secure your visa.

The Global Fairfield Team will inform you of the specific documents and forms you are required to provide for immigration purposes aside from any of the required items in your First-Year Student Checklist.

Mandatory Global Student Orientation for fall 2025 will be scheduled for sometime in August 2025.

Global Student Orientation includes sessions that will introduce students to Fairfield's academic standards, resources, and the process to adapting and adjusting to the next semester and the rest of your program.

The orientation's goal is to prepare you for your time at Fairfield University and give you tips and resources to ensure your success during your program.

You will be required to enroll in health insurance and the provider will vary depending on your program. For our exchange students, health insurance is provided through Global Fairfield and they will disclose the provider. For our undergraduate and graduate international students, they will be enrolled with Fairfield University's health insurance provider — Gallagher Student Health. If you wish to know more about the coverage of our health insurance, please visit the Health Insurance page.

Information will be provided in early summer 2025.

F-1 Graduate Students: There is currently no designated on-campus housing for graduate students. The University has provided some recommendations to find off-campus housing in the surrounding area on the Graduate Student Housing Hub.

How to meet your health on-boarding requirements:

1. Review the State of CT mandatory immunization requirements here.

2. Complete your required on-line forms. The on-line forms are available in our secure patient portal. Students will need their University net ID and password to access the patient portal.  The required on-line forms include:
   1. “Consent for Routine Care at the Student Health Center”
   2. “Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Screening Questions”
   3. “Undergraduate Student Health History”
3. Upload the following documents to the secure patient portal:
   1. An official copy of your immunizations or acceptable proof of immunity (select “List of Immunizations Provided by Student”)
   2. A copy of your most recent physical examination (select “Student Physical Form Provided by Student”). A physical examination is recommended, not required.

All F-1 and J-1 students will be enrolled in the University’s health insurance plan.

The University is strongly recommending vaccination against Covid-19 for all students. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone should be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. The available Covid-19 vaccines are considered safe and effective. Individuals with “up-to-date vaccination” status are significantly less likely to become seriously ill or be hospitalized. Vaccination helps to break the chain of disease transmission, prevent emergence of variant strains and will protect others as well as the vaccinated individual. For more information, please visit the Vaccines for Covid-19 page on the CDC website.

Please be aware that you are not allowed to initially come into the United States earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the Form I-20.

U.S. Customs

Before collecting luggage in the airport, students will need to pass through the first stage of Customs. Students will need to present their immigration documents to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who will review the documents and ask about their plans for their stay in the U.S. After verifying that the information in a valid passport, visa, and Form I-20 is correct, the immigration officer will return the documents and will stamp students’ passport book with the I-94 entry stamp showing the date of entry to the U.S. and the visa status.

Students may also have brief fingerprints or a photograph taken. Students will present a Customs Declaration form, which will need to be filled out on the plane, to the Customs officer. Do not bring fruits, plants, or meats when traveling. Possession of these items may require additional inspection, resulting in delay.

Students may bring currency with them, but if you are carrying more than $10,000 USD in any form, you will need to fill out a reporting slip and possibly owe taxes on the money. We suggest bringing enough money to last a couple of weeks, and then opening a U.S. bank account where you can electronically transfer funds from your home country.

If admitted to the United States, you may remain in the United States even if your visa expires. In F-1 status, students can remain in the United States for the duration of their status (D/S) or as long as they maintain a F-1 status. If students are in F-1 status and they leave the United States after their visa expires, they must obtain a new F-1 visa to re-enter and continue their program.

Please contact Global Fairfield (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu) if you have any questions related to the validity of your visa or duration of status.

The Form I-20 proves that students are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. The Form I-20 should not be taken from students.

Students have an option to arrange their transportation from the airport using GO Airport Shuttle. They will pick up from JFK Airport or LaGuardia Airport in New York and will drop off on campus and there is a special rate for Fairfield University students for a shared ride to campus. Since we do not offer graduate on campus housing, you would need to arrange for transportation from campus to where you will be living off campus.

*Please note: Although Bradley International Airport is in Hartford, Connecticut, we do not recommend that you travel there. Transportation to the University is not as frequent and is more expensive.

If you want to take the train from New York City to the area, you can take the Metro-North train (New Haven line) from Grand Central Station to the Fairfield station (located in downtown Fairfield), the Fairfield Metro station (on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line), or the Bridgeport station (downtown Bridgeport). Depending on where you will be living, the Metro-North train (New Haven line) has stops through the City of New Haven. For your reference, if you are taking the train to campus, the Fairfield train station is a five-minute drive from campus (in case you decide to Uber or take a taxi), or approximately a 20-minute walk.

Graduate students are required to be on campus on August 29, 2024 for Global Student Orientation.

Complete payments include University tuition, health insurance, and any other applicable fees billed to the student account. Payment for all University charges for undergraduates is due August 1, 2024 for fall semester.

Payment can be made via Flywire. Holidays and other celebrations may delay processing of international payments, therefore, it is recommended that students initiate their payment at least 10 business days before the payment deadline to ensure timely processing. Incoming payments must be limited to the cost of University tuition, fees, and health insurance charged to the student account for the current semester.

Bursar Contact Information
Phone: 203-254-4000 ext. 4102, 2410, 4191 or 2165
Email: bursar@fairfield.edu

• Wednesday, July 29, 2024: This is the earliest day undergraduate international students can arrive in the US (students are allowed to arrive up to 30 days before the program start date on their Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students).
• Wednesday, August 28, 2024: International students with on-campus housing are expected to arrive on campus. This is the date stated on the Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students as the program start date. This date is the last day students may arrive in the United States. Late arrivals are not accepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). (J1 students and F1 undergraduate students – this will be the first day students will have access to their on-campus housing.)
• Thursday, August 29, 2024 - Mandatory Global Student Orientation: All international students must attend the Global Student Orientation full day event. During this time, students will review immigration benefits and responsibilities and participate in sessions relating to adjustment and life at Fairfield University. More details about Global Student Orientation will be sent closer to the date.
• Tuesday, September 3, 2024: Classes begin.

F-1 Undergraduate Students and J-1 Exchange Students: Please follow the instructions provided by the Office of Residence Life (F-1 students) or Global Fairfield Office (J-1 students) on how to indicate preferred housing. The Office of Residence Life will contact F-1 Undergraduate Students and J-1 Exchange Students via their Fairfield e-mail account to confirm their rooming assignment. Contact the Office of Residence Life at residencelife@fairfield.edu for further assistance.

How to meet your health on-boarding requirements:

1. Review the State of CT mandatory immunization requirements here.
2. Complete your required on-line forms. The on-line forms are available in our secure patient portal.  Students will need their University net ID and password to access the patient portal.  The required on-line forms include: 
   1. “Tuberculosis (TB) Risk Screening Questions”
   2. “Graduate Student Health Center Form”  
3. Upload the following document to the secure patient portal:
   1. An official copy of your immunizations or acceptable proof of immunity (select “List of Immunizations Provided by Student”)

All F-1 international students will be enrolled in the University’s health insurance plan.

The University is strongly recommending vaccination against Covid-19 for all students. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone should be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. The available Covid-19 vaccines are considered safe and effective. Individuals with “up-to-date vaccination” status are significantly less likely to become seriously ill or be hospitalized. Vaccination helps to break the chain of disease transmission, prevent emergence of variant strains and will protect others as well as the vaccinated individual. For more information, please visit the Vaccines for Covid-19 page on the CDC website.

All F-1 and J-1 students will be enrolled in the University’s health insurance plan.

In addition to the Student Medical Form, please upload your Covid-19 vaccination documentation to the Student Health Center secure portal at www.fairfield.edu/immunization. If you have any difficulty with the upload, email the documentation to health@fairfield.edu.

Before a visa appointment, students must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee online at www.FMJfee.com. Make sure to enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your passport. The name on your visa must agree with your name on your passport and Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students and Form I-20 for graduate students. The SEVIS ID number is on your Form I-20/Form DS-2019 for undergraduate students and Form I-20 for graduate students.

Afterwards, schedule a visa interview with the US Consulate or Embassy. This interview will be conducted in English. Before the interview, complete Form DS-160 (Google “DS-160” for the most up to date form).

Be sure to bring all of your documents to the interview:

• Undergraduate Students: Form I-20/Form DS-2019, passport, SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, Form DS-160, financial documents (Proof of Financial Means) and Admission Letter (F-1) or Exchange Decision email from Global Fairfield (J-1). You may also be asked to present academic records and test scores, and may be asked to provide proof of compelling ties to your home country (what will prevent you from permanently moving to the U.S.: family, property, previous US travel, etc.). Check with your Consulate’s website for their visa appointment requirements to ensure that you are fully prepared.
• Graduate Students: Form I-20, passport, SEVIS I-901 fee receipt, Form DS-160, financial documents and Admission Letter. You may also be asked to present academic records and test scores, and may be asked to provide proof of compelling ties to your home country (what will prevent you from permanently moving to the U.S.: family, property, previous US travel, etc.). Check with your Consulate’s website for their visa appointment requirements to ensure that you are fully prepared.

Please be aware that you are not allowed to initially come into the United States earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the Form I-20. 

U.S. Customs

Before collecting luggage in the airport, students will need to pass through the first stage of Customs. Students will need to present their immigration documents to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who will review the documents and ask about their plans for their stay in the U.S. After verifying that the information in a valid passport, visa, and Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is correct, the immigration officer will return the documents and will stamp students’ passport book with the I-94 entry stamp showing the date of entry to the U.S. and the visa status.

Students may also have brief fingerprints or a photograph taken. Students will present a Customs Declaration form, which will need to be filled out on the plane, to the Customs officer. Do not bring fruits, plants, or meats when traveling. Possession of these items may require additional inspection, resulting in delay.

Students may bring currency with them, but if you are carrying more than $10,000 USD in any form, you will need to fill out a reporting slip and possibly owe taxes on the money. We suggest bringing enough money to last a couple of weeks, and then opening a U.S. bank account where you can electronically transfer funds from your home country.

If admitted to the United States, you may remain in the United States even if your visa expires. In F-1 status, students can remain in the United States for the duration of their status (D/S) or as long as they maintain a F-1 status. If students are in F-1 status and they leave the United States after their visa expires, they must obtain a new F-1 visa to re-enter and continue their program.

In J-1 status, students can remain in the United States through the 30-day grace period following their program end date, providing students maintain their status during your program of study. Once a student in J-1 status departs the US during their 30-day grace period, they are not allowed to re-enter.

Please contact Global Fairfield (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu) if you have any questions related to the validity of your visa or duration of status.

The Form I-20 or the Form DS-2019 prove that students are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. The Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 should not be taken from students.

To best support our students with on campus housing for the fall semester, students with on campus housing (undergraduates and J-1 students) are expected to arrive to the United States on Thursday, August 28, 2024 and should arrange for their transportation to bring them directly to campus: 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. We would recommend that you book a flight that arrives in the US as early in the day on August 28th as possible.

*Please note: Although Bradley International Airport is in Hartford, Connecticut, we do not recommend that you travel there. Transportation to the University is not as frequent and is more expensive.

If you want to take the train from New York City to the area, you can take the Metro-North train (New Haven line) from Grand Central Station to the Fairfield station (located in downtown Fairfield), the Fairfield Metro station (on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line), or the Bridgeport station (downtown Bridgeport). Depending on where you will be living, the Metro-North train (New Haven line) has stops through the City of New Haven. For your reference, if you are taking the train to campus, the Fairfield train station is a five-minute drive from campus (in case you decide to Uber or take a taxi), or approximately a 20-minute walk.

Complete payments include University tuition, health insurance, and any other applicable fees billed to the student account. Payment for all University charges for undergraduates is due by August 1, 2024 for fall semester.

Payment can be made via Flywire. Holidays and other celebrations may delay processing of international payments, therefore, it is recommended that students initiate their payment at least 10 business days before the payment deadline to ensure timely processing. Incoming payments must be limited to the cost of University tuition, fees, and health insurance charged to the student account for the current semester.

Bursar Contact Information:  Phone: 203-254-4000 ext. 4102, 2410, 4191 or 2165

Email: bursar@fairfield.edu

If students decide to order bedding or other necessities to be used when they are on campus, please have the items sent to the following address. Any packages received for students will be held for pickup on campus.

• Name of Student
• Fairfield University
• 1073 North Benson Road
• Office of Student Engagement, Box L
• Fairfield, CT 06824

Please have the following information available:

• First name, Last Name
• Date of birth
• Fairfield University Student ID number
• The first five characters of your zip code or postal code on record with the University
  • If the first five characters of the zip code or postal code entered is not accepted by the system, enter five zeros "00000"
  • If entering five zeros ("00000") doesn't work, please contact the ITS Help Desk at itshelpdesk@fairfield.edu or +1-203-254-4069