PAYING YOUR SEVIS FEE AND OBTAINING YOUR VISA

If you are living outside the U.S., you will need to apply for a U.S. visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. Before you can request the visa you must pay the $100 SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee that is required for all F-1 and J-1 Visas, and get proof of your fee payment. Information on how to make this payment and the download of the I-901 form that accompanies this payment, can be found at:
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (US ICE) SEVIS I-901

If you are submitting your I-901 form online, you can pay your SEVIS fee by credit or debit card. If you would like your receipt immediately, you must print it out from the computer, otherwise you will receive one in the mail.

When you have paid the fee, you must take the following documents to a U.S. Consulate or Embassy:

• Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS 2019)
• Unexpired passport (some countries may require both current and previous passports issued in the past ten years)
• Evidence of financial support
• Proof of SEVIS Fee payment

Do not enter the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa.A change to F-1 status is very difficult after you are in the U.S., unless your visa is annotated “Prospective Student.”Also, do not enter on the Visa Waiver Program (which allows citizens of some countries to enter without a visa stamp).If you do this, you will be required to leave the U.S. to get an F-1 or J-1 visa.

Visit the website http://usembassy.state.gov and click on your country to obtain more information.

TRANSFERRING YOUR SEVIS RECORD FROM A U.S. INSTITUTION.

 If you are in the U.S. studying at another U.S. school and holding an F-1 or J-1 visa status, you may transfer your immigration record to UTSA provided you are in valid F-1 or J-1 SEVIS status at the school you have been attending.You must inform your current school of your intent to transfer no later than the last day of your final semester and you must secure a signed SEVIS Transfer-In form from UTSA.Your I-20 or DS-2019 form from UTSA cannot be issued until your current school releases your record for transfer.Please talk to your international student advisor at your current school.

If you have already been issued a new I-20 or DS-2019 by UTSA, you should use this I-20 to get a new visa or re-enter the U.S. following your vacation travel.

You must complete the transfer process within 15 days of the report date on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, or you will be out of immigration status.Furthermore, you cannot work on campus until the transfer has been processed.

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MAKING FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

You should consider opening a bank account in the United States so that you have easy access to your money once you arrive. Banks will allow international students to open an account as long as they can provide two forms of ID. Valid id includes: passport, visa, credit card, drivers license (U.S. or international), and your student ID. Banks also offer the option to transfer money into your bank account. In order to transfer money into your bank account you should contact the bank to discuss wire transfer options. Generally there is a small charge to have money wired into your account.

 Below is a small listing of banks near campus:

•  SACU: 12840 IH-10 West & DeZavala Suite # 102, San, Antonio, Texas 78230, Telephone: 1-800-234-7228 or 210-258-1234, Email:sacu@sacu.com, Web page: www.sacu.com
•  Chase Bank: 10999 Hwy 10 West, #100, San Antonio, Texas 78230, Telephone: 210-691-8200, Web page: www.chase.com
• Bank of America: 5403 DeZavala Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78249, Telephone: 210-561-3350, Web page: www.bankofamerica.com
• Citibank: 15900 La Cantera Pkwy, Bldg 18, San Antonio, Texas 78256, Telephone: 1-800-627-3999, Web page: www.citibank.com
•  IBC – located downtown: 130 E. Travis St., San Antonio, Texas 78205, Telephone: 210-518-2500, Web page:www.ibc.com
•  Security Service Federal Credit Union (SSFCU): 9253 N. Loop 1604 West (off Bandera), San Antonio, Texas 78249, Telephone: 210-476-4000 and 12707 IH-10 West (off DeZavala), San Antonio, Texas 78230, Telephone: 210-476-4000 (www.ssfcu.org)

 *UTSA offers ATM machines on campus for SACU located in the John Peace Library building, University Center, Humanities and Social Sciences building and downtown at the Frio Street building.

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HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS

 How to Apply
UTSA students should complete a UTSA Housing Application or return it to the Housing Office. A $200.00 deposit must be submitted with the application. For Chisholm Hall and University Oaks applicants: $50.00 is held as a non-refundable application fee. Chaparral Village applicants: $25.00 is held as a non-refundable application fee. Before you sign a housing contract for a particular complex, your application and deposit may be transferred within the UTSA housing system. The deposit will be refunded upon request, if all cancellation criteria are met and all monies owed to the particular complex have been paid. Deposits are applied against unnecessary wear and damages, and are used to deter late cancellations. The date on which the deposit is received will establish priority for particular assignments.

Housing Application
Access the online Housing Application (for Spring 08, Summer 08, and Fall 08)

Housing Contracts/Leases
Contracts/Leases are only distributed and accepted if you have been fully admitted to UTSA. Students may apply for on-campus housing at any time. Space is reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Housing contracts/leases are mailed beginning in March for fall and summer applicants, and in October for spring applicants. Students may choose either:

Fall only contracts are not available at any of the three complexes.
It is important that you read and understand any housing contract before you sign and make that commitment. It is important to know cancellation deadlines, penalties for leaving at mid-year or during the contract period, and eviction penalties. For Chaparral Village applications, view the Terms and Conditions
 For information on off-campus housing, visit the Housing and Residence Life website or this link for a list of housing options recommended by the Housing office: http://www.utsa.edu/housing/pdf/brochure.pdf
 You are highly encouraged to visit the Housing and Residence Life webpage for more information

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATION AT UTSA

Please visit the Student Activities website for more information and for a complete listing of student organizations.

CLOTHING NEEDS

The best advice is to pack LIGHT. Lightweight clothing is recommended for most of the year.

Suggested attire:
Warm months: shorts, light pants, and T-shirts
Winter months: pants, a sweater, long-sleeved shirt or jacket

Clothing for special occasion would consist of a dress for women and for men, a sport coat and tie.

San Antonio generally does not get a lot of rain, but we recommend a raincoat and/or an umbrella at the mall for those days when it does get wet.
Other international students suggest that you bring some extra money for clothes and shopping at the malls once you get an idea of what other students are wearing. We also encourage you to bring your traditional clothing from your country for cultural festivities.

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WEATHER INFORMATION

For more information, visit the National Weather Service for San Antonio

Average Temperature and Rainfall

	Daily Average Maximum		Daily Average Minimum		Average Rainfall
Months	Fahrenheit	Centigrade	Fahrenheit	Centigrade	Inches	Centimeters
January	62.3	16.83	41.6	5.33	1.66	4.22
February	66.1	18.84	44.7	7.06	2.06	5.23
March	72.4	22.44	49.6	9.78	1.54	3.91
April	78.8	26	57.6	14.22	2.54	6.45
May	85.2	29.6	65.4	18.6	3.07	7.9
June	91.6	33.11	72.2	22.33	2.79	7.09
July	95.6	35.33	73.9	23.28	1.69	4.29
August	95.9	35.5	73.4	23	2.41	6.12
September	89.8	32.11	68.8	20.44	3.71	9.42
October	81.1	27.28	59.2	15.1	1.77	7.21
November	71.1	21.7	48.2	9	1.77	4.5
December	64.6	18.1	41.8	5.4	1.46	3.71

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