Canadian Students

Canadian Citizens

If you are a citizen of Canada, then you are NOT required to obtain a visa to enter the U.S.

You are, however, required to enter the U.S. under J-1 status. This means that when you exit Canada, whether by air or ground, you will be required to present the following to immigration officials to ensure that you enter the U.S. as a J-1 exchange student:

DS 2019
Acceptance Letter
Valid Passport
Receipt of payment for your SEVIS fee (instructions will be mailed to you with your DS-2019)
Immigration officials must present you with an 1-94 document, which you will keep so that you may enter the U.S. and exit the U.S. upon completion of your program.

Non-Canadian Citizens (Residents of Canada)

If you are not a citizen of Canada, and are a resident of Canada, you will need to schedule an appointment to request your student visa at your local U.S. Embassy/Consular office. Please note that this is a lengthy process and you must initiate it immediately. You must take with you all supporting documents that the U.S. Embassy/Consular office may need.

Checks or Money Orders

All International/Canadian checks or money-orders made to FIU must be drawn from a U.S. bank, otherwise we will not accept your payment.

Fall Students

Canadian students who enter in the Fall semester will be required to attend the following two orientations:

International Student Exchange orientation (Office of Study Abroad)
National Student Exchange orientation

All orientations take place on the Friday prior to the start of classes: August 23, 2019.

The NSE Orientation will be offered at the Modesto Maidique campus in the morning and the ISE Orientation will be offered at the Modesto Maidique campus in the afternoon. Further details will be sent via email.

Please contact the FIU-NSE office, to schedule an individual NSE orientation appointment if you cannot attend the NSE orientation.

The ISE orientation is mandatory!

Spring Students

Canadian students who enter in the Spring semester will be required to attend one National Student Exchange orientation during the first week of classes:

Modesto A. Maidique Campus *January 6, 2020

b. Biscayne Bay Campus *January 7, 2020

Please contact the Office of Study Abroad Program Coordinator (Ms. Autumn Brucato) to schedule your International Student Exchange orientation during the first week of classes (Date and Time to be announced).

DS-2019

The OSA will coordinate with you on your DS-2019 and additional health insurance requirements. The university is required by the U.S. Office of Immigration to carefully check the financial resources of each student prior to issuing the DS-2019. You must thoroughly complete a and provide a copy of your passport.

Please forward both your declaration of finances and copy of passport to the FIU-OSA Program Coordinator, as soon as possible, but no later than July 1, 2019 .

OSA Program Coordinator:

Autumn Brucato
Email: abrucato@fiu.edu
Phone: (305) 348-191
Office of Study Abroad site

Once the OSA receives your declaration of finances and a copy of your passport, they will contact you with specific instructions regarding your DS-2019. Please note, once your DS-2019 has been issued, you will be required to pay your SEVIS ($200) fee online; be sure to keep record of your receipt!

You will be required to present your DS-2019 upon arrival in the U.S. (Customs department at Airport) so that you can be admitted as a J-1 non-degree exchange student.

Health Insurance

Canadian NSE students will be required to purchase health insurance at FIU (approximately $850 per semester), even if you already have an existing health insurance plan. The finalized 2019/2020 health insurance plan will be sent to you by the OSA. Upon receipt of this information, you will be able to purchase your required health insurance prior to your arrival at FIU; payments can be made via credit card or money order.

The OSA office will coordinate with you, prior to your departure from FIU, the completion of the Foreign National Information Form/Tax Compliance requirement.

Foreign National Information

Prior to your departure from FIU, you will be required to make a payment of approximately $11 per semester and complete the Foreign National Information Form in order to satisfy a Tax Compliance Hold requirement. You will not be able to request official FIU transcripts until this fee has been satisfied with the university.