Orientation & Resources for Newly Admitted Students

Welcome to LSU! We're so excited to have you as part of the LSU International Family.

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Before You Arrive

Pre-Arrival Moodle Course

All new international students are required to complete our Pre-Arrival Moodle Course, which includes essential information about your immigration documents, and your transition to life at LSU.

Access Pre-arrival Moodle

Pre-Arrival Townhalls

International Programs hosts a series of pre-arrival townhalls designed to give incoming international students and their families an opportunity to ask questions, and connect with the LSU community before they arrive.

Townhall dates (click each event to register):

Spring 2024 Townhalls

F-1 Housing, Flights & Visas | October 23, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
J-1 Housing, Flights & Visas | October 25, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
F-1 Pre-Arrival Immigration | November 27, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
J-1 Pre-Arrival Immigration | November 29, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
Healthcare, Insurance & Immunizations | December 7, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST
Last-Minute Check-In | January 3, 8:30-10:00 a.m. CST

International Resource Fair

Arriving at LSU

Airport Pickup

The International Cultural Center is offering free airport pickup shuttles from the Baton Rouge airport for Spring Arrivals from January 8-11, 2024. Sign up will open in November!

Housing

Check out our ICC Roommate Search Board for current international students looking for roommates, or advertising rooms. Visit LSU's on-campus housing page for on-campus housing options. For off campus housing, this Graduate Student housing guide includes recommendations.

Short-term housing is limited and expensive in Baton Rouge, so we highly encourage you to schedule the start of your lease for when you are planning to arrive. If short-term accommodation is needed, we recommend you look at nearby hotels, or airbnbs. Our Arrival Guide includes some recommendations.

Reporting your Arrival

As a new F-1 or J-1 student at LSU, one of the first things you need to do after arriving in the U.S. and/or Baton Rouge is report your arrival to LSU and to the Department of Homeland Security. At LSU, this is done via completing a SEVIS Check in.

Report your arrival

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International Orientation

New incoming international students are required to attend International Orientation when they arrive. Orientation is an essential program that introduces new students to campus, reinforces their rights and responsibilities as international students, and provides opportunities to meet their peers and begin creating community.

All F-1 and J-1 students will attend two (2) orientation programs:

International Student Orientation (register below)
One of the following:
1. Freshman Orientation – Registration is required, and there is a fee for this program.
2. Transfer Orientation – Registration is required, and there is a fee for this program.
3. Graduate Orientation – This program is only offered during the fall semester, and there is no cost to attend.

Spring 2024 International Orientation Dates:

In Person Orientation

Friday, January 12, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Orientation Videos

If you don't know where to start, here are some short video resources we've created to help you get to know LSU, and your arrival process!