Once you’re admitted to Wheaton College as an exchange student the next step is to apply for your J-1 visa status. The Center for Global Education will send you a DS-2019 form entitled Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. Bring this form to a U.S. embassy or consulate for processing. You must present evidence of financial support for the duration of the period stated in the DS-2019 form.

Next Steps

Once your J-1 visa status is confirmed, here are the next steps to make your transition to Wheaton official:

Step 1: Fill out the New Student Housing Survey (Google Form)

Step 2: Upload health health records to the health services portal once you have access. Wheaton health insurance is mandatory for all international students. You will not be allowed to waive the insurance.

Step 3: Email all required documents to Desnee Stevens in the International Student Services office at [email protected].

Step 4: Check your personal and Wheaton email as you will receive a monthly pre-arrival newsletter from the Center for Global Education. This will include important announcements to help plan for your arrival on campus.

Arrival and Orientation

The Center for Global Education will welcome you to campus and help get you settled.

Validate Your J-1 Visa Status

When you arrive on campus, check in at the Center for Global Education to officially validate your visa status. Please be sure to bring these original physical documents with you:

  • Your Wheaton College-issued DS-2019 form
  • Your original passport
  • Your original visa

We are required to update your arrival in the U.S. government’s SEVIS database within 30 days of the start date listed in box #3 on your DS-2019 form. If you do not check in with us, your J-1 status will be automatically terminated.

International Student Orientation

Next, you’ll attend the mandatory International Student Orientation. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about campus resources, meet other international students and make your first close friends at Wheaton before the rest of the campus returns.

To help you prepare for the big move, we will email you three essential pre-arrival newsletters. Reading these is a must, as they contain crucial information to ensure your transition to Wheaton is as smooth as possible.

Center for Global Education Support

Once you arrive on campus, the Center for Global Education is here to help you settle in, feel at home, and thrive. From setting up your housing and adjusting to U.S. academics to exploring American culture through fun excursions, here is how we support you every step of the way.

How to Register for Classes

Before you arrive, you will be able to browse available classes on the Course Catalog  and submit a list of the courses you would like to take. Keep in mind that some advanced classes have specific prerequisites or require faculty permission. While we cannot guarantee you will get into every single class on your list, we will work closely with our faculty to ensure you have a deeply rewarding academic experience. Course registration opens in April for the Fall term and November for the Spring term.

Housing and Dining

As an exchange student, you are required to live on campus as part of the experience. During your application process, housing and dining will be selected for you. Most rooms are doubles or triples so you may have one or two roommates.

During the winter break (when classes are not in session), there are limited housing and dining options. If you will be here for a full year, you can apply to stay on campus at an additional cost.

Learn more about our residence halls and dining facilities.

Health Insurance

As an exchange student, you will be automatically enrolled in the Wheaton College Health Insurance Plan. This is required and cannot be waived to ensure you have adequate healthcare coverage while in the U.S. Most international insurance policies do not meet the strict coverage minimums required by U.S. federal regulations for exchange visitor visas. You’re welcome to keep health insurance from your home country if you’d like, but it’s completely optional since you’ll already be covered here.

All health forms must be submitted in English. Please book an appointment with your physician as soon as possible and complete the forms as soon as they are available to you.

How to Pay Your Bill

Students are billed electronically per term for all housing and dining expenses. (Since most exchange students do not pay tuition to Wheaton, there is no financial aid funding for exchange students from the college. Fall charges are billed in July and due August 1. Spring charges are billed in early December and are due January 1. Please plan accordingly.

Please go to the Billing and Payment Policy Information page for how to pay your bill and how to set up a payment plan. Make sure you take care of your bill during the appropriate time so you are not assessed a late fee. Failure to pay your bill will result in housing delays.

Wheaton email notifications

As an exchange student, your process for applications, housing and pre-arrival checklist is a bit different from full-time domestic and international students.

Because of this, you might receive some automated emails from various campus offices with deadlines or instructions that do not apply to you. Don’t worry. Your international advisor will email you throughout the summer to tell you exactly what you actually need to do.

When in doubt, feel free to disregard general campus emails and just follow the specific instructions sent by your international advisor.

Questions?

For questions about the J-1 visa application process or preparing for your arrival at Wheaton, contact [email protected].