Before
You Arrive
Welcome to UMass Boston!
Soon you’ll be on the exciting UMass Boston campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Before you arrive, complete the steps below to avoid common issues or delays for international students.
Contact Your Advisor
We have a team of dedicated personal advisors whose job it is to make sure that all your questions are answered and to ensure that you have a smooth transition to the university.
Before you start on any of the steps below and contact your local personal advisor. Simply select your region of the world below, and send your advisor an email, Skype, WhatsApp, or WeChat message. We look forward to meeting you very soon!
Africa
China
Latin America
Middle East/
North Africa
North America
North Asia
Russia/Central Asia/Eastern Europe
South Asia
Southeast Asia
UK and Western Europe
Complete Your Pre-Arrival Checklist
AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE ELECTRONIC COPY OF YOUR I-20, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS BEFORE BOOKING YOUR VISA APPOINTMENT:
- Schedule a free visa information and preparation session with your personal Enrollment Advisor.
- Check that the details on your I-20 are correct (including your date of birth), and make sure that your name is the same as it appears on your passport.
- Prepare the documents that you will need to take to the embassy when attending your visa interview.
AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE ABOVE STEPS, YOU SHOULD APPLY FOR YOUR VISA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT REQUIRES AN INTERVIEW WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND SOMETIMES CAN TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO SCHEDULE.
- Complete your visa application.
- Pay your I-901 (SEVIS) fee.
- Visit usembassy.gov to learn more about scheduling your visa appointment, what to expect when you arrive and the documentation that you need to take with you.
- Notify your personal Enrollment Advisor of the date and Embassy where you have scheduled your visa appointment.
- Watch these videos to help you apply for your visa and prepare for your interview:
Other links that international students find useful:
Making your payment in full two weeks before you arrive will help avoid delays with enrollment.
- Flywire by Peer Transfer: Please visit UMB International Direct flywire portal to complete the transfer process. Please note that you cannot use a U.S. credit card or U.S. bank account.
Access your UMB Student Portal
Access UMB Student Portal
Undergraduate International Direct students ONLY: You will need to access your Student Portal in order to complete your required pre-arrival assessments. You should receive an email titled “Welcome to UMass Boston”.
NOTE: Undergraduate International Direct students should gain access to their portal 2-5 days after I-20 has been issued.
Please email us at undergrad.admissions@umb.edu if you do not receive your student portal email within the time lines listed above
Please see Student Portal access guide “here”
PLEASE FILL OUT AND SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING FORMS:
Please access your Student Portal to upload your immunization forms and records.
Under the “Admission Status” tab, please follow the link for “Health Services”
UNDERGRADUATE ONLY
DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: TWO WEEKS BEFORE PROGRAM START DATE
All first-year students are required to complete a pre-arrival math assessment and a writing assessment pre-arrival. These are very important to ensure that students are placed in the appropriate-level class.
To access both assessments:
- Log into your Student Portal
- Click the “Admission Status” tab
- Find the following links:
- Writing Assessment
- ALEKS Math Placement test
UNDERGRADUATE ONLY - DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: TWO WEEKS BEFORE PROGRAM START DATE
Please sign up for orientation by accessing your Student Portal.
Under the “Admission Status” tab please find the “Register for New Student Orientation” Option.
Graduate and ESL students – be on the lookout for an email from your department with orientation information.
On-campus housing is available for International Direct and ESL students. Students need to access the Student Portal to submit their housing confirmation. Graduate students can utilize the resources below to secure off-campus housing.
Some good resources:
Please be sure to book short-term housing for when you first arrive if you are not able to move into your apartment/home immediately. Boston hotels are very strict about ages.
Most hotels in Boston will not permit a student under the age of 21 to check into a room without a parent/guardian (even if the student is over 18 and someone over 21 made the reservation) and virtually no hotel will allow someone under the age of 18 to check into a hotel alone (even if the parent made the reservation, or if a member of our staff is with them when they check in).
If you are 16-17 years old: Contact the International Guest House to see if they have vacancies and are able to accommodate you based on your age.
If you are 18-21 years old: Contact HI Boston Hotel to see if they have vacancies and are able to accommodate you based on your age. Information about their age restrictions.
More off-campus housing resources can be found here. Email offcampus@umb.edu with any questions!
Helpful Resources
Immigration Guide
This guide will help you learn more about the process for getting your F-1 visa and arriving in Boston.
Pre-Arrival Checklist
Check off everything on this list to ensure that you have completed all the steps before you arrive and bring everything you need to the UMass Boston campus.
Orientation Information
Here’s where you can find all orientation information. During orientation, you will receive a full campus tour, see the sights around Boston, and get to know your fellow international students!
Academic Calendar
Plan ahead! This calendar tells you when classes start and end, and when holidays and exams are happening.