Before
You Arrive

• 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.

• 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:

• Visa appointment and processing wait times
• Visa photo requirements
• Studying in the U.S.

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 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 studentservices@umbinternationaldirect.org if you do not receive your student portal email within the time lines listed above

Please see Student Portal access guide “here”

Please access your Student Portal to upload your immunization forms and records.

Under the “Admission Status” tab, please follow the link for “Health Services”

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:

1. Log into your Student Portal
2. Click the “Admission Status” tab
3. Find the following links:
   1. Writing Assessment
   2. ALEKS Math Placement test

Please sign up for orientation by accessing your Student Portal.

Under the “Admission Status” tab please find the “Register for New Student Orientation” Option.

Some good resources:

• Boston-Area Housing 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.

Tab: Download and Login to Year.One App on Phone
Details within tab:

1. 1. Open your App store on your phone
   2. Search “Year.One”

3. 3. Download Year.One app
   4. “Register” on application home page.

5. 5. Enter your “Deposit ID/Student ID”. For Undergraduate students – this number is located on your Conditional Offer Letter. For Postgraduate students – this number is located on the Post-Acceptance Letter. If you had trouble find this number, reach out to your Enrollment Advisor!

6. After entering your Deposit ID/Student ID, you will be prompted to enter a User ID and new password. Write these down somewhere so you can log on in the future!