International Center University of Florida

Studying at the University of Florida as an exchange student is an exciting and wonderful opportunity. UF is proud of its partnerships with schools abroad. More than a hundred partnerships allow international students to study at UF in a wide variety of academic disciplines.

Nominations require partners to include the following for each student individually:

• Partner institution name
• Partner institution contact
• Student biographical information (name, date of birth gender)
• Student contact information (email)
• Student degree level/academic level
• Student field of study
• Verification of English Proficency

ADD NOMINATION

The Exchange Coordinator will approve the nomination, thereby initiating the online application for the incoming student. Students will receive temporary log-in credentials to access the application platform and be prompted to create their own log-in.

​Note: UFIC is able to initiate incoming exchange student applications where the current agreement is pending renewal. However, UFIC will not issue formal acceptances or immigration documents for students until a fully executed agreement is in place. This policy is in line with federal immigration regulations governing the Exchange Visitor Program. The UFIC Executive Director facilitates the renewal process for exchange agreements with the Partner Institution and UF Academic Department/College. For information on Agreement Renewal process, click here.

Application Process

Once a exchange student nomination has been submitted, partners will receive a confirmation email. The Exchange Coordinator will approve the nomination, thereby initiating the online New Exchange Student Request for the incoming student. Students will receive temporary log-in credentials to access the application platform and be prompted to create their own log-in.

The online application New Exchange Student Request covers a number of requirements. Application materials will address requirements to obtain the appropriate US visa status as well as facilitate UF student account set-up and processes. The application platform has thorough instructions for each required document. Only applications submitted through the online platform will be reviewed. If materials are missing or insufficient, students will be emailed to revise documents and re-submit as necessary.

Acceptance packets are issued together with any participating students from the same Partner Institution barring serious delays. Acceptance packets are sent directly to the Partner Institution to distribute to the participating student(s). Students can expect the required DS-2019 form to be issued in 2-4 weeks from the time of application approval.

After the New Exchange Student Request has been processed

Students can expect the Acceptance packets and tje required DS-2019 form to be issued in 2-4 weeks from the time of application approval. Once teh DS-2019 form has been received, students can initiate ther Visa process with US embassy at the home country. Students will be receiving informatio about the following items:

1. Obtaining your J1 Non-Degree Student Status:
   1. Verify DS-2019
      
      1. When you receive your DS-2019 form, review your DS-2019 form (and any dependent DS-2019 forms) to make sure that the information is correct. Please review the packet of information included with your DS-2019 form(s).
   2. Pay I-901 SEVIS Fee
      
      1. Bring your SEVIS fee receipt to your visa interview.
   3. Apply for J-1 Visa (Canadian nationals exempt from c-e)
      
      1. Review your rights and protections as a nonimmigrant visa holder
      2. Wilberforce Pamphlet (more languages available at the link above)
      3. Complete the online DS-160 application to be eligible to schedule a visa interview
      4. Find a U.S. Embassy or Consulate near you and schedule your visa interview (not necessary for Canadian nationals)
      5. Review Required Documents for your visa interview
2. Pre-Arrival Information:
   
   1. Review Pre-Arrival Guide
   2. Students can arrive up to 30 days prior to the start date listed on the DS-2019 form. Other factors to consider
      
      1. When accomodations allow
      2. Travel prior to exchange
      3. Transportation from port of entry site
3. Course Registration Information:
   
   1. Students must first have a UF Account also known as a “Gatorlink Account”
      
      1. UF Student Acccount Set-Up Guide
   2. Students must meet pre-registration requirements. All requirements listed as “Holds” on a student’s Gatorlink account. Clear Holds via ONE.UF
   3. Students participating in programs with the following colleges will be registered by the hosting college:
      
      1. College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
      2. Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
      3. Levin College of Law
      4. Warrington College of Business
   4. All other students register by following instructions found here: https://registrar.ufl.edu/registration/reghowto
      
      1. Meeting Pre-Requisites – Students may have already completed pre-requisites for a given course at their home institution. If registration is prevented due to a pre-registration requirement, please contact the relevant undergraduate or graduate coordinator for the department: http://www.ufadvising.ufl.edu/college-advising-contacts/
      2. Students may be asked to provide a copy of their Academic transcript from their home institution to prove pre-requisites have been met. Students can download previously submitted transcripts from their exchange student application.
4. Online Check-In application: Online check-in application: Students will receive instructions over email to complete an online check-in application. Check-in applications can be started prior to arrival in the US. However, they cannot be completed until students have successfully entered the US. Complete the online check-in application prior to in-person orientaitno/check-in sessions.
5. Orientation: Students are invited to attend an Orientation designed for incoming international students. Orientation is a general, all-student session that covers an overview to life at UF, including resources and immigration status compliance requirements. Specific colleges may hold additional orientaitons designed for students participating in a program with that college.
6. Immigration Check-In (in-person): Students must complete an immigration check-in required by federal regulations. Students will be asked to bring all immigration documents (passport, visa, DS-2019 form) and attend a session where immigration information is reviewed more thoroughly. These check-in may be held in conjunction with orientaitons through other offices (Academic departments, housing etc.)

The Exchange Coordinator will review the submitted New Exchange Student Requests. During this process you will receive instructions about how to set up your student account at UF (See Guide). Additionally, the Exchange Coordinator will create a DS-2019 form for you which will be sent out to your school for you. An appointment for the J-1 Visa application may be scheduled with the US Consulate or Embassy and you will use that DS-2019 form to apply for a J-1 visa to enter the US to study as a non-degree-seeking student. For more information about the Visa Process and U.S. port of Entry, click here.

Exchange Student Pre-Arrival Guide

Once approved for participation in your exchange program, you can review the Pre-Arrival Guide for information related to your visa status and arrival.

Cost of Attendance

As a Partner School Exchange Student, you do not pay for the cost of your courses ("tuition") since this is waived under the exchange agreement between UF and your home university. This agreement ONLY covers tuition and DOES NOT cover fees for on-campus housing, library fines, labs, computer services, parking tickets, sports courses, leisure courses, etc. You are responsible for paying non-tuition fees in a timely manner. Your final transcript will not issued until you pay all debt to UF.
After the registration period ("Drop/add" deadline) is over, the International Center submits a fee waiver to the University Bursar'€s office to waive your tuition. Any changes in your registration after the drop/add deadline may result in an alteration of tuition. You must notify the Exchange Coordinator of any modification to your course schedule after Drop/add.

NOTE: This does not include traveling outside of Gainesville.  
* Amounts are approximate. See http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/cost/ for more detailed cost information.

Important Dates

J-1 Status Requirements

It is your responsibility to maintain your immigration status. You must be a full-time student. Full-time is 12 UF credit hours per semester for undergraduates and 9 UF credits for graduate and professional students. Please notify the Exchange Coordinator if you add or drop any courses. You must remain a full-time student during your entire study period. Available courses for each semester can be seen by going to http://one.uf.edu/soc/.

You are responsible for reporting your address to the Exchange Coordinator and on My.UFL.edu within 10 days after you arrive. If you change your residence at any point during your stay, you must also update your address on My.UFL and also notify the Exchange Coordinator.

Health Insurance & Immunization

• Mandatory Immunization and Health History Form (this item must be submitted to the UF Health Compliance Office prior to course registration)
• All UF students are required to have health insurance.
• Students have the option of enrolling in UF’s health insurance or submitting a waiver showing alternative health insurance meeting the requirement outlined by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• All information can be found here. For questions, contact insurance@ufic.ufl.edu.

Important Documents

We recommend you keep a copy of your passport, I-94 record, and DS-2019 in case the original gets lost or stolen.

• Passport: You must have a valid, unexpired passport.
• I-94 record.  When you are admitted to the US by the immigration official, a record of your arrival will be created in the on-line government system.  You should check that record to be sure it is accurate (status as J-1, and duration of stay as D/S).  We strongly recommend that you print a copy of that I-94 record for verification purposes.  If you enter the US by land, you will receive a paper I-94 card, a small white paper form.  If you do receive that form, please be sure to retain it so you can hand it back when you leave the US.
• DS-2019: This form verifies the duration of your J-1 status and that the purpose of your J-1 program is academic studies.

Arrival Period

USCIS allows you to enter the U. S. up to 30 days before the start date on your DS-2019. You will need to register your local address where you will be living while attending UF.

Employment

Exchange students are permitted to work only on campus and only with prior approval from the Exchange Coordinator. Exchange students may experience difficulty finding employment meeting the federal requirements. Please notify your Exchange Coordinator BEFORE accepting any type of employment or internship.

Academic Training

Academic training is work, training, or experience related to a J1 student's field of study. Academic training is permitted at any stage of a student's program, while the student is enrolled in school or after completion of the program. For additional information, click here. To initiate the request for Academic Training authorization, please click the following button:

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Grace Period

As a J-1 student, you have a 30 day grace period after the last day of classes. During the grace period, you are not allowed to work or receive compensation. You may remain in the United States but you may NOT exit and re-enter the United States using your J-1 visa. If you need to re-enter the United States, you must have a tourist visa or a visa waiver.

Travel/Reentry

You must consult with the Exchange Coordinator at UFIC if you plan to travel abroad at any point during your study period. Bring your passport and DS-2019 to our office to obtain the travel authorization on your DS-2019. Failure to do so could result in denial to re-enter the United States.

Before coming to UFIC, verify that your J-1 visa will be valid for re-entry and also check the government website of the country you wish to visit to find out if you will need a visa to enter that country. When you travel, be sure to take your passport, DS-2019 form and I-94 card with you.

Student Life and Resources

• UF Virtual Tour  –  http://virtualtour.ufl.edu/
• Student Activities and Involvement – Check out student organizations and daily campus events at this website: https://www.studentinvolvement.ufl.edu/student-organizations
• UF NaviGators International – Connects International Students with American students through a unique mentorship program. http://www.ufnavigatorsinternational.com/ 
• Counselling & Wellness Center (CWC) - http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/
• Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) – Students can ride any Gainesville RTS bus free with their Gator 1 ID card. http://go-rts.com/
• Gainesville Campus and Community Resources  – https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/international-students-scholars/additional-information/more-resources/campus-community-resources

Arriving to Gainesville

• Students may use connecting flights from Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or Jacksonville to arrive to Gainesville. Students may also use airlines from Atlanta and Charlotte.
• Students may also take a bus from any of these cities to get to Gainesville but they can be less reliable and need to be booked a few weeks before arriving.
• There is no train service directly to Gainesville.
• Please click here for more information on arriving to Gainesville.