Find the answers to your questions here!
if you have a question that is not answered below, please contact the Office of International Student Support.
Yes, all international students on a F-1 or J-1 visa are required to have health insurance. The University has partnered with EIIA to provide coverage for our students at a reasonable cost billed directly to your student account. You will be enrolled upon arrival at the University and receive complete information about coverage during orientation. Do not purchase a policy on your own..
Please print this Immunization Form (PDF) and take it to your doctor to be completed and signed. We recommend getting the required immunizations in your home country as they can be expensive in the United States. Go to your Student Health Portal to your “My Forms” page and complete your forms.
All mandatory health forms can be found on the Student Health Portal. Once you have a University email account, you can sign into this portal using the same username and password as your University network account.
HornetCare Health Health & Counseling Services located in Hundley Hall has qualified professionals who can assist you with comprehensive health care needs. Visit their webpage for office hours or to schedule an appointment.
Yes, just like Americans, international students in the USA are required to file a tax return. It is important to understand that filing tax returns is mandatory for international students, and not filing them by the deadline could result in problems with or a revocation of your visa. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. government agency that collects taxes, and they have a strict deadline of April 15 (or the following Monday if that falls over the weekend) to file tax returns covering the previous calendar year of January 1 to December 31. All F-1 international students, regardless of income, must complete Form 8843. If you are in the USA on a J-1 visa, you DO need to pay income taxes on the income you earn. We recommend you utilize Sprintax. The International Student Support office will schedule a tax preparation workshop for students in the spring semester.
International Students can bank with our on-campus credit union located on Drysdale 2nd floor. International Students can also bank at any local bank of their choice. We recommend Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
Conflict with a roommate is common when living with new people. The first step is to communicate your concerns and needs with your roommate. Try to come up with a resolution between you and your roommate. If that doesn’t work, talk to your Community Assistant (CA) for help. You must go through the conflict resolution process before requesting a room change.
All room changes must be made through the Room Change Process, with approval from the Office of Residential Experience.
The University of Lynchburg does not provide storage. All items left on University property after a student departs campus may be handled, removed, and disposed of at the risk and expense of the resident. Any items left after a semester’s completion will be held for one week and then disposed of. After this time, all items will be discarded.
Yes! However, students must complete a summer housing application, which will be available on the housing portal in early March. All students seeking summer housing (international or domestic) will be responsible for the cost of summer housing. Dining options are typically unavailable or limited during breaks. Refer to housing’s Break Information page for more information about staying on campus during all breaks.
Yes! However, students must complete a late stay application for each break. The application will be available on the housing portal. For more information on specific dates for breaks as well as the dates and deadlines for the late stay application for each break, please click here. Meal plans are typically suspended during break periods, and on-campus dining options are limited. Dining Services will share information regarding on-campus meal options in advance of each break period.
The University provides each resident with a bed, mattress (twin x-long), dresser, desk, desk chair, and closet or wardrobe. University-issued furniture cannot be removed from the rooms.
You will be assigned a campus mailbox. You can receive mail addressed to you at 1501 Lakeside Drive, Box [insert your assigned mailbox number], Lynchburg, VA 24501. Your mail can be retrieved from Mail Services located in the Drysdale Student Center on the second floor. Learn how to find your assigned mailbox and access combination, general services, and operating times for Mail Services on their webpage.
Laundry facilities are located in each traditional residence hall. For Southside residents, laundry facilities are located in Peaksview, Rainsford Townhouse, and within select University-owned houses. Our laundry service provider, Caldwell & Gregory, has installed high efficiency front-load washers and dryers in all laundry rooms.
International students can apply for on-campus employment and work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and up to 40 hours per week during breaks. This includes work with contracted companies on campus such as Domino’s Pizza and others. Be sure to get authorization from your DSO to ensure employment meets your visa requirements.
Students can request a letter of enrollment by completing the Enrollment Verification Request form from the Office of the Registrar’s Forms webpage.
Yes. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester (9 credit hours must be in person) and graduate students must be enrolled in 9 credit hours per semester (6 credit hours must be in person) to maintain full-time status. There are exceptions for a reduced course load. See your DSO if you feel you qualify for one of these exceptions as it must be approved in advance.
A student should first talk to an advisor so they can get all the requirements of whatever program they are interested in studying.
Then if there is a change in major, you MUST alsonotify the PDSO or a DSO to make the change in SEVIS and print you a new I-20 document.
Make an appointment with Wilmer Writing Center.
Log in to the University’s Online Bookstore with your University username and password. Classes you are enrolled in will appear with books that are required or optional. Read the course notes for other required materials. You may purchase in the formats new, used, eBook, or rental if offered. Check to see if it is refundable. You may pay by debit or credit card, google or apple pay, paypal or you may charge to your University Student Account at checkout.
The Tutoring and Academic Support has many options to help students.
For first-year students who reside in traditional campus housing (i.e. residence hall), the Unlimited meal plan is required. If you live in non-traditional housing (i.e. townhome), a Hornet Plan is available. There are options available and you can always upgrade.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website contains information for first time drivers with a link to state-approved driver education courses as well as driver license eligibility requirements. Refer to the DMV website for more information.
During the semester students are encouraged to use the public transportation system, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company. GLTC bus passes are $2.00 each and can be purchased at the Solutions Center, located on the 2nd floor of Drysdale Student Center. Other alternatives include, but are not limited to, Lyft, Uber or contacting one of the local taxi cab companies. As a courtesy, during orientation and prior to University breaks (fall break, winter break, spring break, etc.) trips to Walmart and local ethnic grocery stores will be provided by the University.
If students want to explore other cities, you can do so by Amtrak and Greyhound.
You can consult the phone carrier websites to compare prices. Here is a helpful article on phone plans: https://www.stilt.com/education/best-cell-phone-plans-international-students/
Information Technology Resources (ITR) provides comprehensive technology services, including help with device set-up and troubleshooting.
We want you to use our flags. You just need to sign our flag contract and abide by the flag use policies. Please contact the International Student Support office located on the 2nd floor of Hundley Hall or email [email protected].
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