Your Complete Guide to Studying at the University of Minnesota as an International Student
From your visa interview to your first grocery run, everything you need to know before you leave home, and everything you'll need once you land in Minneapolis.
Before You Leave Home
Your first official step happens long before you board a flight. Once you're admitted to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the university's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office issues your immigration document (a Form I-20 for F-1 students or a DS-2019 for J-1 exchange visitors) after you submit your enrollment confirmation, financial documentation, and any required pre-arrival forms.
| Document / Step | What It's For |
|---|---|
| Immigration document (I-20 / DS-2019) | Issued by ISSS once you confirm enrollment and submit financial certification. Required to schedule your visa interview. |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | A federally mandated fee that activates your SEVIS record. Currently $350 for F-1 students, paid directly at fmjfee.com before your visa interview. This figure is set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and can change, so always confirm the current amount on the official site rather than relying on a printed guide. |
| Visa application | Scheduled at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country once your SEVIS fee is paid and your I-20/DS-2019 is in hand. |
| New Global Gopher Required Tasks | A checklist ISSS assigns in MyISSS covering pre-arrival and post-arrival requirements tied to your visa status, separate from general New Student Checklist and orientation requirements. |
Arrange your housing before you fly. Having a confirmed U.S. address on hand makes pre-arrival paperwork faster and means you're not apartment-hunting while jet-lagged in a new country. If you've already applied at University Commons, your lease confirmation works well for this.
What to Pack
Beyond the obvious (passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019, admission letter), bring physical and digital copies of your academic transcripts, passport-style photos, a universal power adapter, and enough prescription medication to last your first few weeks, along with the prescription itself, since Minnesota pharmacies may need to verify it before refilling. Minneapolis winters are genuinely cold (well below freezing from December through February), so pack at least one heavy coat even if you're arriving in August; you can buy the rest locally once you're settled.
Getting to Campus
Most international students arrive through Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), the airport ISSS itself points students toward in its own arrival guidance, roughly 10 to 13 miles from the East Bank campus and from University Commons.
| Option | Cost & Time |
|---|---|
| METRO Light Rail | ~$2–4, about 35 minutes. Take the Blue Line from MSP toward downtown Minneapolis, transfer to the Green Line at the U.S. Bank Stadium station, and get off at the East Bank station. New international students are often eligible for a free Metro Transit pass through ISSS, so check current eligibility when you arrive. |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Roughly $20 on average, though fares rise with demand. Pickup points differ by terminal: Terminal 1 uses the Green/Gold parking ramps, Terminal 2 uses the Ground Transport Center. |
| Shared shuttle | Approximately $20 per person; extra luggage may add a fee. Book ahead where possible. |
| Taxi | Roughly $40–50, metered, with a flat airport access fee added to the meter. |
Once your travel dates are confirmed, contact the University Commons leasing office directly, especially if you're arriving outside normal office hours (Mon-Fri 10 AM-6 PM, Sat 10 AM-5 PM). Coordinating your move-in window in advance avoids delays after a long flight.
Your First Weeks on Campus
U.S. federal regulations require every new F-1 and J-1 student to report their arrival to the university. At UMN, this is called the ISSS Check-In, and it's non-negotiable: new students must complete it within 24 hours of arrival through MyISSS as part of the New Global Gopher Required Tasks. Skipping it triggers an "AI: Determine Current Visa Status" hold that blocks class registration.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| ISSS Check-In | Complete online in MyISSS within 24 hours of arrival. Uploads your most recent I-94 and confirms your U.S. address. |
| Global Gopher Experiences (GGE) | ISSS's international-specific orientation programming, separate from general Welcome Week. Includes summer webinars and in-person events the week before classes, plus a required ISSS Welcome Session for incoming freshmen. |
| Immunization requirement | Minnesota state law requires documentation of measles, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria/tetanus immunization. International students have until the sixth week of their first semester to comply. Boynton Health can provide the vaccines on campus at no added cost if you're enrolled in the Student Health Benefit Plan. |
| Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) | Mandatory international student health insurance through Boynton Health, unless you qualify for a waiver (typically an employer-sponsored plan or the university's Graduate Assistant Health Plan). You're auto-enrolled after registering for courses. Waiver deadlines are early in the semester and strict, so don't wait to look into this if you already have qualifying coverage. |
Try to schedule your ISSS Check-In and your first immunization appointment at Boynton Health in the same week. Appointment slots fill up fast once the semester starts, and batching these two tasks together saves you a second trip across campus.
Leasing Without U.S. Credit History
Not having a U.S. credit history is common for incoming students, and it doesn't shut you out of leasing at University Commons. The application process is the same for every applicant, and your qualification path is based on the same neutral criteria offered to anyone who applies, international or not.
Standard Application
A $50 application fee and $50 one-time administrative fee apply to every applicant, regardless of credit history or citizenship. Apply online or in person at the leasing office.
Security Deposit Path
Applicants without an established U.S. credit history can typically qualify through a higher refundable security deposit (up to 200% of rent) rather than a guarantor. Confirm your specific deposit amount with the leasing office, since it's assessed per applicant.
Ask the Leasing Office
Qualification terms are confirmed individually and can be updated by management. Before you apply from abroad, call (651) 386-2775 or email the office to confirm exactly what documentation they'll need from an international applicant.
What's Included
| Item | Included in Rent? |
|---|---|
| Furniture (living room + bedroom package) | Included. Every 1, 2, and 4-bedroom apartment arrives fully furnished, so you don't need to ship or buy furniture before you arrive. |
| Internet | Included in every apartment. |
| Water/sewer | Billed separately, usage-based, plus a small monthly utility administrative fee. |
| Renters liability insurance | Required, third-party, cost varies. Confirm current pricing with the leasing office. |
Every apartment at University Commons is an individual, per-bedroom lease, meaning you're responsible for your own rent, not your roommates'. If international payment questions come up (for example, wiring rent from a foreign bank account), ask the leasing office what payment methods they accept before your first payment is due.
Setting Up Life in the U.S.
| Task | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Bank account | Several branches near campus, including U.S. Bank at Stadium Village (a short trip from University Commons), plus Huntington, Wells Fargo, and Associated Bank locations closer to Dinkytown and the West Bank, accept international students opening an account with just a passport, visa, and I-20/DS-2019. Most banks require an in-person visit rather than an online application if you don't have an SSN. |
| Phone plan | Prepaid SIM plans don't require an SSN or credit check, though they typically cost more per month than a contract plan. Many students start prepaid and switch to a contract plan (or a family plan with other students) once they're settled. |
| University accounts | Claim your UMN email and MyU account using the ID number from your admission letter. Your official student ID card is usually issued after you complete your ISSS Check-In. |
| Social Security Number | Not required to lease an apartment or attend classes. You'll only need one if you take on-campus employment. A driver's license isn't required either. Passport and visa documentation is generally accepted at the DMV if you do want to get a Minnesota ID or license, but confirm current requirements with ISSS or the DMV directly. |
Bring your passport and I-20/DS-2019 with you the first time you visit any bank branch. Most won't open an account for a non-resident without seeing the physical documents in person.
Getting Around Without a Car
University Commons sits in Minneapolis's Prospect Park neighborhood, on the southeast side of the East Bank campus, close to Stadium Village rather than Dinkytown, which is a separate neighborhood on the north side of campus. Most residents find they don't need a car.
The METRO Green Line connects directly to UMN's East Bank, West Bank, and Stadium Village stations, plus downtown Minneapolis (15 minutes) and downtown St. Paul without a transfer. Metro Transit Route 2 and the METRO E Line run additional bus service along University Avenue SE. Students with a U Card may qualify for the university's U-Pass transit discount. Ask ISSS or the UMN transit office once you're enrolled.
Food, Groceries & Feeling at Home
Because every University Commons apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, cooking meals from home is genuinely practical here, with no need to eat out every night while you adjust.
| Category | What's Nearby |
|---|---|
| Everyday groceries | Fresh Thyme Market is about a 13-minute walk from the property, covering standard grocery needs. |
| Middle Eastern & halal | Holy Land Bakery, Grocery and Restaurant/Deli, near the University/Dinkytown area, carries halal groceries alongside a full deli and bakery. |
| South Asian, East Asian & Southeast Asian | Minneapolis has a well-established specialty grocery scene across the city. Ask current international students or your Global Gopher orientation group for their go-to spots, since preferences vary by cuisine and neighborhood. |
If you have specific dietary needs, it's worth scouting a grocery run during orientation week rather than your first weekend, since stores can be crowded as the whole student population moves in at once.
Community, Culture & Support
ISSS's role doesn't end once your visa paperwork clears. The office continues to advise on status changes, address-update requirements, academic questions, and cross-cultural adjustment for as long as you're enrolled.
Finding Your People
UMN has more than 1,000 student organizations, including groups built specifically around international and cross-cultural connection, GLOBE and Global Business Nexus among them. ISSS also runs the International Buddy Program, pairing new students with current ones, along with recurring programs like Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups and Small World Coffee Hour.
Culture shock is common, expected, and not a sign you're not cutting it. ISSS builds entire programs around normalizing it. Their own orientation materials describe cultural adjustment as a natural part of the transition, not an exception.
Mental Health & Counseling
ISSS staff are trained specifically in cross-cultural adjustment counseling, in addition to the university's broader Student Counseling Services, which are available to every student, international or domestic, at no extra referral hurdle. Affinity-group spaces, including a BIPOC Mental Health Collective, are also open to students seeking community-specific support.
Money & Budgeting
| Cost | Type |
|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee | One-time, $350 for F-1 students. Confirm the current figure at fmjfee.com before paying. |
| F-1 visa application fee | One-time, separate from the SEVIS fee. Paid to the U.S. embassy/consulate handling your visa interview. |
| Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) | Recurring, mandatory unless waived. Contact UMN's Office of Student Health Benefits for the current premium. |
| Application & administrative fees (University Commons) | One-time, $50 each. |
| Security deposit (University Commons) | One-time, refundable, up to 200% of rent depending on your qualification path. |
| Utility billing admin fee + water/sewer | Recurring monthly, usage-based for water/sewer. |
| Renters liability insurance | Recurring monthly, required, cost varies by provider. |
If you're transferring money internationally to pay rent or fees, ask your bank about wire transfer fees and exchange rate markups before you send anything. A university-partnered international payment service, where available, is often cheaper than a standard bank wire for larger amounts.
Quick Reference
ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services)
Visit isss.umn.edu for check-in requirements, visa status questions, and Global Gopher Experiences programming.
University Commons Leasing Office
609 SE Huron Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55414
(651) 386-2775
Mon–Fri 10 AM–6 PM · Sat 10 AM–5 PM
Boynton Health (immunization / general care)
612-625-3222 for appointments
Office of Student Health Benefits
SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment
fmjfee.com, official payment site
Your Checklist
Before You Fly
- I-20 or DS-2019 in hand
- SEVIS I-901 fee paid, receipt saved
- Visa approved and passport stamped
- University Commons lease confirmed
- Travel and move-in dates communicated to the leasing office
- Prescription medications packed with documentation
Your First Two Weeks
- ISSS Check-In completed (within 24 hours)
- UMN email and MyU account claimed
- Health insurance waiver filed (if applicable)
- Immunization appointment booked at Boynton Health
- Bank account opened with passport + I-20/DS-2019
- Phone plan set up
- Attended a Global Gopher Experiences event
Your Home Base Near UMN
Fully furnished 1, 2, and 4-bedroom apartments with individual leases, seven minutes from the University of Minnesota East Bank campus.
View Floor Plans Schedule a TourEqual Housing Opportunity. University Commons is committed to providing housing to all qualified applicants without discrimination and complies with the Fair Housing Act and all applicable federal, state, and local fair housing laws.
Qualification paths described above, including the security deposit option, are neutral leasing criteria available to any applicant who meets them, regardless of national origin or citizenship status. Contact the leasing office directly to confirm current terms, as fees and policies are subject to change.