Vaccine Information
Students are strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated (defined as being two weeks past the final dose of a WHO EUL-approved COVID-19 vaccine and received a booster). For additional guidance, please contact COVIDCares@odu.edu.
Travel Advisory
For the latest information about travel and visa advisory information please visit the following page. For additional guidance, please contact intlstu@odu.edu. If you have an immigration/visa emergency, please call/text 804-505-4291 to be connected with an advisor.
New International Students
New International Student Orientation (mandatory) is designed to help new students become familiar with the resources and services ODU provides to support student success.
The Norfolk International Airport (airport code: ORF) is about nine and a half miles from ODU, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes by car from the airport to the campus.
Directions to Campus - Please note that each residence hall and campus building has a different address, so be sure to double-check this information prior to user navigation.
Ground Transportation Available at the Airport:
- Taxis are available at the airport baggage check. Uber and Lyft are typically available but may be limited due to COVID-19. Currently, Uber and Lyft require masks for all passengers.
- The Norfolk Amtrak Station is about 4.5 miles from ODU, and it takes about a 15-20 minute car ride from the station to campus.
- The Norfolk Greyhound Bus Station is about 3.5 miles from ODU, and it takes about a 10-minute ride by car from the station to campus.
Temporary Accommodation: Many local hotels offer special ODU rates. These rates may not always be available during particular periods. Always contact the hotel directly to see if the ODU rate applies for the duration of your stay.
If planning to live ON campus...
Learn more about the various on-campus housing options, agreements, terms & conditions. Reminder: Students must activate their ODU Email/MIDAS account before proceeding with the online Housing & Dining Application.
Apply early, as on-campus housing is in high demand.
If planning to live OFF campus...
The majority of international students choose to live off-campus, and there are many options available, however, it will take effort on your part to choose suitable accommodations. It is highly advised to not enter into any contractual agreement until you have arrived in Norfolk. Please visit off-campus housing for additional information.
Monarch Transit is ODU's shuttle service, providing FREE fixed-route bus service to all Students, Faculty, and
Staff with a current ODU ID.
The shuttles stop at all University academic areas, residence halls, parking locations, and athletic fields. Off-campus stops to local popular commercial destinations are available on weekends. To ride Monarch Transit, please have your ODU ID Card ready for rider verification.
Degree-seeking students on F-1 & J-1 visas will be required to check in with the Visa & Immigration Service Advising (VISA). Office after arrival to the U.S. as your SEVIS record needs to be registered. You can view check-in dates and required documentation here.
If you are a degree-seeking international student and your visa status is not F or J, please complete the check-in form and email it to VISA along with any proof of visa status (I-797 approval notice, visa stamp, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you receive your I-20 and SEVIS number, you will need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350).
After paying the SEVIS fee, apply for an F-1 visa appointment with a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Old Dominion University's school code is WAS214F10145000. To set up an appointment, you need to do the following:
- Complete Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160 - click here to learn more about completing the DS-160). You must: 1) complete the online visa application (Form DS-160), and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
- Photo - You will upload your photo while completing the online visa application (Form DS-160). Your photo must be in the format explained in the photograph requirements.
- Schedule an Interview - You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Click HERE for appointment wait times.
We encourage you to check the consulate website regularly as we anticipate that once the appointment becomes available, they will fill out quickly and there might be a waitlist for the appointment times.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: SEVP coordinated with both the Department of State and CBP regarding the policy to allow electronic issuance and signing of Forms I-20 for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. Both agencies are in support of this action. However, we are providing and mailing physical I-20s with original (wet) signatures to admitted students, and we strongly recommend traveling with a physical I-20 with an original signature whenever possible.
You will not need to pay your SEVIS fee again if you are deferring your admission to a later term. We will mail your new I-20 with the new semester start date.
If you received an initial I-20 from a different school and an initial I-20 from ODU and you paid your SEVIS fee under the SEVIS number from the other school, you can transfer the SEVIS payment.
In general, international students on F-1 and J-1 visas are required to take 9 credits (graduate students) or 12 credits (undergraduate students) each fall and spring semester to maintain their visa status. If Fall will be your first semester in a new program, you may be eligible for a reduced course load of 6 credits (graduate) and 9 credits (undergraduate) in that first semester. Please submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL) Approval Request Form by Wednesday of the first week of classes.
English Language Center students on an F-1 visa need to take 20 contact hours per week to maintain their visa status.
If you are missing a required health vaccination and you are unable to obtain it in your home country, Student Health Services can provide the required vaccine after your arrival on campus. Your ODU health insurance plan (required for F-1 & J-1) will reimburse you for the cost of the vaccine. If Student Health Services is not able to administer the required vaccine, they will direct you to another health care provider.
Degree-seeking students will be required to check in with Visa & Immigration Service Advising after arrival to the US as your SEVIS record needs to be registered. You can view your check-in dates and required documentation on ODU's Check-In for New International Students page.
In general, international students are permitted to take only one course (3 credit hours) online per semester (fall and spring) towards the minimum credit requirement. However, if there is a temporary procedure in place related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will inform you during the check-in and the required information session.
Please notify any updates regarding your visa status to the Office of International Admissions and the VISA Office. Graduate international students must also notify their graduate program director.
To defer your admission, please submit the online deferment form: Defer Your International Application. You may add additional comments in the remarks section at the bottom of the form. An updated admission packet will be sent to you.
We encourage students to arrive by the official start date of the semester. Late arrival requests must be submitted in writing to intladm@odu.edu.
Your requests will be reviewed and further guidance will be sent via email.
The ODU English Language Center will administer TOEFL and SPEAK Tests before the start of the semester. Please visit the ELC website for details about each test. Students need to register with the English Language Center prior to the tests. Students should be prepared to take these tests remotely/online. Procedures and dates are subject to change. Please contact the ELC at ELC@odu.edu or 757-683-4424 for more information.
Prior to arrival, it is possible for students to satisfy English proficiency through additional at-home testing alternatives. Please see TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, and/or Duolingo English Test to see if those options are right for you.
After admission to ODU, international students are required to submit official documents, test scores, etc. If you need to submit any official/original final transcripts or score reports, please check-in with the Office of International Admissions. Official transcripts should be in a sealed and stamped envelope from your institution. Test score reports should be submitted directly from the testing center to the Office of International Admissions or use our CEEB code 5126.
If English was not the language of instruction, academic transcripts, diplomas/certificates, and course descriptions are required in both English (officially translated) and one's native language.
You do not have to pay all of your tuition and fees at one time. The Office of Finance offers a payment plan for Fall and Spring terms. Payment plans must be established in LEO Online each term by the published tuition deadline.