What to Do Before you Arrive

What to KNOW Before you Arrive

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See https://international.global.uconn.edu/webinars/for a detailed schedule, to submit questions in advance,  and to watch video of previous webinars.

All enrolled UConn students must submit a Student Health History Form to Student Health and Wellness by August 1 (fall admits) and January 1 (spring admits).  You and your doctor/physician complete this form, which documents your immunization history and risk for Tuberculosis. The state of Connecticut requires students to have been immunized against certain diseases, and if you do not meet the immunization requirements by the 10^th day of classes, a hold will be placed on your student account that prevents you from enrolling in future classes. When possible, you should obtain the required immunizations prior to departing your home country. Visit Student Health and Wellness for information about how to fill out the Health History Form and how to use the Student Health Portal.

Visit Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) for more information for international students on the Student Health History Form, Immunization Requirements and How to Navigate the Student Health Portal including videos on how to upload your documents.

Students at the School of Law: Submit all immunization documentation to the law.registrar@uconn.edu and be sure to visit the https://students.law.uconn.edu/student-life/immunization/ for detailed information on immunization requirements for Law students.

Storrs: Orientation Health Screening Storrs campus students with incomplete Student Health History forms must attend a Health Screening during orientation. During this health screening, Student Health Services can provide immunizations you are missing and administer TB and other lab tests, but you will have to pay for these services and tests if your health insurance has not yet become effective. See Health Insurance for International Students for further information. Graduate Assistant health insurance is not effective until the first day of the month after your assistantship begins (most commonly September 1 or February 1), which is after the health screening, and most temporary travel insurance plans do not cover immunizations. Regional campus students who need required immunizations after arrival must visit a local healthcare provider to obtain any missing requirements; this will not be provided at orientation.

Visiting Research Scholars and Professors: The University does not require you to have specific immunizations, or to complete the Student Health History Form. However, your visa does require you to maintain insurance meeting specific requirements. See Medical Insurance: Scholars for further information.

Bring some cash in U.S. dollars with them, to pay for small expenses that can occur directly after your arrival. We suggest you bring about $100 U.S. dollars with you in cash. Bradley International Airport (the closest airport to UConn Storrs) does not have a currency exchange kiosk.

We recommend that you pack any items that you would need immediately upon arrival in your carry-on bag in case your checked-luggage is lost (for example, toothbrush/toothpaste, identification, money).

UConn advises students who live on campus to bring these items; however, international students may need to purchase most of these items upon arrival due to packing limitations. ISSS plans to offer shopping trips to newly arrived international students on January 11. More details to come.

Connecticut is a four-season state, meaning we experience both very cold and very hot weather, as well as weather in-between. Please pack accordingly. You should plan to bring or purchase winter clothing by October.

Electrical sockets in the U.S. are 120/240 volts/60 hz.

Students and exchange visitors may arrive in the United States up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20/DS-2019.

If flying to the U.S., remember that you will be required to declare all goods that you are bringing with you, and their estimated value. If you are carrying $10,000 USD or more cash (including cash carried by any family members you travel with) this must be declared to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Most students and exchange visitors will pass through U.S. immigration at the first airport they land in the U.S. Some travelers might go through U.S. immigration at an overseas airport.

You must present to the U.S. immigration officer your:

• Passport with valid visa
• Form I-20 or DS-2019
• Students and exchange visitors who are Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp, but must present the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer with your passport.

If you do not present your Form I-20/DS-2019, you could be admitted to the U.S. in the wrong visa status.

You should also keep in your carry-on bag (not your checked luggage) additional items to show the officer in case they have further questions about your activity in the United States. Do not present these to the officer, unless asked for them. This may include:

• I-901 SEVIS Fee payment receipt
• Financial documents to show how you will support yourself
• Admission or invitation letter to UConn
• ISSS phone number: 860-486-3855 (in case they need to verify information with the University).

The immigration officers may stamp your passport and write-in your visa classification (F-1, J-1, F-2, J-2) and the letters “D/S”, but this practice is becoming less common at ports of entry. If they do stamp your passport but do not write in D/S, you should ask to have this corrected before leaving the immigration window.

If you are missing any documents, or if the immigration officers need to investigate whether you can be admitted to the United States, they might ask you to go to Secondary Inspection. In Secondary Inspection, the officers may ask further questions, look at your SEVIS record, and possibly inspect your other documents. Customs and Border Protection officers may ask to see your cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices. It is recommended that you try to book your flight to arrive in the U.S. during U.S. office hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon – Fri) in case Customs and Border Protection needs to contact ISSS.

Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks, CT is the closest airport to Storrs and Hartford. Students also fly to JFK airport (JFK) in New York City, Newark Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, or Logan Airport (BOS), in Boston.

There are many options to get to the various UConn campuses from different airports. Below are CISS recommendations for traveling to your campus.

Storrs Campus:

• Arrive at Bradley Airport (Windsor Locks) and take a taxi or Uber/Lyft (about 50 minutes).
• Arrive at Logan Airport (Boston). From Logan Airport, take the Silver Line T (subway) to South Station (free).  From South Station take a Peter Pan bus (to Mansfield/Storrs) or a Flix Bus (to Storrs).

Hartford or Law School Campus:

• Arrive at Bradley Airport (Windsor Locks) and take a taxi or Uber/Lyft to your residence (about 20 minutes).
• Arrive at Logan Airport (Boston). From Logan Airport, take the Silver Line T (subway) to South Station (free).  From South Station take a Peter Pan bus (to Hartford) or a Flix Bus (to Hartford).

Stamford Campus:

• Arrive at JFK and take a taxi, Uber/Lyft, or airport shuttle to your residence (about 1 hour).
• Arrive at Newark Airport. Take the Airtrain to Newark Liberty Airport Station (Newark Airport’s train station), and from there take Amtrak to Stamford. Note: Large luggage can be difficult to accommodate on full Amtrak trains. Stamford train station is close to UConn campus, but if you have a lot of luggage you may want to take a taxi or ride-share from there to your residence.

Waterbury campus

• Arrive at Bradley Airport (Windsor Locks) and take a taxi to Uber/Lyft to your residence (about 45 minutes).

Avery Point campus

• Arrive at T.F. Green airport (Providence, RI) and take a taxi to Uber/Lyft to your residence (about 50 minutes).

Transportation Resources

Airport Shuttles

• Airport shuttles are a good alternative to taxis/ride shares, but must be reserved in advanced. Most airports link to shuttle companies that service their locations.
• https://elitelimoct.com/
• https://www.wislaexpressct.com/

Bus Lines

• Flix Bus (From NYC and Boston to Hartford and Storrs)
• Peterpan Bus Line (to Hartford, CT and Storrs, CT from NYC and Boston) Stops at "Mansfield-Nash Zimmer Transportation Center and UConn - East Campus Great Lawn"
• Greyhound Bus Line (to Stamford and Hartford, CT from NYC and Boston.)
• CT Transit Bus 913 (search for '913') Travel between Storrs and Hartford with a stop in Manchester, CT - Free for students with UPASS. $5 without UPASS. Have exact change ready.
• 30-Bradley Flyer bus from Bradley Airport to Union Station in Downtown Hartford (fare $1.75). Pick up is from Terminal A, and the International Arrivals terminal. Have exact change ready.

Trains

• Metro North Railroad (New Haven Line travels from Grand Central Station to Stamford and New Haven Conn from NYC)
• CT Rail Hartford Line (New Haven to Hartford to Springfield, MA)
• Amtrak Railroad (to Stamford and Hartford, Conn from NYC and Boston)

Temporary Home Rentals (all Campuses): 

Airbnb and VRBO offer temporary home rentals throughout CT. Check the listing to confirm that the location is walking distance or accessible by public transportation to campus.

Storrs:

Hotels & Inns

Graduate Storrs, 855 Bolton Road in Storrs
The Inn on Storrs, 123 Storrs Road in Mansfield Center
Spring Hill Inn, 957 Storrs Road in Storrs

Bed & Breakfasts

The Fitch House, 563 Storrs Road in Mansfield Center
K. J. Tuckers, LLC Bed & Breakfast, 205 Pleasant Valley, Mansfield Center
Stones Arches Bed & Breakfast, 614 Storrs Road in Mansfield Center

Hartford: Downtown Hartford hotels are all in walking distance to the Graduate Business Learning Center and UConn Hartford. Law School students can use CT Transit Bus System routes 60, 62, 64, 66 and 72 from downtown.  There is also the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport outside of Hartford.

Stamford: 

When booking at one of the hotels below please indicate you are a UConn international student and you may be eligible for a discount depending on the terms of your stay.

The Lloyd Downtown Stamford (Across from the 900Washington Boulevard residence hall) 909 Washington Boulevard ~ (203) 363-7900 ~ https://thelloydstamford.com/

 Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Downtown ~ 275 Summer Street ~ (203) 358-8822 ~ marriott.com/stfcy

Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa ~ 243 Tresser Boulevard ~ (203) 357-9555 ~ marriott.com

There are a number of  other hotels in downtown Stamford. Check an online map to see walking time to UConn Stamford.