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Home>Australia>Information Technology (MSIT)>Heinz College - Pittsburgh Exchange Program>Preparing to Begin the Exchange Program
Preparing to Begin the Exchange Program
To apply for an F-1 US entry visa, students will need:
1) a current passport
2) a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) from Carnegie Mellon University
3) evidence of financial support for their stay in the U.S.
To begin the I-20 process, students must complete and sign the International Exchange Student Information Form for the Adelaide-to-Pittsburgh exchange, available from the Heinz College’s Admissions Office. Due to international mailing times you should expect to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you send the International Exchange Student Information Form, with all required supporting documents, until you receive your I-20 and pre-arrival information. The completed packet should be sent to OIE.
The supporting documents include:
-- Original, signed Affidavit of Financial Support (if funded by a family member or personal sponsor)
-- Original financial documents
-- TOEFL score (except for applicants who have received a degree from a university at which English is the primary language of instruction)
-- Copy of passport identification page(s)
-- Copy of letter of admission to the exchange program
Please note that packages containing incomplete or insufficient funding information will not be processed. The original financial documents serve as proof of funding for the period of study at Carnegie Mellon; students must prove funding for living expenses, books and supplies, and health insurance (amounts provided in U.S. dollars in the International Exchange Student Information Form). You should obtain 3 sets of original financial documents: one set to apply for the I-20, one set for our U.S. visa application and one set to carry with you to present to immigration officials as you enter the U.S.
Students may check the following website to estimate how long you will have to wait to get an interview appointment to apply for a visa: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html
Please note that students must never work off-campus unless you have the necessary authorization from the foreign student advisor (consult the OIE Advisor for the Heinz College for details). Students may be able to work on-campus, but no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students might also be able to volunteer in the community. Employment or volunteerism must not interfere with the student’s academic responsibilities, including attending classes (36 units minimum), completing assignments, etc. Students should discuss interest in work or volunteerism with both the home and host campus advisors.
Foreign students must leave the U.S. within 60 days of completion or termination of the program of study. You must, however, return to the Adelaide campus in time to begin the next semester and/or meet any other requirements as determined by the home campus.
Due to Australian visa regulations, U.S. citizens studying on a student visa in Adelaide cannot participate in an exchange program with their country of citizenship. Due to American visa restrictions, students who are studying in Australia on a student visa are ineligible to go on exchange in their final semester.
Additional information on documents and maintaining legal immigration status may be found here: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/legal1.cfm
Finding Housing
Transitional Housing may be available (depending upon your arrival date): http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/settlinginguides/grad/transitionalHousing.cfm.
January-May: depending on space availability, exchange students may be able to rent an on-campus dorm room (information will be included along with your I-20). In addition, off-campus housing is available. Review the information on the Carnegie Mellon Community Housing Office web site on finding off-campus housing that meets your specific needs and preferences. If you arrive early, be sure to visit the Community Housing Office on the first floor of Morewood Gardens E-Tower, (412) 268-4990. http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/settlinginguides/grad/housing.cfm
May- August: Students can rent a single or double room through Conference Services: http://www.cmu.edu/conferences/accommodations/guestHousing.html
August- December: depending on space availability, exchange students may be able to rent an on-campus dorm room (information will be included along with your I-20). In addition, off-campus housing is available. Review the information on the Carnegie Mellon Community Housing Office web site on finding off-campus housing that meets your specific needs and preferences. If you arrive early, be sure to visit the Community Housing Office on the first floor of Morewood Gardens E-Tower, (412) 268-4990. http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/settlinginguides/grad/housing.cfm
Registering for Classes and Advising
Students should check the Schedule of Classes website for course information and use the Online Registration System (OLR) to register for their Plan of Study coursework. The OLR system will most likely place the student on a waitlist. Once all course selections have been made, contact Sean Beggs (MSIT) or Gladys Perez (MSPPM) to be cleared from the waitlist.
Students are encouraged to contact their host advisor soon after their acceptance to the exchange program. Advising sessions are on-going throughout the semester and students are expected to meet with their host advisor during their study in Pittsburgh.
The Add/Drop deadline is ten days after the start of the semester or mini.
Computing
Software used in core courses is available from the Heinz Computing office in HbH A206. There are many software titles available. Before you purchase software, email Heinz-computing@andrew.cmu.eduto see if we have the software in stock.
MSPPM-AU students have access to the Hamburg Hall computer labs. All students have access to the main campus computer labs located across campus.
MSIT-AU students are required to have a laptop computer, meeting minimum program requirements (available from Pittsburgh Admissions) when studying in Pittsburgh. The CMU Computer store offers a discounted laptop with the Heinz software image and comes with full hardware/software support through the Heinz Computing office. The Heinz Computing office also offers limited support for all student laptops.
Banking
When you attend international student orientation you will receive detailed information on the many full service banks close to campus. In the meantime, check out the following web sites:
PNC Bank
Citizens Bank
National City
Dollar Bank
Take into consideration services and fees associated with checking and savings accounts, interest rates, wire transfer fees, ATM machine access, credit and debit card availability, as well as telephone and web banking. You may not want to open an account until you have secured housing as proximity to your residence is also an important consideration. Please keep in mind, ATM’s offer the cheapest method of changing money.
Health Insurance, Medical History and Immunization Requirements
Health Services Liaison: Lori Smith, Coordinator of Student Insurance, lorigs@andrew.cmu.edu.
CMU requires students maintain valid health insurance coverage (see point 7 of “You Must Always” at http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/legal1.cfm). This can either be the university plan, or students can submit the CMU Student Health Services’ Medical Insurance Waiver form (proof of sufficient insurance coverage through another insurance policy). All exchange students will be billed for health insurance at Carnegie Mellon unless they complete the Medical Insurance Waiver Form and receive the approval for the waiver from Carnegie Mellon’s Health Services. The standards for acceptable insurance are on the Medical Insurance Waiver Form and all questions should be referred to Lori Smith. Students travelling to Pittsburgh are not covered by their Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Health Insurance, and will need separate cover. They will, however, be entitled to a 30 day holiday credit.
All exchange students must complete the Medical History Form and meet the Immunization Requirements (see note below). All Health Services forms can be found at: http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/healthservice
- Under the left hand shortcuts, click on “Forms” then students can access both the Health History Form and under “Insurance” and “Medical” the Medical Insurance Waiver Form.
- Note: students must complete and return the Medical History Form in advance of arrival and receive proper immunizations.
- Adelaide students might be entitled to a refund for OSHC subject to their health insurance provider.
Transportation
Carnegie Mellon is located at the junction of three major neighborhoods (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Oakland) and is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. For travelling longer distances, you may want to consider using a bike, bus, or taxi.
Local Buses: The easiest and least expensive means of transportation in Pittsburgh is the local bus transportation provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT). Schedules for the various routes throughout the city may be obtained from the Information Desk in the University Center (on campus), by going to the PAT web site at http://www.RideGold.com or by calling PAT customer service at (412) 442-2000 and asking specific questions such as, “How do I get from CMU to the Homestead shopping center?”
All degree-seeking students are charged a Port Authority Fee of approximately $38 per semester. You will be provided with a validation sticker each semester from the HUB to be placed on your student ID, which will serve as a bus pass, good for unlimited free use of the entire city bus system including the “T”, the subway between downtown, the South Hills and the inclines. Family members may find it economical to purchase coupons for a weekly, a monthly, or even a yearly bus pass. Passes can be purchased on campus, at the PAT office downtown, or at local banks, department stores, and grocery stores.
Carnegie Mellon Shuttle: Carnegie Mellon operates a shuttle service daily from 6:45am to 10:45pm between campus and nearby off-campus locations. There is also an escort service available from 6:30 pm. to 6:40 am . The shuttle follows a designated route and the escort service operates within a 1.5-mile radius of campus. All students and their dependents may use these services for free. More information about these services is available here: http://www.cmu.edu/police/escort.htm.
Purchasing a Car: Owning a car in the US can be expensive. There are ownership costs (purchase price, taxes, depreciation, finance charges, registration, insurance, license fees, parking, etc.) and operating costs (gas, oil, engine maintenance, tires, etc.). If you'd like to research this option, Consumer Reports Magazine and Car Magazine are good resources. You can also visit http://www.carseverything.com and http://www.nada.com for more information. Automobile insurance rates for people who are new to the US are usually inflated until a driving history has been established. Be aware that parking on campus is very difficult and costly to obtain. To apply for a parking permit for on campus, visit: http://www.cmu.edu/parking/