NEXT STEPS FOR ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

As an incoming Perimeter College international student, you’ll need to complete the next steps for accepted students listed below.

IMPORTANT DATES

DEC. 15

Decisions will be released for early-action admission for in-state applicants, the Centennial Merit Scholarship, and the Stamps and Presidential scholarships.

Congratulations on Your Admission

WELCOME TO PERIMETER COLLEGE, HERE IS WHAT TO DO NEXT.

Congratulations on your acceptance to Georgia State’s Perimeter College as a new international student. International Student & Scholar Services-Perimeter College (ISSS-PC) advises you to follow this checklist of tasks to complete before and after your arrival in the U.S. and Atlanta. We’ve also included a list of items to keep with you (not in checked luggage) during travel. ISSS-PC is here to help. We look forward to meeting you at International Student Orientation and Check-in.

Follow these next steps after academic admission to Georgia State’s Perimeter College. These steps are critical to your success next semester.

Explore Next Steps

LEARN MORE AT ISSS

ATLANTA CAMPUS STUDENTS

DUAL-ENROLLMENT STUDENTS

First & Pre-Arrival Steps

Complete these steps as soon as possible after you’ve been accepted to Georgia State so you’ll be ready for the first day of classes.

Web Services, Fees, Visa Interview and Intent to Enroll
PAWS, Housing and Transportation

Web Services, Fees, Visa Interview and Intent to Enroll

Activate your CampusID. Enter your Panther ID number, which you received in your admissions materials. If you lost, forgot or didn’t receive it, you can look it up here.

Follow the directions for students without a Social Security number to receive a temporary password, which you can change at the same site.
Memorize or write down your password because you will need it when you arrive on campus.

Set up your Georgia State student email account at PantherMail Student Email. You will use this email address for all official communications with ISSS-PC and the university. Check this account frequently. Emails from our office will always start with the subject line “ISSS-PC.”

Obtain I-20. After academic admission to Georgia State’s Perimeter College, you will receive an automatic email from International Student and Scholar Services-Perimeter College (ISSS-PC). The email will instruct you to upload the required information, including financial documentation via “iStart,” an online, paperless system. When requested documentation is complete, your record will be reviewed by ISSS-PC. Then, ISSS-PC will create your I-20 and mail it to you. Learn more about iStart.

4	Pay SEVIS Fee. Once you have received your I-20 from Georgia State’s Perimeter College, pay the required SEVIS I-901 fee at: fmjfee.com. Print and keep your receipt for future reference.
5	Make an appointment at the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy for your F1 visa interview. You will need your SEVIS I-901 fee receipt and I-20 from Georgia State’s Perimeter College. Information about the visa application process is available at the ISSS website.
6	Submit Your Intent to Enroll. This form confirms to Admissions your decision to attend Perimeter College for a specified term and helps us prepare for your upcoming registration and enrollment. Note: Students who need to change to a future term should complete the Reactivation process.
7	Save Campus Safety and Security Number. Your safety and security is important. Please save the Campus Safety & Security number in your cell phone: 404-413-3333.

NEXT: PAWS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION →

PAWS, Housing and Transportation

8	Log in to Panther Access to Web Services (PAWS). PAWS is the Georgia State University-wide student online portal with everything you need as an admitted student. Here you can register for classes, view your schedule, your student account balance and more. Log in to your PAWS account and get familiar with everything it has to offer.
9	AFTER obtaining your visa, plan your travel to the U.S. to arrive in time for (required) on-campus New Student Orientation and International Student Orientation and Check-in. You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the start date on your I-20. You may not skip or miss the International Student Orientation and Check-in.
10	Research housing options. Georgia State University’s Perimeter College is non-residential and does not provide on-campus housing. You are responsible for finding and securing living arrangements. There are many apartments for rent near Perimeter College campuses. If you are moving from out of state or outside of the United States and you have not yet secured housing, we encourage you to arrive one month prior to the start of classes. This will provide you the advantage of finding living accommodations, relaxing and getting acquainted with your new surroundings before orientation and the start of classes.

Cont.

The Off-Campus Housing section of the International Student Handbook* contains helpful information about arranging off-campus housing.
Warning: don’t sign a lease for an apartment from abroad. Always visit the property in person first, after you arrive. Remember, you can enter the U.S. 30 days before the start of your program for this purpose.

Arrange transportation from the Atlanta airport to your local destination at your own expense. Transportation will not be provided for you. However, some assistance may be available through International Student Connection, which offers free airport pick-ups for Georgia State University’s Perimeter College international students as needed. To request their assistance, contact at [email protected] international admissions. For questions or to confirm your arrangements, contact Michele Coursey at [email protected]. Other options include MARTA, taxis and airport shuttles.

NEXT: POST-ARRIVAL STEPS →

Next Steps: Post-Arrival

Testing, Immunization, Orientation, Courses and Insurance

Take required ACCUPLACER tests, if applicable. Applicants to Perimeter College at Georgia State must take the ACCUPLACER unless exempted by specific criteria (other test scores, transfer credit, etc.). For more information about testing requirements for international students, click here or contact Undergraduate Admissions at [email protected] or call 404-413-2500. Press “3” for Perimeter College.

Submit Immunizations. Submit your immunization records to our Student Health Center. Students who do not have required immunizations prior to arriving to the U.S. may get immunizations done upon arrival. Immunization requirements must be satisfied prior to class registration. Avoid registration delays by submitting your records as soon as possible. If you have questions about how to submit immunizations, email [email protected]. Immunization documents may be faxed to 678-891-3036.

Complete New Student Orientation:

First-year and transfer students with fewer than 30 credit hours must complete on-campus orientation which will conclude with advisement and registration.
Online-only, transfer students with 30 or more credit hours and transient students must complete the online New Student Orientation module.

More information about New Student Orientation. For questions about New Student Orientation, call 678-891-2380.

Register for courses via PAWS. You may register for classes after you have attended Orientation Part II and met with an academic advisor.

Pay for or request a waiver of the required Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

Students are required to maintain adequate health insurance during their stay in the U.S. Georgia State Perimeter College’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is underwritten by United Healthcare Insurance Company and is administered by United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR).
Payment for this insurance can be made at the same time you pay your tuition and fees. Do not pay the insurance premium directly to UHCSR.
Students with a qualified alternate insurance plan from their home country are eligible to request a waiver of the mandatory plan. If you do not request a waiver and you don’t pay for the Georgia State plan by the payment deadline, your courses will be dropped automatically.
For information about SHIP, click here. Additional information about the insurance process will also be discussed in the F-1 Visa Information Meeting and Check-in.

Attend International Student Orientation and Check-In at Perimeter College the week before class begin. Bring your passport, I-20 and I-94. For more information, click here.

NEXT: PANTHERCARD, TEXT BOOKS, TUITION AND DRIVER'S LICENSE →

PantherCard, Text Books, Tuition and Driver's License

18	Obtain your PantherCard, the official Georgia State University Perimeter College identification card for use as: A library card, facility access and a debit card Obtain your PantherCard with a state or federally issued photo ID; passport, driver’s license, etc. at the Perimeter PantherCard office. Find the PantherCard office location on your campus.
19	Purchase your textbooks for classes, but only after advisement by your academic adviser. The University Bookstore will have the textbooks you need, or you can order or rent them online. If ordering, allow enough time for the books to arrive before classes start.
20	Prepare to pay all tuition and fees by the payment deadlines. All students with balances after the deadline are automatically dropped from all courses. For more information, see Paying Your Account Balance.
21	Driver’s License. To obtain a driver’s license in the U.S. as an international student, you will need to wait for your SEVIS record to be registered within five days after the F-1 Visa Information Meeting and Check-in.

Cont.

In addition, you have to be present in the U.S. at least 10 days. ISSS-PC will email all new international students once their I-20 has been registered. The Department of Driver Services (DDS) will reject driver’s license applications from international students before this step and 10 days.

Review. Your class registration will NOT be complete until you complete the following:

Take the proper ACCUPLACER test, if applicable.
Meet with your academic adviser.
Enter a valid local address, foreign address, email and phone number in PAWS.
Submit required immigration documents to ISSS at the International Student Orientation and Check-in.

Facebook and Monthly Newsletter. Like ISSS on Facebook and read the Monthly Newsletter. Follow us on Facebook and read the monthly ISSS-PC Newsletter to get updates regarding ISSS policies, immigration updates, ISSS events and other important information.

A Few Notes On Traveling

Items to keep with you during travel. Carry-on, not checked luggage.

I-20 or DS-2019 from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.
Valid passport.
U.S. visa for Georgia State University’s Perimeter College, located in your passport.
Your admission letter from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.
Airplane ticket(s).
Cash, credit cards, or any international bank card (ATM or debit card). ISSS advises to carry $1,000-$2,000 cash in U.S. dollars for travel emergencies, unforeseen expenses and settling-in costs.

Phone numbers and email addresses of emergency contacts at home and in the United States.
Phone numbers and email addresses of relatives, friends, your Georgia State academic department, the ISSS-PC office (678-891-3235 during business hours).
An English translation of your medical history and documents.
Prescriptions for medications you take and a fresh supply of prescription medicines.
Medical records (including vaccination records) for your accompanying spouse/children (if applicable).

Status Check

Review your acceptance letter and make sure all required documents and scores have been submitted.

REVIEW YOUR STATUS

Advisement

Getting prepared for the beginning of the next chapter of your life can be a daunting task. Let us help you out before you even begin classes.

FIND YOUR ADVISER

Checklist

Want to print a list of next steps? Download the checklist.

NEXT STEPS CHECKLIST

Status Check

Review your acceptance letter and make sure all required documents and scores have been submitted.

REVIEW YOUR STATUS

Advisement

Getting prepared for the beginning of the next chapter of your life can be a daunting task. Let us help you out before you even begin classes.

FIND YOUR ADVISER

Checklist

Want to print a list of next steps? Download the appropriate checklist.

NEXT STEPS CHECKLIST

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admissions

404-413-2500 | [email protected]

Student Financial Services

404-413-2600 | Panther Answer

Enrollment & Registration Services

404-413-2900 | Panther Answer

Our admissions counselors are here to guide you through the application and acceptance process. Connect with yours today.

Send all electronic transcripts to [email protected]. If you have any international admissions or credential questions, contact [email protected].