Student Guide

Our pre-arrival webinar series for international students is designed to prepare you for your upcoming journey to Mercy University. You can find out some of what we discuss in these webinars below and how to join them.

In these live sessions, your Campus Team will provide you with guidance and advice as a newly-admitted international student.

Webinar #2- Pre-Arrival Webinar

Applying for your F-1 Visa

In order to avoid delays in getting your visa, it is very important to apply for your F-1 student visa at your nearest US embassy or consulate as soon as you have received your Admission Letter and I-20. You can locate a nearby embassy at this link: https://www.usa.gov/find-embassy. Any delays in receiving your visa will impact your ability to register for your classes and may delay your start term.

The general steps for applying for your F-1 Visa are below:

1. Complete the online visa application (form DS-160) You might need to pay the visa application fee of $185 at this time too.
2. Schedule a visa interview appointment. Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions. F-1 student visas can be issued up to 365 days before your program start date.
3. Prepare for interview
   1. Pay SEVIS I-901 fee at https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html# Current fee for F1 student visa is $350.  Your I-20 have your SEVIS ID number at the top (it starts with N and followed by 10 digits) and other information needed to pay the SEVIS fee.
   2. Gather necessary documents- valid passport, visa application (Form DS-160) confirmation page, application fee payment receipt, Form I-20, passport photo (if necessary). Additional documents may be required such as: academic transcript, test scores, proof of financial ability.
4. Attend visa interview

Our team can support you through this process. You can reach out by using this form: Admissions Contact Form

We will request updates on your visa application status. We’d like to know when you applied, when your interview is scheduled and, most importantly, if you were successful!  Once you’ve received your visa, please email Jamie Grafton – jgrafton@oxfordinternational.com.

US Visa Application Support

If you have any questions about the US visa application, we’d encourage you to talk to a professional immigration expert.

Oxford International has partnered with the Argo Visa Forge Dynamic. The company provides visa applicants with a one-to-one analysis of their case and then guides them with personalized visa interview strategies. If you need help preparing your visa interview, you can book a consultation with an Argo Visa Expert today.

You must book your accommodation before your arrival in the US. It is advisable to move into your private accommodation a day or two before your program start date, or into your on-campus accommodation on your assigned move-in date, so that you are fully rested and ready to attend!

Once you have your student ID number you can start the accommodation booking process with On-Campus housing via this link.  On-Campus housing has many advantages including:

• A safe and supportive staff of Resident Advisors (RAs) to help with housing and roommate issues, as well as secured entry for student safety.
• A permanent full time Mercy University Employee living on campus to assist with any serious issues.
• Close and convenient location (in Manhattan, housing is on the 7th floor, and most classes are on the 3rd and 4th floor) that allows you to be on-time for class with no commute and with easy access to other university facilities and services.
• Roommates are often local students who are great resources to expand your English and learn more about living in the USA.

Other accommodation options are linked below.

• Educational Housing Services (EHS) can help you find off-campus accommodation (EHS is not affiliated with Mercy University or Oxford International)

We will request updates on your accommodation arrangements so we can promptly assist you.

When to Book Your Flight

Immediately after you’ve received your visa, book your flight. When booking your flight, please make sure you schedule to arrive on or before the Arrival / Move-in Date, so you have enough time to check-in to your accommodation and join your classes on time. When choosing your arrival airport, be sure to select John F. Kennedy International Aiport (JFK), La Guardia (LGA), or Newark Liberty International (EWR) as this is the most convenient option with ground connections to campus and the rest of New York.

We will request information and updates about your travel details, so please email nyc@oxfordinternational.com once you’ve booked your flight.

Airport Pickup

At Oxford, we want you to feel welcome and supported from the moment you arrive. Let us arrange an Airport Pickup Service to take the stress out of your travel so you can focus on your studies and new adventures. If you’d like to reserve our convenient airport pickup service, simply complete this form. All requests need to be made two weeks before arrival.  Any forms submitted after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The airport pickup service pricing is a flat rate:

$230 from JFK, Newark, or LaGuardia airports

Your course registration will be assisted by our Campus Team.  Please refer to any instructions provided via email or during the pre-arrival webinar.

STAGE 1 – Student Systems Access
When you receive a link to set up your Mercy University email account and Mercy Connect account, click on the link provided and follow the instructions.

STAGE 2 – Class Registration

• For Direct-Entry students, once you’ve received your visa, you will be sent an email from International Student Admissions to introduce you to your academic advisor.  This advisor will arrange a time to meet with you virtually so that they can go through your class, registration, and schedule options.
• For University Pathway Program students, the campus team will register for your Mercy classes, and you’ll be given your schedule in orientation.

STAGE 2 – Arrival Check-In
Once the online registration is complete, you will need to come to the campus office for face-to-face check-in, usually during the arrival orientation.

You will need to bring: any remaining payment due, current, valid and in-date passport and relevant immigration document (e.g. stamped entry visa, current visa, I-94 arrival record).

You must check-in on arrival.  If you don’t, you will be classed as non-arrival, reported to SEVIS, and dropped from your classes.

During the document check, you will also receive instructions about where/how to pick up your Student ID card and class schedule.

About one month before the program start date, you will receive an invoice for your remaining tuition from the campus team. We strongly advise that you pay your remaining tuition from your home country as soon as you receive your visa and before you travel to the US. Settling all due payments prior to arrival will allow you to focus on your studies and to enjoy your student life. Without paying your tuition fees, you may not receive your schedule and may have restrictions applied to your university facilities.

You can easily pay your tuition and fees online via Flywire, our preferred payment partner. Flywire provides a secure global payment network that simplifies paying your fees from your home country and countries around the world. Payment options can include bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more, typically in your home currency for most countries.

Your invoice will include a unique Flywire link (or found in your offer letter). Please be sure to contact us for bank details for direct bank transfers.

If you want to discuss your tuition payment, you can contact Jamie Grafton – jgrafton@oxfordinternational.com.

Personal Finances

It’s important to contact your bank or credit card company to confirm whether or not you can use your cards in the United States. If you are carrying cash, be sure that you do not carry more than $10,000 USD, as you will need to declare this in customs and immigration.

Many students also opt to open US bank accounts. You should research options that may work best for you. We’ve partnered with Adro Bank to offer international students a simple, reliable, and convenient banking solution.  Adro Bank provides easy account setup from the US and abroad, a service tailored for international students, multilingual support, and easy access to your money. To learn more and open an account, simply visit Adro’s website through this link.

For more information about Adro accounts and sign up, feel free to explore the following links:

Adro Sign Up Walkthrough

Adro Account Comparison

Adro Help Center

You were admitted to Mercy University, based on unofficial academic documents. These copies/scan copies and academic documents not in a sealed envelope from your school are considered unofficial.

You will be required to submit official transcripts and graduation certificates from all institutions you have attended as well as your official English test documentation as part of your admission process to Mercy University.  An official academic document is a verification of your complete academic record issued directly from your school. Your final secondary academic record (transcript) and graduation certificate must be issued in a sealed/unopened envelope with a school stamp or signature on the envelope flap, or emailed from the institution directly to Mercy University.

You can submit documentation in the following ways:

1. Dropped off to Lei, Keily, or Brian in the International Admissions office in the Manhattan Campus – The documents must be in a sealed, unopened envelope that was sealed by the issuing institution.
2. Via email from the school(s) to International Admissions (global@mercy.edu). The email should be sent from an official school account and include the following information.
   1. The sender’s job title and contact information.
   2. Written confirmation that the transcript they are sending is the official version.
3. Via mail directly from the school to the Mercy at the following address: Mercy University, Student Services Support Center, 828 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA.

We want you to have the best possible student experience: an arrival that answers your questions as well as events and activities that help you settle into your studies and make friends. We strongly advise that you attend lectures from day one in order to have the best possible academic outcome. To enjoy the full student experience, you need to arrive at the College no later than the program start date as stated in your offer letter and I-20.

If you believe you are going to enter the US beyond the program start date, you must request permission to arrive late by contacting Jamie Grafton at jgrafton@oxfordinternational.com. Be sure to provide the date you expect to arrive and the reason for the delay. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure you are fully registered once you arrive.

• Visa: Pathways@oxfordinternational.com
• Accommodation: +1 (914) 674-7277 / Email: residentiallife@mercy.edu
• Class registration: Jamie Grafton – jgrafton@oxfordinternational.com
• Tuition fee payments: Jamie Grafton –  jgrafton@oxfordinternational.com

US Visa Application

If you have any questions about the US visa application, we’d encourage you to talk to a professional immigration expert.

Oxford International has partnered with the Argo Visa Forge Dynamic. The company provides visa applicants with a one-to-one analysis of their case and then guides them with personalized visa interview strategies. If you need help preparing your visa interview, you can book a consultation with an Argo Visa Expert today.

Keeping Safe: Health Insurance

At Oxford International, we want you to focus on your studies and cultural experience without the worry of unexpected medical costs. Because of this, we have partnered with International Student Insurance to provide a health plan that provides the coverage you need, so you can enjoy your time at school and explore your new surroundings with confidence. If you’d like to get started with insurance through us, simply fill out this form, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Airport Pickup

At Oxford, we want you to feel welcome and supported from the moment you arrive. Let us arrange an Airport Pickup Service to take the stress out of your travel so you can focus on your studies and new adventures. If you’d like to reserve our convenient airport pickup service, simply complete this form, and we’ll send you all the details and pricing directly to your email.

Adro Banking

We know that you’re excited to come and study in New York City and to make your transition to studying abroad as smooth as possible, we’ve partnered with Adro Bank to offer international students a simple, reliable, and convenient banking solution.  Adro Bank provides easy account setup from in the US and abroad, a service tailored for International Students, multilingual support, and easy access to your money. To learn more and open an account, simply visit Adro’s website through this link.