Harvest Pre-arrival Information Guide

Transcription

1 Harvest Pre-arrival Information Guide 1

2 WELCOME! Congratulations on your acceptance to the Harvest Institute! We look forward to welcoming you to New Jersey and our Campuses. This guide is to assist you in preparing for your international experience. We have put together some traveling information that you may find useful. It will help soothe your pre-departure worries. If you need more information or have any questions that are not covered here, please contact us. We kindly request that you take time to read the entire guide. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our Harvest International Coordinators and they will be happy to help you. We wish you safe travels and look forward to seeing you at Harvest very soon! 2

3 Immigration and Visas Once you have been admitted to our program, you should begin to work on obtaining your visa and getting your travel plans to the U.S. confirmed. If you are not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident, you will need to obtain a student visa (F-1) to study in this program. You must apply for your visa well in advance of your arrival, as it can take several weeks, and occasionally longer. The application for a U.S. visa requires: 1. A valid passport; 2. Completed visa application forms; 3. Application fee payment; 4. Interview. You will need to present the following documents at the U.S. embassy or consulate on the day of your interview: 1. I-20 Form; 2. Valid Passport; 3. SEVIS Fee payment receipt; 4. Visa application forms; 5. A copy of financial support documents. Note: If the U.S. Consulate has any questions regarding your studies at Harvest, please contact us. Find out more at For more information, consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you intend to apply. 3

4 Booking your Flight When shopping around for the best round-trip flight prices to the U.S., keep in mind that several airlines offer student discount rates. These are the closest airports to our campuses: Airport/City Code Miles from Harvest Institute campuses Newark/Newark, New Jersey EWR EWR 5 miles to Newark / 42 miles to Long Branch LaGuardia/New York, New York LAG 19 miles to Newark / 64 miles to Long Branch John F. Kennedy/New York, New York JFK 27 miles to Newark / 66 miles to Long Branch Transportation options from these airports are available upon request (see page 9). These options are located on your Booking Form. Don t forget to confirm your flight 72 hours in advance of your departure, and arrive at the airport at least 2 hours early! 4

5 Insurance We strongly recommend that students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents purchase insurance coverage through a U.S. carrier. Health Services ISO, International Student Health Insurance, provides affordable services to Harvest students studying on any campus. ISO health insurance plans offer comprehensive coverage at reasonable prices, competitive rates for extensive benefits, multilingual customer service, fast and easy on-line enrollment, and access to one of the largest networks of providers (PPO). Complete information, rates, and policies are available online at 5

6 6 Departure Checklist Carry these items with you in your carry-on luggage: Valid Passport Certificate of eligibility (I-20 Form) Proof of financial support Sufficient funds to cover travel expenses (a credit card and some cash in U.S. dollars) Medical records and evidence of adequate insurance coverage. Valid foreign driver s license and International Driver s Permit (If you plan to drive) Transportation arrangements from the airport to Harvest campuses. The street address of where you will be living in New Jersey when you arrive. Medications you use regularly This guide What to Pack Clothing & Weather June, July and August are generally hot and humid months. September and October are a bit cooler. Although most of our classrooms are air conditioned and heated, outside gets very hot and intensily cold; therefore, you should bring suitable clothing for all seasons. Be sure to bring an umbrella and a winter coat as well if you are planning to study in November, December, January, and February. Some formal attire or other formal outfits may also be helpful. If you have a distinctive national dress, or any cultural costumes we encourage you to bring them to be worn at our Annual Harvest International Festival which happens every October. 6

7 Arriving in the U.S. Welcome to the United States! You are almost here! Many first-time visitors to the U.S. are concerned about how to get through customs and immigration. They also worry about finding local transportation from the airport to New Jersey. Everything is new and exciting, yet the language and systems may also be totally different. 7

8 Immigration When you arrive in the U.S. you will go through immigration inspection. You will need to present the following items to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official: Your passport with an F-1 visa; Your I-20 Form; Sevis Fee Payment receipt; Proof you have the financial ability to pay for your school costs plus living expenses. (the amount shown on the I-20 form) I-94 Form The I-94 Form is evidence of a nonimmigrant s term of admission and used to document legal status in the United States, including length of stay and departure. When you arrive, the CBP official will create an electronic automated arrival I-94 Form during your admissions process. To retireve your I-94 Form, please visit: Hotels Hotels near Harvest are: Newark campus: Hilton Newark Penn Station Raymond Blvd - Newark, NJ Best Western Plus Robert Treat Hotel - 50 Park Pl - Newark, NJ The Riviera Hotel Clinton Ave - Essex, NJ Long Branch campus: Bungalow Hotel - 50 Laird St - Long Branch, NJ La Quinta Inn West Long Branch New Jersey 36 - West Long Branch, NJ Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites West Long Branch New Jersey 36 - West Long Branch, NJ

9 Getting to Harvest campuses When making travel arrangements to fly to the U.S., please note that the airports that serve our area are: John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) in New Jersey ** The closest to our campuses is the Newark Liberty Airport (EWR). Transportation Harvest Pickup Service If you want us to pick you up at the airport, please fill out the AIRPORT PICKUP section on your Out of Country Application Form when you apply for your I-20 Form. Airport Shuttles Go Airport Shuttle ( ) John F. Kennedy: LaGuardia: Train NJ Transit ( New York Penn Station to Newark-NJ Penn Station Newark airport (EWR) to New York Penn Station or Newark-NJ Penn Station Taxicabs Can cost from $75 to $150 USD. Classic Milenio s Dispatching Service (973) classicmil.com Gold Lincoln Service 140 Walnut St, Newark, NJ (973) vipgoldlincoln.com Cheap Taxi 1 Gateway Center,, Newark, NJ (718) cheaptaxi.net NEWARK AIRPORT LIMO & TAXI (732) newarkairportlimo.org Newark Airport Taxi (973) ewrtaxi.net Note: Tip for taxi drivers should average 15% of the total fare depending on the amount of luggage and additional services 9

10 You are here! Welcome to Harvest Institute! When you arrive in New Jersey, you will need to come to campus to take your placement test and arrange your schedule. You will also need to show proof of tuition payment, and purchase the set of books for the level indicated on your Placement Test. International Student Orientation All students must attend orientation in person. International Student Orientation clarifies immigration rules and regulations, and Harvest policies. It also helps you to understand your role and responsabilities as an F-1 visa student. Harvest staff provides assistance with immigration, personal, and cultural adjustment. In addition, Harvest PDSO is available for immigration concerns, information, and assistance on how to maintain legal status in the United States. You will receive your Orientation date together with your Student Handbook upon arrival, after the Placement Test is taken. Books must be purchased upon arrival, according to placement. See Front Desk for price inquiries. Please note: In order to secure your registration at HEI, payment must be received in full prior to your arrival in the USA. This is to avoid unnecessary delays in the activation of your F-1 Visa, since this affects your ability to obtain the full benefits of your student status. These include, but are not limited to your enrollment, and start of your classes at the school. It is recommended that you contact the school as soon as you obtain your visa and before you confirm your travel plans. 10

11 Important contact numbers Main Campus - Newark, NJ 128 Wilson Avenue - Newark, NJ +1 (973) harvest@harvestinstitute.com Long Branch, NJ 339 Broadway - Long Branch, NJ +1 (732) lb@harvestinstitute.com EMERGENCY: 911 New Jersey Police: (609) New Jersey Fire Department: (609) New Jersey University Hospital: (973)

12 128 Wilson Ave Newark, NJ Phone: (973) Broadway Long Branch, NJ Phone: (732)