What is Orientation?

As a new student to UH Manoa, you will have the opportunity to attend many events called "orientation" before and during the start of your first semester. Many will be in different locations and at different times. There are some for undergraduates, graduate students, teaching assistants, students in specific departments and programs, and for new and returning students.

The ISS Orientation consists of two parts: Visa Clearance and The Welcome. As a new international student, you are required to get Visa Clearance from ISS. After Visa Clearance, we invite you to join us and all the other new international students for The Welcome. Designed especially for you, it will help you get to know us, the campus, and other new international students better.

See the other requirements for new international students.

>>>RESERVE your seat for a Visa Clearance session on this online form.

What is Visa Clearance?

All new and transfer international students are required to attend a session (~1 hr 15 mins) that will review the U.S. regulations and university policies related to their visa status. Sessions are held before the start of the fall and spring semesters.

If you have not attended a Visa Clearance session by the start of the semester, ISS will place a "hold" on your registration, so that you will be unable to make changes to your courses until the hold is removed.

For Visa Clearance,  you must bring your (1) Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for F-1 or J-1 status, (2) passport, (3) visa, and (4) I-94. You should also bring your current Hawaii address, and emergency contact information for your home country and for the U.S.  While you are in session, ISS will photocopy your visa documents. The documents are used to verify that you have entered the U.S. correctly and in the proper visa status. They will be given back to you following your session.

>>>RESERVE your seat for a Visa Clearance session on this online form.

What is The Welcome?

The Welcome is a full afternoon introducing you to International Student Services staff, student resources, registration assistance, cultural and safety issues related to your time in Hawaii, clubs and activities, and most of all--other students. All new and transfer international students should attend. The Welcome ends with a pizza party where you may meet people and make new friends from all over the world.

>>>RESERVE your seat for a Visa Clearance session on this online form.