Welcome International Students!

Register for the Amigo Miner Program, which will match you with a current UTEP graduate student who can help with the transition to El Paso and UTEP.

Plan to bring or have access to enough personal funds to support yourself. Estimated monthly expenses are $1,000.

If you've received an assistantship, note that you won't get your first paycheck of the semester until October 1 (Fall) or February 1 (Spring).

Note: International students (except Mexican nationals) with F1 and F2 visas, and all international J1 or J2 scholars must maintain medical, evacuation, and repatriation insurance coverage while enrolled. For that reason, you will be automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), and the cost of that coverage will appear on your tuition and fee invoice. (See step #5 for details.)

Check in via SUNAPSIS within 15 days of your arrival with all your documentation to complete the DHS Arrival process: passport; I-20/DS-2019; visa; offer letter; and I-94. Contact the Office of International Programs located in the Union East Building, room 203 if you have questions, delays, or problems.

If you've received an assistantship, also ask the OIP staff to enter your information in the SEVIS system and issue a Social Security Number (SSN) request letter. (See step #5 for details.)

Attend mandatory OIP orientation. At the start of the each term, OIP will offer 2 - 4 sessions where you will learn about successful strategies that will help you remain in F-1/J-1 status. Attend only one session.

With the help of your graduate advisor, register for classes.

If you have received an assistantship, your program will need to submit an In-State Tuition Waiver, which reduces your tuition and fees to the Texas resident rate. (See step #5 for details.)

After registration, pay any balance on your Pete's Payment account or consider a Payment Plan to pay your balance in installments.

Emergency Loans are available to all students to pay for the first installment. This option defers your initial down payment and divides your remaining tuition and fees into equal payments.

If you are a recipient of a  governmental scholarship, the third-party will guarantee payment of tuition and/or fees.

Many graduate programs offer discipline-specific orientation for new students. Contact your advisor or Graduate Program Director for details.

Most new students are also required to attend the Graduate School's semesterly  New Graduate Student Orientation. Make plans to attend, and complete any additional compliance trainings.

Note: All new on-campus students are required to complete Community of Care online modules. Click here and login with your UTEP credentials to access them now. 

Visit www.utep.edu/graduate/new for details regarding New Graduate Student Orientation and other compliance requirements.

A newly admitted international student should apply for a student visa in order to begin classes. The Office of International Programs (OIP) will help you. The steps are:

1. Create a profile on SUNAPSIS
2. Fill out the Confirmation of Financial Resources (CFR) 
   Mexican Nationals should apply for the PASE program when you fill out the CFR.
3. Obtain an I-20
4. Pay a SEVIS Fee
5. Schedule an appointment at the nearest U.S. consulate.

After receiving your admissions letter and your Letter of Financial Support (if applicable), apply for the CFR through the SUNAPSIS portal. If approved, the Office of International Programs will issue an I-20.

*If you are currently in the U.S., your process will differ slightly. Before you obtain your I-20, you'll need to fill out the SEVIS Transfer-In Request (if coming from another school) or Change of Level Request (if you're in another UTEP program).

Mexican citizens or permanent residents should apply to the Programa de Asistencia Estudiantil (PASE). PASE otorga un descuento en la colegiatura para pagar la misma colegiatura que los residentes del estado de Texas.

Apply for PASE when you complete the CFR. If CFR is approved, the Office of International Programs will issue an I-20.

La Escuela de Posgrados mantiene una página de web con información de becas y apoyos exclusivamente para mexicanos. 

After receiving your I-20, you must pay an I-901 SEVIS fee of approximately US $200.

After you get your I-20 and pay the I-901 fee, make an appointment at a US Consulate to apply for the F1 visa.  Appointment scheduling and a visa processing times vary considerably, but average 1- 3 days. Waits may be considerably longer in some cases, so you should start this process as soon as possible. Check the US consulate website of your country for approximate wait times.

Note: Some countries—including Iran and Bhutan—do not have a US Consulate, so students in those places must go to another country to apply for visa. 

Make arrangements to travel only after you get the F-1/J-1 visa. You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date, and should try to arrive in El Paso at least 15 days before the program start date. Delayed arrival may delay your employment and/or pay.

If visa is denied with prejudice, that is the end of the application process.

If the visa is denied without prejudice, you may be able to reapply or defer your application for admission. Notify your Graduate Program Director in writing and copy (cc) gradschooladmissions@utep.edu to defer your admission to the next available term.

Notify your graduate advisor in writing of your decision to enroll.

Access the SUNAPSIS platform, operated by the Office for International Programs (OIP). There, complete the "Confirmation of Financial Resources" (CFR) to initiate the I-20 request. Submit all documents required for that task.

If you decide to decline or defer your admission, notify your graduate advisor in writing and copy (cc)  gradschooladmissions@utep.edu.

If an offer is made, request a Letter of Financial Support with detailed  information about your TA, RA, or GA position from your Graduate Program Director. This letter is required to complete the CFR and initiate your I-20 process.

Accept (or decline) the offer in writing as soon as possible. Stay tuned for additional requests for documentation.

If no offer is made, contact your program advisor or research professor to inquire about the possibility of an assistantship.

If you are receiving an assistantship request the New Hire Information Sheet  (NHI) from your program advisor and complete the  In-State Tuition Waiver.  These forms need to be signed by the department chair.

Once signed, submit the NHI form to the Human Resources Office located at the Administration Building, room 216. You will also need to obtain a Social Security Number (see below).

Once signed, submit the  Waiver to your college's dean's office.

When you check in with OIP ask the staff to enter your information in the SEVIS system and issue a Social Security Number (SSN) request letter. It will take 3 – 10 business days for DHS to notify the SS Administration of your SEVIS registration. You can't work until you have an SSN.

Upon receipt of the SSN request letter, you may go to the Social Security office in El Paso area and apply for a SSN. You will receive a SSN card in the mail in approximately 10 - 30 working days.

Visit the Office of Human Resources (HR) Administration Building, room 216 to submit the New Hire Information sheet (NHI) which you received from your department to initiate the employment process. The NHI should be signed by the department supervisor and chair.

Here's a breakdown of that process:

1. Make sure you have a Social Security Number (SSN), which is required to work. You can't start your assistantship until you have your SSN.
2. Take your SSN card and signed NHI to HR.
3. Ask your hiring department to submit the Criminal Background Check form (CBC). You'll get an email requesting your approval of the CBC, which you'll need to complete within one day. CBC clearance may take two weeks or more.
4. Once your background check clears, your hiring department can start the  Interim Approval Process (IAP).
5. IAP requires several approvals. Once they are made, your employment appointment will appear in PeopleSoft (UTEP's employment software).

Remember: Even if your employment process goes smoothly, you won't get your first paycheck until  October 1 (Fall) or February 1 (Spring).

As a Graduate Student Employee (GSE), you are eligible for medical insurance, "SHIP,"  at no cost to you unless you choose extra coverage. You must:

1. Enroll as a full-time student and attend classes through at least the 12th day after the date for which coverage is purchased;
2. Be appointed to and actively working at a minimum of 50% (20 hours per week) for the duration of the semester (4 ½ months); and
3. Sign up for the policy  each semester prior to census Day. 

Click here to sign up for SHIP or view details and other insurance options.

The link above also provides information for international students not employed as GSEs. If you have  insurance coverage that complies with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act you need to submit a waiver to remove the automatically assigned medical insurance.

Call or email: 915-747-5202 - benefits@utep.edu if you have questions about insurance.