International student checklist and welcome

Start learning more about NAU and your new home in Flagstaff by completing the pre-arrival International Lumberjack Orientation. This mandatory virtual orientation includes helpful information about relevant topics for international students:

• an introduction to NAU
• student visas
• maintaining your student visa status
• NAU Campus Living
• living in Flagstaff
• pre-arrival checklist

You can go through the online orientation at your own pace, but you must complete it before your first semester starts. All new international students are required to complete the modules prior to their arrival at NAU. Submit your certificate of completion to iorientation@nau.edu by July 15, 2023, to be entered into our prize raffle.

LOUIE account

Activating your LOUIE account is your first electronic step on the NAU campus. You will use your LOUIE login for NAU email, enrolling in classes, applying for on-campus housing, accessing your student financial account, and much more. Your unique NAU User ID and a link to set the password for your account is received from NAU Information Technology Services shortly after your admission. After setting the initial password, you can later change your password. If you have technical difficulty or get locked out of your LOUIE account, please reach out to the Student Technology Center for assistance with regaining access and setting a new password.

Two-step verification

Two-step verification is a required layer of security that helps protect your NAU account from unauthorized access. When you log in to any of NAU’s supported systems (NAU Gmail, LOUIE, BBLearn, etc.) with your NAU User ID and password, you will need to submit secondary confirmation. You can set up your mobile device with push notifications for this purpose.

How to enroll in two-step verification

Two-step knowledge base

New international students

New international students are required to apply for a non-immigrant F-1 (degree-seeking) or J-1 (exchange) visa to enter the United States for academic study. Review additional information and get assistance with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and the visa interview process for new international students.

International transfer students

International students currently attending a secondary or post-secondary institution in the United States will be able to transfer their I-20 from their current institution to NAU. Students must complete the Transfer-In Form with their current international advisor or DSO. More information about transfer credit is available through JacksPath.

Form DS-160

All international students (F-1 and J-1 visas) must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) in order to schedule an appointment at the US Embassy or Consulate in your home country. It is important that you start the visa process as soon as possible. Therefore, we recommend starting the visa application process shortly after you receive the I-20 or DS-2019 immigration documents from NAU.

SEVIS I-901

After you have scheduled a visa appointment, you should pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to the US Department of Homeland Security. Explore a tutorial for paying this fee. The SEVIS I-901 fee must be paid prior to attending your visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate.

Visa interview at the US Embassy

Make sure you prepare for your visa interview and bring all required documents with you.

Nearly all undergraduate international students live on campus in one of the many NAU Campus Living communities. Explore more information about the housing application and roommate matching process for international students. Questions about the housing application process can be directed to university.housing@nau.edu.

How to secure a place to live on campus

1. Submit the NAU Housing Application by the priority deadline of May 15, 2023. On-campus housing capacity is limited. Students interested in living on-campus should apply as soon as possible, including before student visa approval to secure a placement.
2. Pay the $100 non-refundable housing application fee on your LOUIE account.
3. Electronically sign that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms and conditions of the housing contract.
4. Pay the $175 housing rent confirmation payment. This payment applies toward your first month’s rent and confirms your intent to live in campus housing.
5. You will be notified of your room assignment in August, prior to your arrival at NAU.

Meal plans: as part of the NAU Housing Application, you will have the opportunity to select a meal plan for campus dining. All first-year undergraduate students are required to enroll in a meal plan. Meal plans are optional for all exchange, transfer, dual-degree, and graduate students.

Off-campus housing options

Students may apply for on-campus housing as outlined above or may prefer to live off-campus. LOUIE’s List is a resource available to help you with available off-campus housing listings.  Please be wary of online scams on Facebook and Craigslist.  Do not wire money to someone you have never met outside of email.

International students should begin the class registration process before arriving at NAU, as classes can fill quickly! Please follow the steps below for your particular program to get enrolled in classes.

Program in Intensive English (PIE) students

1. You may submit updated proof of English proficiency test scores (Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS) to studynau@nau.edu prior to your arrival on campus.
2.  Your class enrollment will depend on your English proficiency test scores.

Undergraduate first-year students

1. Email us at iorientation@nau once you have been approved for the F-1 visa.
2. Confirm your intent to attend NAU by completing the enrollment confirmation form. Submitting this form will matriculate your application and make you eligible for enrollment in NAU classes.
3. Complete Priority Enrollment and the Advising Module prior to your advising appointment.
4. Schedule a Zoom appointment with an academic advisor making sure to take into account any time differences between your location and Flagstaff, Arizona local time (GMT-7).
5. You will then meet with an academic advisor on Zoom to discuss your academic degree requirements and build your NAU class schedule.   
6. Questions about academic advising can be directed to universityadvising@nau.edu.

Undergraduate transfer students

1. Submit your university transcripts. Official transcripts from foreign institutions of higher education should be mailed to studynau@nau.edu.
2. Email us at iorientation@nau once you have been approved for the F-1 visa.
3. Confirm your intent to attend NAU by completing the enrollment confirmation form.
4. Submitting these forms will matriculate your application and make you eligible for enrollment in NAU classes.
5. You will then meet with an academic advisor virtually to discuss your academic degree requirements and build your NAU class schedule.

Exchange students

1. Follow the steps on the International Exchange Student Enrollment Guide that you received via email.
2. Review NAU course options for the semester of your exchange and identify your preferences.
3. Once you have identified your course preferences, email the NAU Inbound Exchange Coordinator at exchangestudent@nau.edu.
4. The NAU Inbound Exchange Coordinator will enroll you in NAU classes based upon your preferences and class availability.

Graduate students

1. Submit your MMR Immunization records to remove the MMR hold which will prevent you from enrolling in classes.
2. You should consult with the graduate advisor for your academic department to discuss your degree requirements and build your NAU class schedule.
3. You will then enroll yourself in classes through LOUIE.

iNAU is the online system used by International Student and Scholar Services to manage the immigration documents of international students. There are a number of documents you should upload to iNAU prior to departure from your home country. You will use your LOUIE account to log in and access the iNAU system.

iNAU immigration document upload process:

1. Log in to iNAU
2. Locate the “services” menu on the left side
3. Click on “pre-arrival and orientation” and then “immigration doc check-in” from the tasks
4. Submit copies of the following documents:
   • passport
   • I-20 (F-1 visa students)
   • DS-2019 (J-1 visa students)
   • US student visa
   • I-94 (available for download after you enter the United States)

The JacksCard is your official NAU student ID. It has many uses including campus dining, at the library, and riding the campus bus. Thus, it is important to have your card available for use as soon as possible. Submit your photo according to the guidelines below and your card will be available for pickup at international student orientation. Students with an iPhone 6s or later have the option of receiving a digital JacksCard.

Photo guidelines

Upload instructions

Adding a Digital JacksCard to Apple Devices

Adding a Digital JacksCard to Android Devices

To safeguard the health of everyone at NAU, all new students are required to provide proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Students can submit an official immunization record in English to chs.records@nau.edu to satisfy this requirement. Students may submit copies of their original documentation or ask their doctor or health care provider to complete this form.

If you have never had the required MMR vaccinations, you can arrange to have the immunization abroad and submit the documentation before your arrival at NAU. If you are unable to obtain the immunization in your home country, the Center for International Education will help you register for an MMR Clinic during orientation.

Failure to submit the required MMR documentation will result in a hold on your account that will prevent you from enrolling in classes. Additionally, students receiving the International Excellence Award will not see those scholarship funds applied to their LOUIE account until after they have cleared the MMR hold.

MMR frequently asked questions

Note: J-1 exchange students can skip this step.

Transcripts

Please forward any updated transcripts and/or exam results to studynau@nau.edu. This information is needed for your permanent student record. Transfer students must submit a copy of course descriptions and course syllabi. It is strongly recommended that this material be provided prior to arrival on campus. This information needs to be in English and will be needed by your academic advisor before your advising session at orientation.

Proof of English proficiency

Some students may need to submit proof of English proficiency (Duolingo, TOEFL, or IELTS) prior to their arrival on campus. Documentation should be submitted to studynau@nau.edu prior to:

• spring semester applicants – December 15
• fall semester applicants – August 1

COVID-19 travel policies

International travelers to the USA are no longer required to complete a pre-flight COVID test or show proof of vaccination records in order to board a flight to the USA.

Date of arrival

NAU Campus Living communities open for new international student move-in on Monday, August 21. Students who arrive in Flagstaff prior to this date will need to find a hotel or other accommodation at their own expense until NAU Campus Living communities open for move-in.

All new international students should make travel plans that will allow for arrival at NAU no later than Tuesday, August 22 so that they can attend international student orientation. Attendance at international student orientation is mandatory for all new international students according to the terms of your F-1 or J-1 student visa.

Flagstaff airport shuttle

The Center for International Education is providing a free shuttle from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to the NAU campus for all flights on Monday, August 21 and Tuesday, August 22. After you have made your travel arrangements, you can reserve your seat on the shuttle by emailing us your flight information at iorientation@nau.edu. The shuttle provides a drop-off to NAU campus living communities as well as private apartment communities in the city of Flagstaff. The airport shuttle service is not available from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport.

Groome Transportation shuttle

Most students who travel from Phoenix by car utilize the Groome Transportation shuttle. The shuttle offers a standard NAU drop-off at Health & Learning Center. However, many students find it more convenient to pay extra for a drop-off at a specific street address in Flagstaff so they don’t have to walk with their luggage across campus or pay for a taxi or Uber. For students living in a NAU Campus Living Community, it is recommended to get dropped off at the International Pavilion – NAU (1450 Knoles Drive). For students living off-campus, you can use the address for your Flagstaff apartment community. This request for a specific street address drop-off should be done when making the initial reservation and will add approximately $5 to the cost.

Students are highly discouraged from taking the late-night Groome Transportation shuttle with drop-off at NAU after midnight. Rather, it is recommended to stay in a Phoenix hotel, and take a morning shuttle the following day.

Schedule your move-in appointment for NAU Campus Living communities

Students should expect to receive more information about their assigned community in August. After receiving your housing placement in August, you should schedule your move-in appointment date through the housing portal. Questions about your NAU housing application or room assignment can be sent to university.housing@nau.edu.