International orientation: admitted student checklist

You can immediately start learning more about NAU and your new home in Flagstaff by completing the pre-arrival International Lumberjack Orientation. This mandatory pre-arrival orientation includes helpful information relevant to international students, including:

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

You can complete the online orientation at your own pace, but 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 December 15, 2022, 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 account for email, to apply for housing, to access your student financial account, and much more! Your unique NAU User ID is included in your letter of admission. You will use this information to create a new password and activate your LOUIE account. We also have a video tutorial to help you with this process. If you have trouble with your LOUIE account, please reach out to the Student Technology Center for assistance.

LOUIE password reset

Two-step verification

Two-step verification is an extra layer of security required to help protect your NAU account from unauthorized access. When logging in to any of NAU’s supported systems (NAU Gmail, LOUIE financial account, BBLearn, etc.) with your NAU User ID and password, you will be asked for secondary confirmation. You can set up your mobile device to receive a push notification for this purpose.

How to enroll in two-step verification video tutorial

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. Additional information and assistance with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and the visa interview process for new international students is available here.

Transfer international students

International students currently attending a secondary or postsecondary 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/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 receiving the I-20 or DS-2019 immigration documents from NAU.

SEVIS I-901 Fee

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

Paying the SEVIS Fee

I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment Video Tutorial

Visa Interview at the US Embassy

Ensure you take all required documents with you to the visa interview. More information about how to prepare for your visa interview can be found here.

Nearly all undergraduate international students live on campus in one of the many NAU campus living communities. More information about the housing application process students can be found here.  Please follow the steps below to secure a place to live on-campus. Questions about the housing application process can be directed to university.housing@nau.edu.

Housing application steps

1. Submit the Spring 2023 NAU Housing Application using your NAU user ID and password.
   • Given high demand, we encourage students to submit the housing application prior to the priority deadline of November 15, 2022 if they want to secure an on-campus housing placement.
   • On-campus housing placements for students who submit applications after the priority deadline cannot be guaranteed.
2. Pay the $100 non-refundable housing application fee on your LOUIE account after submitting your application.
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 after your visa approval and prior to your arrival at NAU. 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 early January, 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. There are a number of resources available for students to help you with the apartment search process, including:

Flagstaff Apartment Guide

LOUIE’s List

Off-campus housing guide

NAU Graduate College

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. Take the online NAU math placement test.
3. Confirm your intent to attend NAU by completing the complete admission enrollment 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.

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 admission enrollment 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. Graduate students will then enroll themselves 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 login 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 here after you enter the United States)

The JacksCard is your official NAU student ID. It will be used for many purposes 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 have the option of a plastic hard-copy JacksCard or a digital JacksCard through the NAUgo app.  More information about the uses of the JacksCard is available in this video.

Photo guidelines

Upload instructions

How to add Digital JacksCard on Apple devices

How to add Digital JacksCard on 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.

Submit the MMR verification form

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 the deadlines listed below.

• Spring semester applicants: submit proof of English proficiency by December 15.
• Fall semester applicants: submit proof of English proficiency by August 1.

COVID-19 travel policies

Be aware of updated COVID-19 travel policies implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for flights to the United States. All passengers must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. A negative COVID-19 test is no longer required for travel to the United States.

Date of arrival

New international students can move in to NAU campus living communities  on Tuesday, January 10.  Students who arrive in Flagstaff prior to the move-in 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 by Tuesday, January 10th 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 Tuesday, January 10.  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 or alternative dates.

Schedule your move-in appointment for NAU campus living communities

Students should expect to receive more information about their assigned NAU campus living 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.