Guilford College

Who are the persons on campus that can help me with questions and problems?
Although all Guilford staff members are happy to assist you, Tanya Madenyika, Assistant Director of Admission/Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment, is your primary contact during the admission process and up through the time you arrive on campus. You can reach Tanya at +1-336-316-2443 or madenyikatb@guilford.edu.

Once you arrive on campus, services are available to international students through the International Student Office. Here you can find advice on institutional rules, government regulations, academic resources and opportunities offered by both the college and the larger Greensboro community. Contact Daniel Diaz, Assistant Director of Study Abroad and International Student Advisor, at +1-336-316-2125 or diazdf@guilford.edu for more information.

How do I apply for a student (F-1) visa to come to the United States?
Please click here for visa application information. The procedure is slightly different from one U.S. consulate to another, so you will want to read the information for the particular consulate that you plan to visit. See the “Obtaining a Visa” page on this site for detailed information.

What are the student health medical requirements for Guilford?
International students planning to attend Guilford College must meet the following medical requirements:

• 4 DPT shots – 1Tdap within the last 10 years
• 2 MMR shots (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
• A current TB Skin Test
• A physical examination
• Hepatitis B Series will be mandatory beginning next year. We strongly recommend that you begin this series now.

The medical form and all immunization documentation should be completed in English. Immunization requirements should be completed upon entering the semester.

When may I arrive?
The U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad can process your visa up to 90 days before the start date of your academic program. You may enter the country as early as 30 days prior to the program start date that is noted in item #5 on your I-20. You will not be expected to arrive on campus, however, until the arrival date on your I-20.

How should I arrive?
Students should plan to arrive through Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO). Guilford staff will pick you up at the airport.

What should I do when I arrive at Guilford College?
In accordance with immigration regulations, you must provide us with copies of your immigration documents upon arrival. These regulations apply to students from outside the United States, as well as to students transferring to Guilford College from another U.S. school. Questions about class registration, student ID cards and getting settled on campus will be answered during orientation, which is mandatory for all new and transfer students.

Immigration regulations require the International Office to maintain records on all international students attending the College. Therefore, you must maintain regular contact with the international student adviser and update your file when changes are made, such as renewal of a passport, visa, time and point of reentry, change of major or a change of address.

Your passport must be kept valid at all times. It is the student’s responsibility to know when the passport will expire and to contact their country’s nearest Consulate or Embassy for renewal. You can search for those through the Consulates/Embassies website.

When can I move into University housing?
You may move in to University housing on the first day of orientation, which usually coincides with the start date of your I-20.

Is there public transportation available in Greensboro, NC?
The public transportation system in Greensboro is operated by the Greensboro Transit Authority. Greensboro Transit Authority has been providing quality public transportation services to Greensboro residents and visitors. GTA operates bus service Monday through Saturday along 15 routes ans seven Sunday routes. In 2006, GTA in partnership with the several local college and universities in Greensboro, launched Higher Education Area Transit (HEAT), adding nine additional routes serving Guilford College, the other colleges and universities in Greensboro and other select locations in Greensboro and Jamestown. (HEAT bus might not be available in 2012)

Am I required to have health insurance?
There is no socialized or national system of health care in the United States and medical treatment is expensive. All international students are required to have appropriate medical insurance coverage. As part of your tuition and fees, you will be charged for student health insurance and you will be automatically covered through Guilford College’s health insurance plan.

What do I do if I want a family member to visit me?
If you have a spouse or children, the Office of Admission will assist you in bringing your spouse and children to the United States with you. The process includes requesting completion of form I-20, along with financial documentation. The process is very similar to when you obtained your visa, since your family will be required to apply for the F-2 from the U.S. Embassy in your home country. Any other family member can visit you by obtaining a visitor’s visa to come to the U.S.

Do I have to be enrolled to stay in the United States? What about during the summer?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires all international students in F-1 status to maintain full-time enrollment status throughout their program of study. Unless it is your first semester, you do not have to be enrolled in the summer. Summer is considered your official “vacation time” from school, so you may remain in the United States and not be enrolled.

Can I work while in the United States
As an F-1, you are allowed to work 20 hours a week on campus during fall and spring semesters and full time during the summer. If you want to work off campus, you will have to apply for permission and F-1s may not work off campus during the first nine months of program study.

May I transfer to another college or university?
Guilford College policy states that you are required to attend for one full semester if you enter the United States on an I-20 from Guilford College. Guilford College will not release a student to another college or university until he/she completes one semester of attendance.

Can I stay on campus during vacations and school breaks?
Residence halls are closed to all students during the semester break between December and January. If you are without resources or a place to stay during these times, please contact the International Student Adviser.

After completing your first academic year (or two consecutive semesters), you are eligible to take vacation breaks while remaining in the United States. When temporarily leaving the United States, you must have your I-20 endorsed by the International Student Adviser.

Can I leave the U.S. during vacations and school breaks?
When leaving the U.S., the student must get the International Student Adviser’s signature on the document to reenter. The I-20 also contains very important information on rules and regulations. By signing the I-20, students agree to comply with all regulations and understand the consequence of violations.

The visa stamped in the student’s passport at the U.S. Consulate gives the student permission to enter for a specific purpose and period of time. Since the stamp is important only for entry and reentry into the United States, a student need not worry if it expires while they are in the U.S., but they must get a new visa to reenter if they leave the U.S. and the existing data has expired.