Before You Start

Soon you’ll be at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Before you arrive, complete the steps below to avoid common issues or delays for international students. If you have any questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to help!
Contact your advisor This action is required.
Get Your I-20 This action is required.
Apply for your visa This action is required.
Submit your arrival details This action is required.
Pay your tuition and fees This action is required.
Complete Important Forms This action is required.
ALEKS Mathematics Assessment Take the ALEKS BEFORE arrival and orientation
PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test) Reading and Writing Assessment (if applicable)

We have a team of dedicated personal advisors to answer your questions and ensure you have a smooth transition to the university. If you have any questions about next steps, please contact us at admissions@shorelight.com

Review your conditional offer letter and make sure that you have submitted all documents listed as missing.

Once all your documents are submitted, please submit your I-20 Request Form along with your financial statements as outlined in the Certificate of Finances.

The university will process your I-20 and email it to you as soon as possible – please expect a minimum of 10 business days.

As soon as you have your I-20, please Apply for Your Visa.

After you receive the electronic copy of your I-20, complete the following steps before booking your visa appointment:
  1. Schedule a free visa information and preparation session with your personal Enrollment Advisor.
  2. Check that the details on your I-20 are correct (including your date of birth) and make sure your name is the same as it appears on your passport.
  3. Prepare the documents you will need to take to the embassy when attending your visa interview.
After you complete the above steps, you should apply for your visa as soon as possible. It requires an interview with the U.S. Embassy and can sometimes take several weeks to schedule.
    1. Complete your Visa Application.
    2. Pay your I-901 (SEVIS) fee.
    3. Visit usembassy.gov to learn more about scheduling your visa appointment, what to expect when you arrive and the documentation you need to take with you.
    4. Notify your personal Enrollment Advisor of the date and embassy of your visa appointment.
    5. Watch these videos to help you apply for your visa and prepare for your interview:

How to Apply for Your F-1 Student Visa

Can’t see the video? Look on Youku.

Can’t see the video? Look on Youku.

Other links that international students find useful:

We are so excited for you to join us on campus! To ensure a smooth transition to your new home, plan to arrive on or before your official move-in day. Airport pickup is available at Miami International Airport (MIA).

Once you book your flights, you must fill out the student arrival form. If your family is joining you, you must also complete the family arrival form.

Student Arrival Form
Family Arrival Form

We are looking forward to meeting you in person!

To avoid delays with your enrollment, please ensure your payment is made in full at least two weeks before your arrival.

Before you start, have your acceptance letter handy, as you’ll need it for reference.

Please select your preferred payment method:

  • Credit Card or ACH: Fast and secure online payment
Pay by Credit Card or ACH
  • Wire Transfer: Domestic or international bank transfer
Pay by Wire Transfer

You will need to complete and submit the following required forms before your arrival.

  • The ALEKS assessment tests your current math level. This assessment is solely for students who intend to study in majors in Business, Science, Technology or Mathematics. You can either place in College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Business Calculus, or Calculus I depending on your major track.
  • For a general overview of the ALEKS test please visit the website: https://www.aleks.com/.
  • You will only be able to take the ALEKS assessment before arriving onto campus and before orientation, and you will receive an email from the team with the link, the ALEKS code that is unique to you, and instructions how to take the test remotely.
  • ALEKS uses an online proctoring (invigilation) service that has a small fee of $5 – you will need to pay using an international credit card or Paypal. If you have any issues with payment of the fee please let us know in advance.
  • The link to take the ALEKS exam is: go.fiu.edu/aleksg1y; remember you will be sent the code and clear instructions what to do in advance.
  • If you fail to take the ALEKS in advance of arrival and fail to respond to emails from the team you MAY be subject to a late fee charge of $250. Please don’t worry – as long as you communicate with us if you are having any difficulties completing the assessment or have issues with payment, we can help you.
  • If you do not take the ALEKS placement test in time, or if you prefer not to take it, or you test lower than you expected, you will automatically be enrolled into MAC1105 in your first semester.
  • The PERT assessment covers your English reading and writing skills. Not all students will be required to take the PERT, but if you are required to take the PERT, you must first do the steps to set up your FIU Account and university email.
  • After you have successfully set up your FIU account, you will need to register for the PERT test in the FIU Testing Center’s online system. Please click here for instructions on how to register for the PERT assessment. Once you have registered, you will receive an email from the University Testing Center with further testing instructions.
  • When you receive the email in your FIU university email, follow the instructions, watch the following video tutorial, and download HonorLock so that you are ready to take the PERT assessment.

Important Dates

For important dates, including payment and move-in dates, please visit our Shorelight profile page.