New Students

Before You Arrive
at George Mason University

Congratulations on your admission to George Mason University. We are looking forward to welcoming you when you arrive on campus to begin school. We know you have a lot to do and probably have many questions about preparing to leave home and travel to Fairfax. Please read the following information carefully. It will provide you with the information you need and answer most of your questions.

Pre Arrival Checklist

Getting Your F-1 or J-1 Visa

Express Delivery of Immigration Documents

Travel to the United States

Travel to George Mason University

Housing Guide

Information on Mailing of Immigration Documents

Immigration documents are mailed to newly-admitted students, returning students, visiting scholars, and faculty. Unless you let us know otherwise, we send documents by regular US mail. Depending on the destination address, this could take several days to several weeks or longer. The information below is provided to offer options for expedited mailing, shipping, and receipt of documents after they have been prepared.

If you need expedited shipping of your immigration document, you have three options:

1. Have a friend or family member collect your document in our office.

   If you have a friend or family member in the Fairfax/Washington, DC area, you can authorize him or her to collect your I-20 in person from our office. E-mail us at oips@gmu.edu with your G-number and the name of the person you are authorizing.

2. Ask us to send the document to a US address.

   If you have friends or family living in the United States, we can mail the I-20 to them by regular US mail. E-mail us at oips@gmu.edu with your G-number and the complete name and mailing address to which we should send your document.

3. Pre-pay for express courier service to have your document mailed to you abroad.

   We use eShipGlobal to send immigration documents abroad once you have pre-paid the shipping costs. Below are the instructions:

   1. Register for an account
   2. Log in to your account.
   3. Click on "Receive a Package from Universities."
   4. Enter "George Mason University" or Select "District of Columbia DC."
   5. Click on "Office of International Programs and Services."
   6. Enter the address where you want your I-20 to be mailed. (Student ID = G00123456)
   7. Once you have entered your address information, click on "Ship/Quote."
   8. On the next screen, verify that your address is correct. Input your credit card information and select "Confirm Shipment."

   You are responsible for the cost of the express service. Once you have confirmed your shipment online, OIPS will receive notification of your request and will send your document as soon as it is issued. You will receive an email from eShipGlobal with your tracking number when your document has been sent to you.

   Note: The information above does not imply expedited issuance of documents and refers solely to processes related to mailing and shipping. Immigration questions or questions regarding your immigration documents should be directed to oips@gmu.edu. Questions regarding the status of the shipment of your I-20 should be directed to eShipGlobal.