When You Arrive
Learn more about arriving at Merrimack College as an international student.
Arrival Checklist
☐ Go through US Customs and Immigration
When you arrive at the U.S. Airport, be prepared to present the following to a customs officer:
- Your passport
- Your I-20
- Original acceptance letter from Merrimack College
- A bank statement/letter to prove you have enough money to study in the U.S.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- Why are you coming to the U.S.?
- Where and what are you going to be studying?
- Do you have an acceptance letter from Merrimack College?
- Where are you going to be living?
- Do you have enough money to study in the U.S.?
- What is the Merrimack College address?
☐ Arrange transportation from the airport
- On the first day of International Student Orientation, between 8am-6pm,
you can coordinate with ISS to get transportation from Boston Logan Airport to
Merrimack. Please contact your Admission Office or ISS for more information. - Uber: You can uber to Merrimack’s campus or wherever you are living.
Download the app on your smartphone to get started. - Taxi services will be at the airport ready to take you wherever you need to
go. - Public Transportation: Visit mbta.com for more details.
- Campus Map
☐ Check in with ISS
As soon as you arrive in the U.S., the first thing you should do is check in with the
International Student Support. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This is
mandatory to keep your visa in status.
☐ Attend mandatory International Student Orientation (ISO)
Merrimack offers a customized International Student Orientation to welcome students to
campus and help them acclimate academically, socially, and culturally. Students will be
informed of all the resources available to them during orientation.
If you need assistance outside of regular office hours, call the Merrimack College Police
Department at 978-837-5555.
Buzzwords
Uber
This is a private taxi service you can order all through the Uber App on your smartphone. This is a cost-effective way to navigate your way when first arriving in the U.S.
IOL
Your international orientation leaders are upperclass domestic and international students that will help you get settled in the U.S! These are your first friends at Merrimack, so feel free to ask them any questions you have!
Your First Week Preview
International Student Orientation
Over the course of International Student Orientation (ISO) Fall 2021, the Office of International Student Services will make sure that you get acclimated to life at Merrimack and begin to make our community your new home. Here are some of the goals of our time together.
- Attend international student orientation and meet friends from around the world.
- Meet with your international academic advisor to prepare for the start of the semester.
- Discover everything North Andover and Boston have to offer with fun trips and activities around the area organized by Merrimack College.
- Get to know Merrimack’s campus so you are ready to begin your journey!
Warrior Welcome Week Highlights (First Week of School)
- Meet the rest of the incoming class by attending Fall Welcome Orientation.
- Join trips to Boston to start your semester with some fun.
- Attend various activities and meet other students, win free prizes and Merrimack official gear.
Check-In for New and Continuing Students
CHECK-IN is required of all International Students
NEW/TRANSFER International Students
- All international students are required to check in in person with the OFFICE of ISS within the first two weeks of school. The Office of ISS is located on the 3rd floor of the Sakowich Center at the very end of the hall on the left. Hours are: Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. If you do not remember to bring all your documents with you, then please upload them below.
CONTINUING International Students
- A visit to the Office of ISS is required of you as well upon the return to campus at the start of each semester.
- Also, please fill out the following MANDATORY SEVIS REGISTRATION by the end of the first full week of classes. (If you are studying remotely for the semester, please confirm that with ISS@merrimack.edu.)
ALL Students
- Please remember that your login user name is your Merrimack email WITHOUT the @merrimack.edu. Your password is your regular Merrimack password. Please, please, please do NOT create a new password.
Know Your Documents
- I-94: F-1 students entering the U.S. are given proof of legal non-immigrant status at the Port of Entry by a CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Officer.
- For those entering at an airport, proof of status is a stamp and notation in the passport. The hand-written notation should indicate your status (F-1) and your duration of stay D/S. You should print a paper copy of your Most Recent Form I-94 to document your status at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/. Note: you should select Most Recent I-94, not Travel History.
- Those entering the U.S. at a land border will receive a small white I-94 card with the same notations. You will need to scan this I-94 card to upload as a PDF for the Office of ISS.
