New Students

Welcome

So you're joining us at the American English Institute. Here are your next steps:

The pre-arrival checklist  below provides important information about what you will need to complete before arriving in the U.S. and beginning your classes. Please complete these items as soon as possible to make sure there are no delays or problems when you arrive. Please contact aei@uoregon.edu if you have any questions.

Obtain a U.S. visa

We encourage you to contact your home EducationUSA.info center for pre-departure help specific to your country and language.

It is important for new F-1 and J-1 students to pay your SEVIS I-901 fee before applying for your visa. Credit card payment is simple through the online process at fmjfee.com .

This payment AND your I-20 or DS-2019 form are required to apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.

Learn more about the visa requirements on our Get a Visa webpage.

Transfer students within the U.S.:  Submit the AEI SEVIS transfer form to the international SEVIS adviser at your current institution. Your adviser will complete the form and mail or fax the original to the University of Oregon’s AEI. The AEI will mail you your new I-20, or have you pick it up at  Agate Hall .

Make travel plans

Your final destination will be Eugene, Oregon (airport code EUG). 

  • Secure your U.S. Student Visa before purchasing any airline tickets.
  • New students can only enter the U.S. within 30 days of the start of the AEI term. 
  • Be sure to arrive a day or two before Orientation begins, to help you adjust to any jet lag.
  • If you have connecting flights following your arrival to the U.S., we recommend allowing additional time between flights (minimum 2 hours).
Claim your Duck ID (activate student account)

Your Duck ID is the username for your primary student account. You will use your Duck ID username and password to log in to email, Canvas, on-campus Wi-Fi, and many other campus services. Your Duck ID username will also be the first part of your UO email address (duckid@uoregon.edu).

"Claiming your Duck ID" is the process of creating the username and password for your account. To claim your Duck ID, go to duckid.uoregon.edu and click "Claim your Duck ID." Then follow the instructions.

You will need your student ID number (95#) to complete this process.

Apply for housingThe University of Oregon offers a variety of housing options, including AEI Homestay, On-Campus Housing, and Off-Campus Housing. Please explore the options on the Housing page to determine what works best for you. See the AEI Academic Calendar for AEI Homestay deadlines.
Take the online English placement test

After you claim your Duck ID, the UO Testing Center will send you an email with important information about taking a required online English Placement Test before the start of the term. This test will help us place you in the correct classes.

It is important that you make an appointment to take the test as soon as you receive the email from the UO Testing Center. The Testing Center can become very busy before the start of the term and appointments may be limited if you wait. Please check your email daily and open the email from the UO Testing Center as soon as you receive it. Then follow the instructions to schedule a test session right away.

Immunizations and Health Insurance

All new students are required to provide documentation of immunizations . Without this information, you will not be able to register for your classes. Students are encouraged to obtain immunizations before coming to the U.S. For more information, please visit:  Immunization Requirements

International students are required to purchase University Health Insurance . You will automatically be enrolled in health and dental insurance unless you submit an approved waiver.

You can find information and access to the myUOHealthPortal at health.uoregon.edu .

Pay tuition and feesPayment is due prior to the first day of classes. Students cannot be registered for classes until tuition and fee payments are made in full. Visit the Tuition & Payments page for more information.
Make plans for airport pickup

If you are not staying with a host family, you will need to arrange transportation from the airport to wherever you are staying when you arrive (students in homestays will be picked up at the airport by their host families).

If you would like help with arranging transportation, AEI staff is happy to reserve a taxi for you. It costs $45 and you will need to email aei@uoregon.edu to request this service.

If you want to make your own arrangements, you can call a local taxi service or use a rideshare service, like Lyft or Uber, on your mobile device. Please visit the  Transportation page for more information.

Upload photo and copy of passport for UO ID card

All students receive a UO identification (ID) card that proves you are a University of Oregon student. Your ID card can also be used for access to certain buildings and loading money for on-campus purchases.

Before you can get your UO ID card, you will need to upload a photo of your face and a photo of your passport to the ID card services website. This allows them to confirm your identity and print your ID card so that it's ready when you get here.

Please follow the instructions on the ID Card Services website .

Day of travel checklist

When traveling, be sure to carry your original travel documents with you including: Passport, student visa, and I-20 or DS-2019. You may also want to scan the originals and store them digitally so you or your family can access them in case of an emergency.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has an automated I-94 processing system at the port of entry. Once you arrive, you will be able to access your I-94 through a website.

 

 

Additional Information

Students coming to Eugene should explore the following resources: