Almost there!

Congratulations! You are one step closer to arriving at Principia and we can’t wait to receive you! Please refer to the instructions below for the next steps.

Transfer Your SEVIS Record to Principia College

You do not need to apply for a new student visa if:
  • You are currently in the U.S. and have a valid form I-20
  • You are currently outside the U.S., have a valid I-20, and a valid (unexpired) passport and visa
Please Note: if you travel outside the U.S., you will need a valid I-20 and an unexpired visa and passport to return. Assuming your visa is unexpired and that your I-20 is current, all you need in order to enroll at Principia College is to transfer your SEVIS record to Principia College. Please follow the steps below. 
  1. Send a copy/picture of the main page of your passport to Roseborn.Luckett@principia.edu.
  2. Apply for Financial Aid. You will receive an email from Rachael.Stock@principia.edu with instructions on how to apply.
  3. Complete your Certification of Finances (COF) form here
  4. Submit your Principia Admission letter to your DSO (the international student office at your current institution); request your DSO to transfer your SEVIS record to Principia College and complete this form

How to Apply for a Student Visa

Congratulations and thank you for choosing Principia! Please follow the steps below to apply for a student visa (F-1). 
  1. Send a copy/picture of the main page of your passport to Roseborn.Luckett@principia.edu.
  2. Apply for Financial Aid. You will receive an email from Rachael.Stock@principia.edu with instructions on how to apply. 
  3. Complete your Certification of Finances (COF) form here.
  4. Receive your visa application documents. As soon as your visa application documents are ready, we will send them to you electronically. Please print them (preferably in color) for your visa application interview.
  5. Apply for an F-1 visa using country-specific information available here. You can schedule appointments at a US consulate or embassy here.
  6. When filling out your DS-160 form, you will be asked for a contact person in the U.S. Please use your School Official information below:
    • First Name: Roseborn
      Last Name: Bonsi Luckett
    • Address Line 1: 1 Maybeck Place
      City: Elsah
      State: Illinois
      Email: roseborn.luckett@principia.edu
      Phone: +1 (618) 374 5625
  7. Prepare for your visa interview. Here are some helpful tips.

Country-specific visa application information

Travel to Principia

We'll be Seeing You Soon!

We’ll be seeing you soon, and we can’t wait to see you thrive at Principia and beyond, and to see Principia grow through your presence, ideas, and activities here. Please refer to the information below and keep us updated as you make your travel arrangements. Arrival Date: August 15, 2023. Airport: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). Please Remember:
  • As soon as you have your itinerary please send it to us using this form.
  • We will be there to pick you up. Someone will be waiting for you with at the airport baggage claim area with a Principia College sign.
  • If there are changes to your flight, please inform us ASAP.
  • Most airports have WiFi, please use it to keep us updated on the progress of your flight.
  • Remember to bring your phone changer for use during your travel.
  • You will go through a Customs checkpoint at your port of entry – a larger airport before you get to St. Louis.
  • We will be there to pick you up from the airport. 
  • The first airport you land in when you enter the U.S. is referred to as the port of entry. At the port of entry, you will go through Customs and Border Protection processes, which may include collecting and checking your luggage. Learn more.

Airport Pickup

The nearest airport to Principia College is St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). We are expecting you to arrive on August 15, 2023. We will be at the airport to pick you up. As soon as you have booked your flight, please send your itinerary to Roseborn via email (Roseborn.Luckett@Principia.edu). In case anything changes with your travel plans, please notify us ASAP.

Packing List

Clothing
Because your clothing is truly your choice, all we can do here is give you some guidelines, right? Okay, here we go . . .

  • It can get very cold in the Winter (below freezing) and very hot in the summer (over 32 degrees Celsius). Winter clothing and accessories includes boots, heavy coats, thermal-wear, scarves, and gloves. Of course, the opposite is true in the summer – light clothing
  • Depending on where you are coming from, clothing and shoes can be relatively expensive in the U.S. and sometimes it’s hard to find your style so, as much as possible, it’s advisable to bring with you what you can
  • Formal situations arise, like a presentation or that interview for an internship, so don’t forget to pack a set of “official/business” clothes

Tech and electronics

  • A laptop – there are computer labs on campus, but a laptop is always more convenient
  • A cell phone – preferably a smartphone, if possible, for more convenient communication on- and off-campus
  • An adapter – for their devices, most people coming to the U.S. need an adapter like this one

Others: 

Because you will be far from home, sometimes it’s helpful to have things that remind you of home such as art pieces, decorations, printed photos etc. Not a bad idea to make some space for those on your packing list.

Have questions about some items on your packing list? Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Medical Requirements

Below is a summary of tests and vaccinations required before you travel to Principia College.
Disease Required Documentation
COVID-19 Please Check with you airline
Tuberculosis(TB)Negative test result, based on a skin test or a chest x-ray
Tetenus/DiptheriaProof of Immunization
MeaselsProof of Immunization
RubellaProof of Immunization
MumpsProof of Immunization
MeningococcalProof of Immunization