Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. - Accepted International Students

International Students

Accepted International Students

We’re eager to have you join the Concordia community and be on campus soon. We want you to get off to a great start, so we’ve put together the following information to make that easier.

Primary Contact
Your primary contact for information regarding joining Concordia College should be Ms. Liz Maleki. She can best be reached by email maleki@cord.edu or phone +1.218.299.3653.

Obtain Your I-20 Form
We issue the American government-required I-20 form to students who have been accepted and who have certified the ability to pay their share of the costs. If you are accepted but we did not issue an I-20, we likely need more information. Please send us your updated financial materials, including the financial form and documentation of willingness and ability to pay the costs.

Send Your Deposit
Finalize your admission by sending the $300 deposit to Concordia, and we’ll start to make preparations for your arrival.

Pay Your SEVIS Fee
Information about international students in the U.S. is tracked using a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, commonly called SEVIS. You are required to pay for this service online, which is separate from the visa application fee and must be paid prior to your visa interview. Your SEVIS ID number can be found on your I-20 form in the upper right hand corner, a 10-digit number beginning with an N. Students from Canada, who do not require a visa, must pay the SEVIS fee before your first entry as a student to the US.

Obtain a Visa
We encourage you to work through Education USA advising centers prior applying for your visa. These centers, which have little or no costs to students, can help with the application process and provide other helpful information, include pre-departure orientations. Obtaining a visa can be a lengthy process, so start early. These centers also frequently offer pre-departure orientations to help students prepare for study in the US.

Housing sign up
After you have deposited you can sign up for housing anytime. The housing sign up is done online from the CPort student portal - there is a Living at Concordia section on the Student or New Cobbers tab. This handout explains how to sign up for housing.

Class registration
Exchange and transfer students started to choose and register for classes on March 18. Incoming international freshman students will be contacted in June. This cannot be done if you have not sent in your $200 deposit.

Plan for Your Arrival
For students joining fall semester 2013 we ask that you please plan to arrive on August 20 or 21, 2013. International Student Orientation will be held August 22 to 24, 2013 followed by all school orientation August 25 to 28, 2013. THe orientation sessions provide the opportunity to meet current international students, meet other new, incoming students and learn things to help you be successful while you are here. It is very important you attend. Classes start Thursday, August, 2013.

American government regulations allow students to enter the USA only within 30 days of the start date on your I-20. For most fall 2013 students, your start date should be August 21, 2013, so you should plan to enter the USA no earlier than 30 days before that. Concordia campus housing is not available until the week of August 19, 2013. If you arrive earlier than that, you are responsible for your own accommodation.

Please let us know your arrival details as soon as possible by e-mailing Ms. Liz Maleki. Ms. Maleki will make arrangements for students to meet you when you arrive in Fargo, North Dakota and bring you to our campus. Even though we are located in Moorhead, Minnesota, please arrange your travel to go to Fargo, North Dakota (airport code FAR), which is just across a river from Moorhead. If you fly to Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is about 250 miles and four hours away, you will have to then find some way to get to Fargo-Moorhead. Fargo has air service by Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Allegiant Airlines, along with bus service and train service or you can arrive by car.

Arrive in Time for Sports
If you will begin in August and are playing on a fall sports team, you’ll want to arrive on campus in time to attend meetings and practices scheduled before the start of school. Contact the coaches if you are interested in playing on one of the fall sports teams. If joining in January and interested in playing any winter sports, please contact the coaches.

Read the Summer Books
Every year the campus reads a selected book and first-year students discuss the book in their fall orientation clubs. It is best if you can obtain and read the book before arriving, or as soon after you arrive as possible. The 2013 summer book read is written by Daniel Nettle, "Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile."

Review Our Catalog and Calendar
Concordia’s catalog is loaded with information and details and fully available online. You may wish to take a look at the course descriptions, graduation requirements and general information about the college. To more responsibly use resources a printed catalog is no longer available.

Our academic calendar shows the start and stop dates for the academic year, along with important holiday and break information.

Review the Class Schedule
The fall 2013 class schedule is available. On that page select "Fall 2013" in the box search by term.

Learn More From Concordia Students
Concordia international students have a facebook group - we encourage you to join and be in touch with current, former, and prospective students.

Sign Up for Health Insurance
All Concordial students will be required to have valid health insurance. A student accident and sickness health insurance plan will be available if you have not purchased one before you arrive. Additional information will be provided at orientation. You may choose this policy or choose your own insurance as long as it is valid and will pay claims in the US. We encourage you to have a policy with a claims processing office in USA.

Learn More