Next Steps after Admission
Now that you’ve been admitted to WSU, here are the next steps you’ll need to take to prepare for your arrival on campus.
Please get started early because some steps like getting your F-1 visa and making travel arrangements can take some time to process.
Review the estimated cost of attendance for international students.
Important Dates for Spring 2025
Get an I-20
These are the steps you need to complete to get an I-20.
Provide an original bank statement or verification of deposit with a minimum balance. View the estimated cost of attendance for international undergraduate and graduate students to learn what your balance should be.
The document must:
- Be in English or translated into English ( a certified translation is required)
- Be dated within the last six months
- Be printed on official bank letterhead with a bank name and address listed
- Include balance and transactions
- Display currency
- Include the type of account (checking, saving, or time deposit)
- Include original official bank stamps and signatures
- Be liquid assets immediately accessible
- Retirement funds, credit cards, life insurance, etc, are not accepted
- Include the name of the account holder. This name must match the name on the financial document
- Letters from banks are not accepted
Complete the Financial Information Form (PDF) and send it to is@winona.edu.
Upload a copy of your passport to the My Warrior Life portal. If you’re in the U.S., please send a copy of your passport with the visa page.
You will also need to fill out the Transfer Recommendation Form (PDF) to transfer your SEVIS record to Winona State University.
Transfer credits will be evaluated. You can view any transferred credits in Student eServices under Academic Records.
Contact is@winona.edu to talk to an advisor about transfer work.
Apply for F-1 Visa
An F-1 visa is a temporary visa that allows you to pursue a higher education degree in the United States.
If you are not currently studying in the U.S., you will need to apply for an F-1 visa to attend WSU.
Apply for Housing
It is important to secure housing before you arrive to Winona.
If you’ve been awarded the Presidential Honors Scholarship, you are required to live on campus the first year.
Living on-campus provides a safe, affordable, and fun place to live. It is also a great way to meet other students! On-campus housing includes all utilities, wi-fi, and necessary furniture.
Also, students who live on-campus can apply for leadership positions that offer free housing, free meal plans and a stipend. Learn more about on-campus student leadership positions.
To sign up for on-campus housing:
- Read about on-campus housing or watch a virtual tour. There are single rooms, double rooms (with a roommate), and apartments.
- Apply for campus housing
- Submit a $250 prepayment to choose your room
You can move into residence halls and East Lake Apartments two days before New International Student Orientation free of charge. There may be a small charge to move in earlier than two days before orientation.
Living on campus also means you will have a meal plan to eat in the dining hall. The only exception is if you live in East Lake Apartments, which does not require meal plan.
Review some of the frequently asked questions about on-campus housing.
Wazoo’s List has many apartment listed to rent or sublease. Wazoo’s List is a private Facebook group. WSU does not guarantee any listing on this site.
If you need housing for a few days when you arrive, temporary housing may be available in the WSU Alumni House for a small fee or at local hotels and motels.
When signing a lease, off-campus landlords often require a deposit equal to one month of rent, first month rent, and sometimes last month of rent.
Be careful of scams and make sure to read the entire lease to know the rules and fees.
Off campus leasing is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord.
–Ei, student from Myanmar
Make Travel Arrangements
Plan to arrive to Winona 1-2 days before the New International Student Orientation.
After you make travel arrangements, complete the Arrival Form so we know when to expect you.
Book Your Flight
It is a roughly a 2-hour car ride from the MSP airport to Winona.
There is a Groome shuttle van which can be reserved (if space available) at the airport during normal business hours. We recommend making reservations in advance.
Choose the arrival destination Winona State University Kryzsko Commons Huff Street. This is the bus stop in front of Chartwells.
Another option is the Jefferson Lines bus, which only leaves for Winona once per day and transfers result in longer travel times.
You can also take the Amtrak train, which leaves for Winona several times per day. To get from the airport to the Minneapolis train station, you will need to rent an Uber or Lyft which requires internet connection and credit card.
The Winona train station is roughly .15 km, or a roughly 3 minute walk from the Winona State Campus.
It is a roughly 45-minute car ride from the LSE airport to Winona. You can rent an Uber or Lyft from the airport. Uber or Lyft requires internet connection and credit card to reserve a car.
There is a Groome shuttle van which can be reserved (if space available) at the airport during normal business hours. We recommend making reservations in advance.
Choose the arrival destination Winona State University Kryzsko Commons Huff Street. This is the bus stop in front of Chartwells.
You can also take the Amtrak train, which leaves for Winona several times per day. To get from the airport to the La Crosse train station, you will need to rent an Uber or Lyft which requires internet connection and credit card.
The Winona train station is roughly .15 km, or a roughly 3 minute walk from the Winona State Campus.
It is a roughly 4.5 hour car ride from the ORD airport to Winona.
It’s best to take the Amtrak train. To get to the from the airport to the Chicago Union Station, you will need to take a shuttle or light-rail train, or rent an Uber or Lyft. Uber or Lyft requires internet connection and credit card to reserve a car.
The Winona train station is roughly .15 km, or a roughly 3-minute walk from the Winona State Campus.
It is a roughly a 1-hour car ride from the RST airport to Winona. You can rent an Uber or Lyft from the airport. Uber or Lyft requires internet connection and credit card to reserve a car.
There is a Groome shuttle van which can be reserved (if space available) at the airport during normal business hours. We recommend making reservations in advance.
Choose the arrival destination Winona State University Kryzsko Commons Huff Street. This is the bus stop in front of Chartwells.
Prepare for Entering the U.S.
Before leaving your country, review steps 4-6 in the Student Process Steps for Navigating the U.S Immigration System.
ISSS also recommends that you take the following steps:
- Before you leave your home country, it is a good idea to see a family doctor, dentist, and an eye doctor.
- Make 2 sets of copies of your passport, visa, and form I-20. Leave one set at home with your family or friends and take the other with you.
- Carry your original documents in your carry-on luggage. Do not put them in your checked baggage.
When you arrive to the first U.S. city airport (port of entry), you will speak to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. The inspector will first attempt to verify your status by using the Student and Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
If that the CBP officer needs to verify information with your school or program, you can provide the International Student and Scholar Services contact information to reach the designated school officials (DSO) at Winona State University:
- 1.507.457.5303
- 1.507.312.3984
- is@winona.edu
Should you arrive during non-business hours (evening, weekends, holidays), you can contact us via our cell phone (1.507.312.3984) for assistance.
Attend New International Student Orientation
The New International Student Orientation (NISO) is a special program designed to help international students succeed at WSU.
All new international students must attend NISO. You must attend New International Student Orientation to receive the Cross-Cultural Scholarship.
During this orientation, you’ll get all the information you need to start your semester. You will be able to:
- Meet your academic advisor and register for classes
- Receive your brand new laptop computer from the eWarrior Program
- Learn about mandatory health insurance
- Get help with setting up your life as a student at WSU and a resident of Winona
- Meet new people
- Participate in many other fun activities.
See the tentative Spring 2025 Orientation Schedule (PDF).
Get to Know Winona
Take some time to get to know your new home before you arrive!
Check the weather in Winona, MN and pack appropriate clothes. Winters tend to be very cold so be prepared to bring warm clothes.
Explore the area with Google Maps and see the WSU Campus map. Learn more about the city of Winona and all the things there are to do here.
Watch your email for information about nearby restaurants and transportation options to and around Winona.
Forms
If the form doesn’t require a signature, you can complete the form online and email it to is@winona.edu.
If forms do require a signature, you can still type out the form fields. However, you will need to print the form, add your signature and then drop the form off at the International Services office in 132 Gildemeister Hall.
You can also mail the form to:
Winona State International Student & Scholar Services
175 W Mark St.
Winona, MN 55987, USA.
Please make sure to complete all required boxes on each form submitted.
- Arrival Information Form — Provide travel details to the International Services office
- Transfer in Recommendation Form (PDF) — Complete this form is you are transferring to WSU from an institution in the US
- Immunization Requirements — Understand your health needs
- Financial Information Form (PDF) — Complete this form and send to is@winona.edu with financial documents to get form I-20
Maxwell 130
175 West Mark Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: 1.507.457.5303
Fax: 1.507.457.2474