Accepted Inbound Exchange Students

The ‘Certificate of Eligibility’ form I-20 is required to apply for the F-1 student visa to attend SUNY Purchase. Submit the following documents to international@purchase.edu immediately.  

• International Student Financial Statement Form.
  Please note: the cost of attendance for Fall 2026 for exchange students is $11,361. You may refer to the cost sheet in your acceptance letter for a full cost breakdown.  
• Proof of funding. You may review the full list of funding sources we accept. 
  

• OGE will reach out to you via email to put you in touch with the academic advisor who will work with you to identify your courses for the semester. Please follow all instructions and deadlines provided in the registration email you receive.
• Use the SUNY Purchase course search to take a look at the course offering for the upcoming semester.
• The course registration form will be used to register you in classes.
• If you are a dance student, the Conservatory of Dance will submit the course registration form on your behalf after the start of the semester. No action is required on your part. 

• Step 1: To set up your account, visit the SUNY Purchase Online Account Activation. You will need to enter your initials, date of birth and alternate email address (provided in your exchange application to SUNY Purchase) to activate your account. Once your account is active, you may sign into the Purchase student portal called ‘MyHeliotrope’ on the Current Students page. This portal allows you to access your Purchase email, e-bill, password and more. From this point forward, we will begin using your Purchase e-mail to communicate with you.
  • Please note: you may not be able to activate your Purchase account until mid-May.
• Step 2: Enroll in Microsoft Authenticator, please follow the instructions in CTS Wiki Page.
• • If you need assistance, please contact Campus Technology Services (CTS). 

• OGE reserves housing for inbound exchange students who wish to live on campus. Exchange students are placed in apartments, which may be shared with 3-7 students and have a shared kitchen, living room, and bathroom. The three apartment communities are Alumni Village, The Commons and The Olde. Check out the apartment community page to take a virtual tour of each space. Please note: although space is reserved for exchange students, housing assignments in the apartment communities are based on availability.
• To confirm your intent and receive your housing assignment, you must complete the following steps:
  • Pay the housing deposit ($250 USD payable by Credit Card) and complete the Residence Life License Agreement immediately in ‘MyHeliotrope’ located on the Current Students page by June 15, 2026.
  • Students with the Housing Fellowship will have the deposit waived.
  • When applying for on-campus housing though MyHeliotrope, you are required to list a ‘U.S. Emergency Contact’ phone number and address. International addresses and phone numbers will not be captured accurately.
  • If you do not have an emergency contact in the U.S., you can list the International Student Coordinator, PDSO and University Police Department (UPD) as your emergency contact. If you need this, please be sure to input:

UPD / Marjorie Ramirez
+1(914)251-6900
735 Anderson Hill Rd
Purchase, NY 10577

• Blankets, pillows, and towels are not provided by SUNY Purchase. The mattresses on campus are sized “twin extra-long”, which means they are longer than a standard twin mattress. You may choose to purchase items online and have them delivered to campus in advance or plan on joining the shopping trip during International Student Orientation to buy essential items for your first few days. You will find the Purchase mailing address and shopping trip sign-up link at the end of this check-list.  

• Meal Plans and dining options are available for both students living on-campus and off-campus. Visit the More Card Office page to purchase and view meal plan options.
• Students who live in apartments on-campus are not required to purchase a meal plan.
• Changes to fall semester meal plans can be made through early September. Once the date has been finalized, the exact date will be listed on the Meals Plan page. 

• The college offers a primary healthcare facility on campus, which provides direct patient services for routine medical conditions and refers students to off-campus specialists, as necessary.
• To assist Health Services staff to provide students with quality care, each new international student must submit the required forms listed on Health Services site and sent directly to Health Services at HSE@purchase.edu.
• Complete these forms by August 10, 2026: New York State Law and College policy prohibits students from registering for or attending any classes before completing these three requirements.  

• Please note: health insurance is required for international students. All international students will be enrolled in the International Student Health Insurance Plan offered by the State University of New York (SUNY). This is a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes dental insurance. If you have questions about this, please contact the Office for Global Education at international@purchase.edu.
  The premium for the insurance will be included in your semester bill.
• For details about the health insurance and dental plan, please review the UnitedHealthcare Inbound Medical Highlight Sheet and Reliance Standard Dental Insurance Highlight Sheet.
• Students have the option to request a waiver if they have a plan that meets or exceeds the SUNY coverage. Our insurance broker reviews the insurance plans and waiver requests. You may Apply For An Inbound International Student Health Insurance Waiver  online. Please note: this does not guarantee that your insurance will be accepted. This form allows you to submit your insurance plan information so that it may be reviewed against the SUNY plan.  
• Waiver requests for the new 2026-2027 academic year may be submitted starting on August 15th. 

• Upload a photo and obtain your student ID Card before arriving on campus. For instructions, please go to More Card Office – ID Photos page.
• Contact the More Card Office at pca.morecard@purchase.edu if you have any questions.
• Complete the process by August 10, 2026, to have your student ID Card ready by the start of the semester.  

• Your Fall 2026 eBill will be available to view, download and print starting mid-July 2026. You will receive a message in your SUNY Purchase inbox when the eBill is available in MyHeliotrope.
• If you have questions about your eBill, contact Student Financial Services at +1(914)251-7000 or via email at financialservices@purchase.edu.
• For information on the Fall 2026 bill payment deadlines, go to Dates and Deadlines webpage. Expect the payment deadline to be in mid-August. Instructions about wire transfers are on the bill and on the Student Financial Services web page. 

• Submit the ‘Inbound International Student Travel Plans’ online form to notify OGE of your travel arrangements. Deadline: August 1, 2026.
• Students are responsible for arranging travel to campus. Transportation from all major airports to SUNY Purchase is available via ride shares, local taxi service or public transportation.You will find additional details on the Travel and Transportation page.
• Students on an F-1 visa are eligible to enter the U.S. 30 days prior to the start of their Program. The earliest an F-1 student can enter the U.S. for the Fall 2026 semester is July 25, 2026.
• PLEASE NOTE: SUNY Purchase will not be able to accommodate students with on-campus housing or meal plans prior to August 18, 2026. All hotels/meals prior to that date are at the students’ expense.
• Special Note for Students Crossing an Air Boarder: Be sure that you keep all required documents in your carry-on luggage. You need these documents to be accessible, especially if there are any delays with receiving your checked baggage. Keep handy:
  • Passport
  • Form I-20
  • Acceptance Letter
  • Supporting documentation: housing, billing, or registration information
• Special Note for Students Crossing a Land Border into the United States: You will be required to present your Form I-20 for processing.
  • Please be sure to clearly state this is your first time entering the U.S. for purposes of F-1 Student Visa Study.
  • You will be asked to process documents inside the main office so do not be surprised if you are asked inside for further questioning.
  • Please carry with you your:
    • Passport
    • Original Form I-20
    • SEVIS Fee Receipts
    • Copies of the financial documents you submitted to Purchase
  • Please be aware that you will need to pay a $30.00 I-94 Processing Fee. Prepare to pay through the Official I-94/I-95 Website. You can apply for and pay the fee online while at the border or up to seven days before your entry. 

• If you are living on campus, you must move in on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Report to the Campus Center North Lobby (see campus map) between 12:00PM – 4:00PM EST to check-in and receive keys from Residential & Student Life (Housing). Transportation from JFK (closest international airport) can take at least 3 hours between arrival, baggage pick-up, Customs and shuttle/public transportation. Please plan accordingly.
• If using a car service or van shuttle service, direct your driver to drop you off at the parking lot ‘Central 4’. It is the closest to the Campus Center North building (see campus map).
• PLEASE NOTE: SUNY Purchase cannot accommodate students who arrive early on campus; there is no housing or meals before Tuesday, August 18. If you arrive to the U.S. earlier than this date, you are responsible for any hotel and/or meal costs.
• If you arrive after 5:00PM on Tuesday, August 18, go to the SUNY Purchase University Police Department (see campus map). You may also call them at +1(914)251-6900. They will reach out to Housing staff to assist you.
• If you are experiencing travel delays, please email the Office for Global Education (OGE) at international@purchase.edu.  

• Orientation is mandatory for all new international students. We will be reviewing visa/immigration, academic expectations, support services (both academic and medical), and general campus and U.S. adjustment (banking, clubs/activities, food options, etc.).
• Students living on campus will have some meals provided during orientation. Meal plans will begin on Wednesday, August 19 at 5:00PM.
• Additional information can be found on the International Student Orientation site.  

• New Student Orientation is an extended program that takes place immediately after International Student Orientation and before classes start. We require all students to attend Orientation programs before the fall semester starts. 

• As meals will be prepared during International Student Orientation, please fill out the ‘Dietary Restrictions’ online form by Saturday, August 1, 2026, to let us know of your preferences so that we may make the necessary adjustments.  

• We will make a shopping trip on Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00PM to a nearby shopping center to purchase essential items, such as blankets, pillows, towels, toiletries that you may need upon arrival. If you would like to join, please submit the ISO Shopping Trip Sign-up Form by Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 4:00PM.  

• You are welcome to ship personal belongings to SUNY Purchase. They must be sent to your attention indicated below. Arrival of packages for holding should not be more than 2 weeks before the start of the academic semester.
  
  To:

YOUR NAME
c/o SUNY Purchase – Mailroom
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577 USA
Hold for Arrival on DATE 

• Follow us on Instagram: @purchaseinternational