*Incoming students are welcome to apply for Spring 2021 at SMCM if they have applied by the deadline of October 15th, 2020, if this aligns with their institutional and country-wide travel policies, they can receive a timely visa, and will quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.*
Application Process:
Is this program right for you? Speak to your exchange coordinator at your home institution, and view our ISS Exchange Program Fact Sheet 21-22 here.
Create an account in our application portal
Complete SMCM’s Inbound Exchange Student Application. You will be asked to electronically request the approval of your home institution’s outbound exchange coordinator, as well as two academic recommendations. Applications will not be considered until all three of these recommendations have been received.
You will need to complete and submit the following forms/materials within the application:
- J-1 Visitors form
- Proof of Financial Support (in English) – This can be a bank statement or a letter for your institution if your institution is supporting your time abroad.
- A copy of their transcript in English
SMCM’s Office of International Education will send acceptance letters to those exchange students accepted for study at St. Mary’s only after receiving all of the required documentation.
Application due dates are:
October 15 for spring semester exchange
March 15 for academic year or fall semester exchange
Documentation required after acceptance:
- New Student Housing Form
- Copy of their Immunization Record (in English): Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials
- Results of a TB (Tuberculosis) Test (administered by a doctor or hospital): Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials
- Drug Free Acknowledgement: This can only be completed after receipt of your SMCM Student ID number
- Read Campus Drug-free Policy
- Health History Form: Completed on the Wellness Center Portal after you’ve received your SMCM portal credentials
Pre-departure Preparation:
SMCM will enter each student into the U.S.’s SEVIS system in order to issue each student a SEVIS I-20 (degree-seeking students) or a DS-2019 (exchange students), only after all of the above information has been received. Each student will take this SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to a U.S. embassy or consulate in his/her home country to obtain the required entry visa.
These online resources will be helpful in preparing for your visa application:
U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to you
U.S. Department of State
