Fall 2024 Arrival Information
Welcome to Baylor!
Join us for Global Bears Week, August 19th - August 22nd, Baylor's orientation for new International Students.
New international students with an F1 or J1 visa who are beginning their coursework on-campus for Fall 2024 are expected to arrive to Baylor campus for check in no later than your program start date (Monday, August 19, 2024.)
Pre-Arrival Required Tasks (before arriving in Waco)
1. Arrange Housing (Early!)
Whether you plan on living on-campus in one of Baylor University's residence halls (undergrad only), or living off-campus (undergrad/grad) in the neighborhood community surrounding Baylor University, make sure to start investigating and arranging your housing for the academic year early. Both on-campus and off-campus housing options close to campus fill up quickly as Baylor student numbers continue to grow.
2. Complete New Student Questionnaire
Complete the New International Student Questionnaire on your Global Bears account. This is REQUIRED for all new incoming students.
3. Plan Your Travel to Baylor
If you plan on arriving at Baylor via the Waco Airport, please be aware that the City of Waco offers an affordable option to be picked up from the Waco Airport and driven to your housing accommodations. Please refer to the Waco Regional Airport Shuttle webpage for more information. Advance reservations are required.
If your final flight destination in the USA is to an airport in Texas other than the Waco Airport, please CLICK HERE for more information on how to travel to Baylor University.
If you arrive in Waco before your housing accommodations open, please see below for some various hotel options at various price points. Please be aware that these options are being offered as a convenience and do not signify a partnership or endorsement by Baylor University of these businesses.
Waco Hotel Options
- Red Roof Inn Waco: 720 S M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Waco, TX 76704: +1 (254) 752-3388: Click here to check for availability.
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Waco: 115 S Jack Kultgen Expy, Waco, TX 76706 : +1 (254) 262-8151: Click here to check availability.
- Hotel Indigo Waco: 211 Clay Ave, Waco, TX 76706: +1 (254) 754-7000: Click here to check availability
Post-Arrival Arrival Required Tasks (after arriving in Waco)
4. Complete Arrival Registration for Initial Students (in Global Bears account)
Available early August: Upon your arrival in Waco, and after obtaining your Baylor ID card and a copy of your I-94, you must complete the "Arrival Registration for Initial Students" Request located on your Global Bears account. Once this option becomes available, please submit the appropriate check-in documents mentioned below:
- I-94 Form: Upon arrival, submit a scanned copy of your completed I-94 form to your Global Bears account.
- U.S. F1 or J1 visa: Upload a copy of either your F1 or J1 visa that you used to enter the U.S. most recently.
- Baylor ID Card: After you arrive on campus, submit a scanned copy of the FRONT of your Baylor ID Card to your Global Bears Account. You can only do this AFTER YOU PICK UP YOUR CARD FROM THE BAYLOR ID CARD OFFICE.
Instructions to create and submit a copy of your Baylor ID Card*
- CLICK HERE to login to the Baylor ID card website to submit a photo for your ID card online. You can submit this picture even before you arrive in Waco.
To Submit an ID Photo Online:
- Go online to https://idcard.baylor.edu
- Login using your Baylor email information
- Create a 4 digit PIN number that you will remember. A PIN must be created for your card to function properly at your residence hall. If you are not living in a residence hall, skip this step.
- Click “Notification Preferences”- Choose at least one communication preference. This will be used in the event your picture does not meet the requirements.
- Click “Submit ID Photo”
- Review the photo requirements
- Click “Upload Photo”- Choose file
- Click “Submit”
If you have any problems or questions, please email MYID@baylor.edu or call 254.710.MYID (6943)
- Go to the Baylor ID Card Office to pick up your card. The Baylor ID Card Office is located in the Speight Parking Garage on Baylor’s campus. CLICK HERE for a Baylor Campus Map. It usually takes about 24-48 hours between submitting your photo and picking up the card. Baylor will not send electronic copies of ID cards, the physical card itself must be picked up from the ID card office by the student/scholar.
- If you would prefer a method without contact to pickup your ID card, contact the ID Card Office at parking@baylor.edu.
- Once you have your Baylor ID card, either take a picture of or scan the front of it that has your picture and submit it through your Global Bears account.
5. Check-in with the Center for Global Engagement
On Monday, August 19, 2024, new students check-in at the Center for Global Engagement office between 9am and 4pm. The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) is in Hankamer Academic Center, Rm 160. Students will be given further instructions at this time.
6. Attend Global Bears Week (International Orientation)
Global Bears Week will be your first activity on Baylor's campus. This orientation for new international students takes place from August 19 - 22, 2024, and provides customized orientation information and activities for new incoming international students. Find out more information about Global Bears Week activities by clicking here.
7. Attend Maintaining Status Sessions
All international students taking face-to-face classes at Baylor for the first time are required to attend Maintaining Status Session hosted by International Student & Scholar Services. These sessions are held either prior to the beginning of classes during Global Bears Week, or during the first week of classes, depending on the semester. Students entering in the summer will be required to attend one of the sessions prior to the fall semester. The session is designed to educate international students about their responsibilities as international students studying in the U.S. The primary goals are to help students understand the regulations that they must follow in order to remain “in status” and to make them aware of the many processes, resources, and support services that the ISSS Office has to assist them during their time at Baylor University. Students who do not attend one of the required sessions will have a hold placed on their account which will prevent them from changing their schedule, getting a transcript, registering for the following semester, etc.