The university community warmly welcomes each of our international students. Some of you are arriving with prior experience with American culture and will be transitioning to life on the UWA campus.  Others of you will be newly arrived to the United States and, therefore, are just beginning to transition to a new culture and to the customs of the South.  It is natural for all of you to have many questions.  In fact, your first couple of weeks on campus will be the most confusing because you will be introduced to a lot of information in a short time.  No one expects you to absorb it all immediately.  It will take time to familiarize yourself with and adjust to your new academic and social surroundings.  Additionally, unique to you as an international student is the need to make yourself aware of and comply fully with United States immigration laws and regulations.  The links below will lead you to information that will help you navigate more smoothly through your first semester and succeeding years of study at the University of West Alabama.

General Orientation

International Student Advisor
(Provide General Assistance to International Students)

Academic Advising

Foreign Embassies in the US

Foreign Consular Offices in the US

Designated School Official (DSO)
(Verify information about and certify documents for F-1 students)

Maintaining Legal F-1 Status

Internet Resources for International Students

We are excited to have you on campus.  We strongly believe that your presence on the UWA campus will provide an opportunity for members of the university and local communities to gain a broader knowledge of the global community that we all share.   We are pleased you have chosen to study at the University of West Alabama and want to assist you in realizing your academic goals and in living comfortably in our community.