Once you have received your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and other materials from UW, you must apply for a student visa at the US consulate. Follow instructions in your Form I-20 or DS-2019 email from ISS for visa application details and links.
It is recommended that you allow plenty of time to obtain the student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State has indicated that the process of issuing visas to some individuals might be considerably delayed due to security clearances. Please note: Receipt of the Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UW does not guarantee that you will receive a visa foil from a U.S. consulate.
Do not make travel reservations until you have obtained your visa. Individual consulate/embassy visa processing times may be found on the State Department wait time tool.
Follow the ISS office's guidance to apply for a student visa.
New international students must complete the New International Student Pre-Arrival Orientation online as soon as possible after admission. The orientation contains important information that students will need before their arrival in the US. Students who do not complete the orientation and quiz prior to their arrival in the US will have a hold placed on their account to prevent registration.
Log into your WyoWeb Account
Your WyoWeb account is your portal to your personal and degree information, UW resources, and more. Your interactive checklist will help you make sure that you complete important tasks that are required of all UW students prior to starting classes.
First, you must Obtain your Username and Initial Password. Enter your Last Name/Surname, Birth Date (make sure you enter Month, Day, Year) and your UW W ID # (you can find this in your official admission email) and click “Submit”.*You do NOT need to enter the “Last Four Digits of SSN”.
Write down your username and initial password! You will be required to change your password to something of your choosing the next time that you log into the UW system.
For help setting up your WyoWeb username and password, check out this video!
Sign up for housing by clicking on the Apply For Housing icon on the On-Campus Housing page, and complete your housing contract online before you arrive to campus. You will need to sign in using your UW username and password.
First-time students at UW are required to live on campus during their first year at UW. Read about the Live-In Requirement and Exceptions.
- Look at On-Campus Housing types at UW and the rates for different housing types, and choose what type of housing you want to sign up for.
- To learn more, read about Housing and Dining options and services at UW.
New international students at UW will check in with Student Health Services after arrival to campus. You will receive more information from the ISS office after you arrive in Laramie by emailing uwglobal@uwyo.edu to report your arrival.
- Read all about Student Health Services at UW.
- Learn about the Student Health Requirements for International Students at UW.
Submit your records: Students who already have their MMR vaccinations done prior to arriving to the US (see requirements above) should submit them in their Patient Portal on the Student Health Services website. You will log in using your UW username and password.
Transportation to Laramie is very limited and requires planning well in advance. The closest international airport to Laramie, Wyoming, is Denver International Airport (Airport Code: DEN) in Denver, Colorado.
Fly to Laramie:
- Flights from Denver to Laramie can be scheduled on United Airlines.
Airport Pickups:
- Laramie Regional Airport: ISS will pick new incoming international student up from
LRA from August 11-22, 2025 at no cost! Students MUST schedule their pickup at least
48 hours before they arrive to Laramie by signing up on our Transportation Request form.
- *ISS cannot pick students up from Denver International Airport!
- Denver International Airport: ASUW (Associated Students at the University of Wyoming) will pick students up at the Denver International Airport. Contact ASUW for information at asuwgov@uwyo.edu.
Ground Transportation from Denver, CO, to Laramie, WY is very limited. It is a two-hour drive frrom Denver to Laramie. Uber and other ride-shares are not usually available or affordable.
- Greyhound provides daily bus service from Denver, Colorado to Laramie, Wyoming. The Greyhound bus station in Denver is not located at Denver International Airport, so you will have to use the light rail train system to travel from DIA to Union Station in Denver to catch the Greyhound bus. If you need shuttle service from the Greyhound bus stop in Laramie to your apartment or the UW campus, you must call a taxi or Uber/Lyft upon arrival. Taxi services, Uber, and Lyft are very limited in Laramie. You may ask your academic department for assistance with pickup at the Greyhound bus stop in Laramie.
Regardless of how you get to Laramie, please let ISS know your travel arrangements as soon as possible. We must know when our new students are expected to arrive. You can email this information to International Students and Scholars at uwglobal@uwyo.edu.
UW has a mandatory advising policy for all students.
Contact your department of study or review the college information on the Academic Departments page for your department to learn more about getting advised so you can register for classes. New students can contact their departments to discuss class registration prior to traveling to the United States.
Within 48 hours of your arrival, email ISS at uwglobal@uwyo.edu with the following information:
- Your first and last name
- W-number (if you know it)
- UW email address (if you know it)
This information must be sent to us within 48 hours after you have arrived in Laramie. After you check in with ISS, you will receive an email with a "campus check-in" list. These are things that you must do during your first days in Laramie to be checked in with all necessary offices and programs on campus.
New international students must attend the New International Student Welcome. This day-long session is in addition to any orientation programs required by the University of Wyoming or your individual departments. Students who do not complete this requirement may have a hold placed on their account.
Fall 2025 Welcome Date
All students are strongly encouraged to arrive early and attend the first Welcome session. This will allow you time to get settled into Laramie and complete required tasks before the start of classes.
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The Fall 2025 Welcome Session dates are Thursday, August 14, 2025 and Thursday, August 21, 2025.
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Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) students are required to participate in the Saddle Up program and must arrive early enough to attend the first ISS in-person Welcome Session.
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Graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) students with a Graduate Assistantship who are required to attend the UW Graduate Symposium or other departmental sessions must arrive early enough to attend the first ISS in-person Welcome session. Contact your department for these requirements.
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Email uwglobal@uwyo.edu no later than August 1st to tell us which Welcome session you will attend.
Spring 2026 Welcome Date
The in-person Welcome Session for the Spring 2026 semester will be January 15, 2026. You are strongly encouraged to arrive after January 1st as the campus will be closed from December 24th through January 1st for the winter holidays.
Students beginning in Summer
Students who begin study in summer must attend one of the Fall Welcome Sessions.
Frequently asked Questions
Traveling to the US, Deferring or Declining Admission, UW Enrollment if Student can't Travel to the US or will be Delayed
What should I complete before I travel to the US, in addition to applying for my visa?
- Make sure that your I-20 or DS-2019 has a future Program Start Date on it. If you have deferred a previous admission to a future semester, contact ISS so that we can update your UW record and email an updated I-20 or DS-2019 to you.
- Make sure that you check your WyoWeb online checklist and the information on this page for new incoming students as you prepare for your travel to the U.S. The checklist will help you make sure that you have done all of the pre-arrival things that you need to do so that your UW record is updated. This page provides information about UW processes as well as international visa and travel information. Continue to check this document for updated information. ISS will update this document with any new information that is important to students planning to study at UW.
- Complete the ISS New International Student Online Welcome Session immediately! You must complete this online welcome before you arrive at UW. The online welcome contains important information about registering for classes, cultural and academic adjustment, resources on campus, and immigration regulations that you must follow while in the U.S. on a student visa. You will complete a required quiz to ensure that you gain the knowledge expected as you complete each section. As you complete the sections, new sections will become available to you to complete. Contact ISS if you have any questions about the online orientation program.
- Notify ISS of your travel plans by emailing uwglobal@uwyo.edu. Let us know what date you will arrive in the U.S., what date you will arrive in Laramie, and your method of travel. You must also email uwglobal@uwyo.edu when you arrive in Laramie to officially “check in” with the ISS office. Review all travel information on this page, in the required ISS New International Student Online Welcome Session, and in the email that was sent to you with your I-20 or DS-2019.
What documents should I carry for my US entry?
- Valid F-1 or J-1 student visa in your valid passport.
- Immigration document - I-20 or DS-2019 - with future start date for the appropriate semester in which you will begin study.
- Proof of enrollment for your first semester if you have already registered for your classes (print your schedule or unofficial transcript from WyoWeb).
- Admission letter/email from the UW Office of Admissions - received via email upon admission.
- Proof of financial support - bank documents, letters/affidavits of support, or letter of support from your department for those students who have a graduate assistantship from UW. These are the same documents that you submitted at your visa appointment.
- Graduate students (master’s and doctorate) should carry their departmental admission letter. If possible, you might want to carry your program of study (list of classes you will take in your program), description of your UW research project, and CV of your faculty advisor. These documents have been requested in the past at both visa appointments and upon US entry.
What are the risks and tips for traveling to the US?
- Increased scrutiny of all entrants to the US - All who attempt to enter the US will be subject to increased scrutiny by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. We anticipate more students being sent to secondary inspection. Allow extra time at your entry in case you are delayed getting through CBP check.
- Background checks - Background checks of all entrants have always happened. It is anticipated that there could be increased scrutiny of any activity found on your background check, even minor tickets.
- Search of phones and electronic devices - CBP can now search all electronic devices. The CBP agent can look at your phone, laptop, etc. and all things on it including photos, emails, texts, and all of your SOCIAL MEDIA apps. You cannot be required to log into your social media on a computer, but you can be required to unlock your phone/devices to allow the search.
- Increased check of all documents required for entry (see list above)
- Try to fly directly to Denver International Airport. DIA is more used to seeing UW documents and has traditionally been helpful for UW students. Try to arrive to the US on a weekday, during work hours, in case you/CBP need to contact ISS.
- Carry the ISS phone number (307-766-5193) and the UW Police Department phone number (307-766-5179) with you in case you or CBP need to contact us.
- Have a “notification buddy” that can keep track of each step of your travel. Text/call them when you arrive at the airport, when you get through airport security, when you board your flight, when you land (before you get off the plane), and when you get through customs check/security. If you are detained, they will be the first to know and can contact ISS or your family to begin any process for locating you or finding out what the delay is. It is a good idea for your “buddy” to have a copy of your documents (passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019, UW transcript, detailed itinerary, and ISS contact information).
What if I want to defer my admission to a future semester?
You should notify ISS uwglobal@uwyo.edu that you plan to defer your admission. You should also complete the “Defer your Admission” form for the Admissions office.
*Master’s and Doctoral students should contact their academic department to discuss the possibility of deferral of admission and funding before completing the survey or notifying ISS.
How do I request an updated I-20 from ISS?
All new incoming students, and current students who are outside of the US, should make sure that they have an I-20 showing the correct program start date (new students) or an I-20 signed for travel to return to the US (current students outside the US). Students who will arrive in the US after the Program State Date printed on their I-20 should contact ISS, as they may need an updated I-20 with a later start date. You can email uwglobal@uwyo.edu to request updated documents or ask questions.
Should I keep all of the I-20s that I have received from UW?
Yes! You should print, sign, and keep ALL I-20s that ISS has emailed to you. You should carry all of them with you to your visa appointment and as you travel to the US. Keep all of them safe with your other important documents, and never throw them away.
What if I have decided that I do not want to come to UW at all?
Students who have decided that they will not attend UW at all should notify ISS via email at uwglobal@uwyo.edu, and notify Admissions via email at admissions@uwyo.edu. Master’s or Doctoral students should also notify their academic department.
If my visa is denied, can I take all of my classes online from outside of the United States?
Maybe. Immigration regulations for enrollment do not apply to those who are outside of the US. If your program is offered online you can change your admission to the online program and take your classes from outside of the US.
Do I have to complete the items on my Admissions checklist if I am going to study online from outside of the US?
Graduate students only need to submit their official transcripts (if they have not already done so). They do not have to do any of the other tasks. Undergraduate students might still need to complete the math placement exam (ask your academic advisor). They should also Confirm Enrollment (pay the confirmation fee) and submit official transcripts if they have not already done so.
If I will study online from outside of the US, do I have to pay for the UW student medical insurance?
No. Students must contact the Student Medical Insurance Advocate at stuins@uwyo.edu during the FIRST WEEK of classes to request a waiver of the medical insurance. Medical insurance cannot be waived after the first week of school.
Can I start taking my classes online from outside of the United States and then travel to the US later in the semester if I get my visa and flight scheduled?
Possibly. Graduate students (Master’s and Doctorate) should contact your academic department to see if you can begin your study from home and then transition to on campus when you arrive in the US. Undergraduate students (Bachelor’s and IEP) are not allowed to arrive more than one week late to begin classes. Undergraduate students who cannot arrive by the end of the first week of classes should defer their admission/arrival in the US to a future semester but could continue to take online classes from home.
If I take online classes from outside of the US, and I have been awarded a scholarship, will I still receive the scholarship?
Students who receive scholarships through UW should contact UW Financial Aid if they are not able to travel to UW to study to ask if their scholarship can still be awarded. If a student has been awarded a departmental or private scholarship, they should contact UW Financial Aid or the organization that awarded the scholarship to find out if it will still apply for students who do not enter the US.
If I have a graduate assistantship and I take classes online from outside of the US, will I still receive my assistantship?
Graduate assistantships cannot be honored if the student cannot come to campus to participate in study and their assistantship duties. Contact your graduate coordinator or advisor for details of your situation.
Disclaimer: All documents, information, and advice provided by ISS staff is given based on details provided to ISS and can vary depending on specific circumstances and laws in effect at the time it is given. Advice or information given to one person should not be considered accurate for others. ISS staff is not responsible for errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.
