G&EE Pre-Arrival Newsletter Two: |
Arrival in Washington, D.C. |
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Hello! This week's newsletter covers topics related to your arrival in Washington D.C., including immigration procedures, transportation, and required orientations for international students:
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- Preparing to Enter the U.S.
- Arrival and Public Transportation
- Upcoming Events
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As always, if you have any questions, please email us at sbglobal@gwu.edu.
Best,
Elisa Boyea
Program Manager
International Student Services
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Preparing to Enter the U.S. |
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Obtaining Your Student Visa |
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After you have received your I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, you must obtain your U.S. visa. The U.S. Department of State is responsible for issuing student visas. Requirements and procedures vary between countries. However, be prepared to present at least the following documents to your U.S. Embassy or Consulate:
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- The I-20 or DS-2019 issued by GW.
- Your valid passport.
- An original letter of admission to GW.
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Original financial documentation in English. This documentation should match the funding section on your I-20/DS-2019.
- Evidence of strong ties to your home country. This should be a cultural, social, professional, or other aspect of your life that serves to bind you to your country of residence.
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Be sure to contact your U.S. Embassy or Consulate and review their website for information on specific visa application requirements, procedures, and processing times.
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F-1 and J-1 visa holders are permitted to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the start date listed on their I-20 or DS-2019.
It is important that you enter the country on the proper visa type (F-1 or J-1). To do so, you must present the following to an immigration officer at the port of entry:
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- Your passport.
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Your U.S. F-1 or J-1 visa stamp for GW.
- Your I-20 or DS-2019.
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If you enter the U.S. on a B-1 or B-2 visa or on the Visa Waiver Program (i.e., with no visa), you will not be able to study until your immigration status changes. Please note, you will not be able to update your immigration status to student status while in the U.S.
If you forget an immigration document, the immigration officer may issue you a Form I-515 (A), which is a temporary 30-day admission. If this happens, go to the International Services Office (ISO) as soon as possible.
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Arrival & Public Transportation |
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One of your first steps when you arrive on-campus should be to check-in with the ISO: Within 1-2 days of arriving in the U.S., you need to complete the ISO Check-In in ISOGateway.
Please note, all GWSB international students must check-in with the ISO! This includes initial students, SEVIS Transfers, and Change of Level students.
The ISO Check-In is mandatory and must be completed to activate your SEVIS record - if you do not complete your ISO Check-In, your F-1 or J-1 immigration status will be at risk!
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Getting to the GW Foggy Bottom Campus |
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Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
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DCA is the closest airport to GW’s campus, about 6 miles (9 km) away from campus. To get from DCA to GW's campus, you have the following options:
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DC Metro: Take the Blue Line to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Station.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft: Costs between $15 USD and $25 USD.
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Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
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IAD is located in Virginia, about 20 miles (30 km) from downtown Washington, D.C. To get from IAD to GW's campus, you have the following options:
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DC Metro: Take the Silver Line to the Foggy Bottom/GWU Station.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft: Costs between $50 USD and $100 USD.
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Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
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BWI is located in Maryland, about 33 miles (53 km) from D.C. To get from BWI to GW's campus, you have the following options:
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MARC Train + DC Metro: The Penn Line goes to Union Station, which is on the D.C. Metro's Red Line. Please Note: MARC Train service operates on a limited schedule on
Saturdays and Sundays. Train schedules can be found here: Penn Line Schedule. -
Amtrak Train + DC Metro: Amtrak goes to Union Station, which is on the D.C. Metro's Red Line.
- Taxi/Uber/Lyft: Costs between $100 USD and $150 USD.
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Getting Around Washington, D.C. |
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One of the great things about Washington, D.C. is that there are many forms of public transportation!
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Metro: The D.C. subway system, referred to as the Metro, is a safe and inexpensive method of transportation throughout D.C. and parts of Virginia and Maryland. A map of the D.C. Metro can be found below!
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MetroBus: MetroBus is D.C.'s public bus system.
- Taxi and Uber/Lyft: D.C. has many taxi options, and depending on where you want to go, taking either a taxi or rideshare like Uber or Lyft can be a convenient way to get around the city.
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Campus Shuttles: GW maintains three shuttles that go between GW’s campuses: 1) Mount Vernon Campus Express (VEX), 2) VSTC Express, and 3) Innovation Center Metro Shuttle.
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Capital Bikeshare: Capital Bikeshare is a program that allows customers to rent bikes throughout D.C. and the surrounding areas.
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Fall 2026 GWSB Pre-Arrival Q&A Session |
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| Join the GWSB Global & Experiential Education (G&EE) team and International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) for the Fall 2026 GWSB Pre-Arrival Q&A Session!
During this optional session you'll have the chance to ask questions, get advice on GW's processes and procedures, and connect with current GWSB international students to get their perspectives about life at GW. The Fall 2026 GWSB Pre-Arrival Q&A will start with a brief presentation, but the majority of the session will be dedicated to an open Q&A with Elisa and members of the GWSB International Student Advisory Board (ISAB)!
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Friday, July 17, 2026, 9:00-10:00am EDT
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Fall 2026 GWSB Pre-Arrival Q&A Session
Hosted by GWSB Global & Experiential Education
Location: Zoom - Link will be sent in the registration confirmation email
Register Here!
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Mandatory Orientation Programming |
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Note that the below-listed mandatory orientation programming will be held in July and August and will provide pertinent information for new Global MBA international students relating to immigration and the academic culture at GWSB. Note that the GMBA International Runway and GMBA Runway are required of all Global MBA international students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa:
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Global MBA International Runway
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Virtual sessions will be on July 20, July 23, July 27, July 30, August 3, and August 6
All virtual sessions start at 9:00am EDT
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An in-person GMBA International Runway session will be on
Thursday, August 20 from 10:00am-12:00pm EDT in Funger Hall, Room 520
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Hosted by GWSB Global & Experiential Education (G&EE)
Additional information (including Zoom links for virtual sessions and detailed agendas) was shared via email on Monday, July 13.
For questions, please email G&EE at sbglobal@gwu.edu.
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Begins on Monday, August 10, 2026
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All Global MBA students are required to attend GMBA Runway. Students will receive additional information in the coming weeks.
Questions about GMBA Runway should be directed to the GMBA Program Team.
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ISO F-1 International Student Orientation
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Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 10:00-11:30am EDT
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Hosted by the International Services Office (ISO)
Location: Zoom - Link will be sent in the registration confirmation email
Register Here!
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