International Student Guide
Your Complete Guide to Studying at Texas A&M as an International Student
From your visa interview to your first grocery run, here is everything to know before you leave home and everything to handle once you land at The Penny, directly across University Drive from Texas A&M.
Before You Leave Home
Once you are admitted to Texas A&M, the university's International Student & Scholar Services office (ISSS) issues your Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students) after you submit the required financial documentation and pre-arrival information. That document is the foundation for everything that follows, so treat it as your most important piece of paper until you land in College Station.
Documents to track
| Document | What to know |
|---|---|
| Form I-20 / DS-2019 | Issued by TAMU's ISSS office once you're admitted and have submitted financial documentation. Keep the original in a secure, easy-to-find spot. You'll need it at your visa interview, at the U.S. port of entry, and again for your on-campus check-in. |
| SEVIS I-901 fee receipt | Paid separately from your visa fee, directly to the U.S. government at fmjfee.com. Print your receipt. This fee is federally set and can change, so confirm the current amount before you pay. |
| Visa appointment | Scheduled at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Bring your I-20/DS-2019 and SEVIS receipt. Book early: appointment availability varies widely by country and season. |
| Pre-arrival essentials | Proof of financial support, extra passport-style photos, and any prescription medication in its original packaging along with a copy of the prescription itself. |
As of 2026, the SEVIS I-901 fee is $350 for F-1 students and $220 for J-1 exchange visitors. Immigration regulations for F and J status are actively changing (DHS published a new final rule in July 2026 affecting how status and admission periods are handled, effective September 2026), so confirm current fee amounts and process details directly with ISSS or at fmjfee.com before you pay anything.
Sign your lease at The Penny before you fly. A confirmed U.S. address makes several pieces of pre-arrival paperwork easier, and it means you're not apartment hunting while jet-lagged in a new country.
What to pack
Your academic documents and I-20/DS-2019 (carry-on, never checked luggage), extra passport photos, a universal power adapter (the U.S. runs on 120V with Type A/B outlets), and weather-appropriate clothing. College Station runs hot and humid for much of the year with mild winters and the occasional freeze, so layer accordingly. If you take prescription medication, bring enough to bridge the gap until you can see a provider here, along with the prescription itself.
Getting to Campus
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston is the recommended arrival point for most international students headed to College Station. It's roughly 100 miles away, and its international terminal handles far more overseas connections than the smaller regional airport near campus.
| Option | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Scheduled ground shuttle | Shared shuttle services run regularly between IAH and College Station. Book ahead of your flight; one-way fares are commonly in the $30 to $80 range depending on the provider. |
| Rideshare or private car | Uber, Lyft, or a private car service will take you door to door. More expensive than a shuttle, but convenient with heavy luggage. |
| Rental car | An option if you're comfortable driving in Texas on arrival. You'll need a valid license recognized in the U.S. and a credit card for the deposit. |
| Easterwood Airport (CLL) | College Station's own regional airport, with limited American and United flights connecting through IAH or DFW. Workable if the schedule lines up, but IAH remains the more reliable choice for international itineraries. |
Once your travel dates are confirmed, reach out to The Penny's leasing office to coordinate your arrival, especially if you're landing outside posted office hours. After-hours support is available for maintenance and lockout emergencies once you're a resident, but move-in coordination is easiest during regular office hours.
Your First Weeks on Campus
Every new international student arrives with an ISS Check-In registration hold on their account. That hold blocks course registration until you complete the requirements ISSS lays out on their website, so this is not optional paperwork you can put off.
New International Student Orientation (NISO)
ISSS hosts NISO each fall and spring term. It isn't required, but it's strongly encouraged, and it's built specifically for incoming international students rather than the general student body. Expect a resource fair, a health insurance drop-in advising room, a maintaining-status session, an employment session, and a session on obtaining a Social Security number and driver's license if either applies to you.
Health insurance and immunizations
Texas A&M University System policy requires all F-1 and J-1 students to carry health insurance continuously while enrolled. Unless you submit an approved waiver with proof of comparable coverage, you're automatically enrolled in the System Student Health Insurance Plan and billed for it each semester. Waiver windows are short and open early in the semester, so decide before that deadline rather than after. Separately, check current TAMU Student Health Services immunization requirements before you arrive, since these are state-driven and can vary by program.
Batch your ISS check-in appointment and your immunization paperwork into the same first week if you can. Appointment slots fill up fast once the semester starts.
Leasing at The Penny Without U.S. Credit History
Arriving without a U.S. credit history is common among international students, and it does not rule out leasing at The Penny. Qualification paths and current requirements are confirmed directly with the leasing team at the time you apply, since options can be updated. Reach out early so you know exactly what to prepare before you submit an application.
Guarantor Option
A qualified guarantor can support your application if you don't have U.S.-based income or credit history of your own. Ask the leasing team about current guarantor criteria.
Alternative Documentation
International applicants often qualify through alternative proof of ability to pay, such as financial documentation already prepared for your visa. Confirm what's accepted at the time you apply.
Ask the Leasing Team
Every applicant's situation is different. The fastest way to a clear answer is a direct conversation with the leasing office before you submit anything.
What furnished means here
This matters more than it might sound, especially if you're arriving with a couple of suitcases and nothing else. Every apartment includes a private bedroom with a full-sized extra-long bed, a study desk and chair, a dresser, and a nightstand, plus a furnished living room and a full kitchen with a refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and dining area.
| Included in rent | Confirm with leasing |
|---|---|
| Furnished bedroom, living room, and kitchen | Utility structure and any qualification-path fees, since these are finalized closer to opening |
| In-unit washer and dryer | |
| Hardwood-style flooring and community amenities access | |
| After-hours support for lockouts and maintenance emergencies |
Setting Up Life in the U.S.
Opening a bank account
You do not need a Social Security number to open a U.S. bank account. Major banks with branches in the area, including Chase College Checking, Bank of America Student Checking, and Capital One 360, accept a passport and your I-20 or DS-2019 in place of an SSN. Plan on an in-person branch visit for your first account rather than opening one entirely online.
Getting a phone plan
Prepaid SIM plans are the simplest route since they skip the credit check and SSN requirement entirely. Postpaid plans are still possible without an SSN, but typically ask for a deposit up front.
University ID and accounts
Your NetID and TAMU email are set up during admission. Your physical student ID card is issued after you complete the ISS check-in, and it unlocks campus services and often doubles as your transit pass.
A Social Security number is only needed if you take on-campus employment. You don't need one to lease at The Penny or to register for classes. Driving isn't required to live here, but if you do want a Texas driver's license or state ID later on, check current DPS requirements and timing with ISSS, since document requirements shift.
Getting Around Without a Car
The Penny sits directly across University Drive from Texas A&M in the Northgate District, so a car is genuinely optional for daily campus life. Many academic buildings are within an easy walk or short bike ride, and AggieSpirit's off-campus bus routes run through Northgate straight into the university's centralized bus hub for anywhere farther out.
One climate note worth planning around: Texas summers run hot and humid, so factor that into how you dress for the walk or ride, especially in your first few weeks before you've adjusted.
Food, Groceries & Feeling at Home
Because every kitchen at The Penny is fully equipped with a refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and dining area, cooking with ingredients from home is practical from day one, not something you have to work up to.
| Category | Where to look nearby |
|---|---|
| South Asian / Indian | Spice World Market and Mini Mart, both a short drive from campus, carry produce, dried goods, and halal meats alongside South Asian staples. |
| East & Southeast Asian | BCS Asian Market stocks a wide range of Asian grocery and household essentials for the Bryan-College Station area. |
| Halal & Middle Eastern | Khairallah Halal Meat in Bryan and Spice World Market both carry halal meats and Middle Eastern pantry staples. |
| African | Aggieland African Grocery Store serves the local African community with imported staples. |
| Everyday groceries | H-E-B and Kroger locations around College Station and Bryan cover standard weekly shopping. |
Community, Culture & Support
ISSS's role doesn't end once your visa paperwork clears. The office continues to advise on status maintenance throughout your program, and F-1/J-1 students are required to report address changes, so update them when you move, including your move into The Penny.
Finding your community
The International Student Association (ISA), founded in 1969, acts as an umbrella for Texas A&M's cultural and national student clubs and organizes International Week each year. The International Student Mentors Association (ISMA) pairs incoming international students with current Aggies who help ease the transition socially and practically. Both are easy to find through the university's student organization directory.
Culture shock is normal, not a personal failing
NISO itself devotes programming to adjusting to life in College Station, which is the university's own acknowledgment that this transition takes real effort for most people. It isn't a sign that something is wrong with you.
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free, confidential individual counseling, group sessions, and workshops to all enrolled students, including international students. The after-hours HelpLine provides peer support when CAPS itself is closed.
Money & Budgeting
Rent is only one line in your total cost picture as an international student. A few obligations are specific to your visa status and worth budgeting for well before your first semester starts.
| Cost | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required health insurance | Automatic enrollment in the System Student Health Insurance Plan unless you complete an approved waiver early in the semester. |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | One-time, currently $350 for F-1 students and $220 for J-1 exchange visitors. Confirm the current figure at fmjfee.com before paying. |
| Visa application fee | Paid separately from the SEVIS fee, generally in the $185 range as of 2026, subject to change. |
| Qualification-path fee, if applicable | Confirm current terms with The Penny's leasing team when you apply. |
| Day-to-day living | Groceries, transit, and personal spending, same as any resident. |
Standard bank wire transfers often carry hidden fees and unfavorable exchange rates compared to services built specifically for cross-border student payments. Compare a couple of options before you send your first transfer, not after.
Quick Reference
ISSS (Texas A&M)
424 Spence St, Pavilion 110
College Station, TX 77843
global.tamu.edu/isss
The Penny Leasing Office
1025 University Dr, Suite 106
College Station, TX 77845
Call/text: (979) 205-4638
info@livethepenny.com
Student Health Services
Beutel Health Center
311 Houston St, College Station, TX
SEVIS Fee Payment
fmjfee.com
Official payment site, F-1/J-1 students only
Before You Fly
- I-20 or DS-2019 in hand, in carry-on luggage
- SEVIS I-901 fee paid, receipt printed
- Visa interview completed and approved
- Lease signed at The Penny
- Health insurance waiver decision made, if applicable
- Prescription medication packed with copy of prescription
Your First Two Weeks
- ISS Check-In requirements completed
- NISO attended, if timing allows
- Bank account opened in person
- Phone plan set up
- Student ID picked up
- Immunization paperwork submitted
- Address updated with ISSS to reflect your Penny apartment
Ready to Call The Penny Home?
Explore floor plans and reach out to the leasing team with any questions about qualifying without U.S. credit history.
View Floor Plans Contact Leasing