Apply for F-1 Visa

International students attending EOU must have an F-1 visa. Once you are admitted, EOU will issue an I-20, which is required as part of the F-1 visa application process. For information on applying for an F-1 visa, please visit the Homeland Security Study in the States page.

Arrange for Housing

• Complete your housing application on the Residence Life page.
• All undergraduate international students in their first year of study in the United States are required to live on campus their first year at EOU.  Exceptions to this requirement must be requested by petition.
• International students are permitted to move into the residence halls Friday or Saturday prior to International Student Orientation.  Students will be charged a nightly rate for each night prior to the official move-in day.

Submit Required Forms

• Access your Mountie Pass.  See the Mountie Pass FAQ for more info.
• All EOU students are required to have two doses of measles vaccine (which is part of the MMR vaccine).  Scan and submit the EOU MMR Verification form to shc@eou.edu prior to arrival.  Be sure to attach the vaccine record with dates and clinic name.
• Scan and submit the Health History form to shc@eou.edu.
• All new students are asked to complete the New Revolving Credit & Financial Responsibility Agreement.  Sign in to Webster, click Student Services & Financial Aid, then Student Account, followed by New Revolving Credit & Financial Responsibility Agreements.

Manage Required EOU Health Insurance

International students enrolled at EOU are required to purchase the International Student Health Insurance (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer).   Students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the EOU Student Health Insurance.  Health insurance is a complicated topic that you will learn more about during International Student Orientation.  Please get started by completing the following:

• Read the information provided on the Student Affairs Student Health Insurance page.
• If you would like to submit a waiver, please pay extra attention to the information.
• Please note the insurance coverage start dates and end dates.  If you plan to arrive in the United States before insurance coverage begins, you may want to purchase additional coverage.

Plan for MANDATORY International Student Orientation

• Visit the International Student Orientation page to learn all you need to know about orientation, Week of Welcome, and your travel dates so you can plan your trip accordingly. In the spring, prior to arrival, you will receive emails from EOU with instructions on the items you need to take care of prior to arrival in La Grande.
• Kickstart is a pre-orientation program designed to help smooth the transition of international and Pacific Island students to college culture in the United States. This program provides non-native speakers time to practice their English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills prior to the start of the academic year; familiarize themselves with the region; and build the kinds of relationships with fellow students, faculty, staff, and community members critical to student success and retention. This program is tied to EOU’s Invitation to Rural Oregon course (HUM 111).

Pack Your Bags and Let’s Go!

Study in the States offers free government resources that explain the rules and regulations governing the international student process in the United States.

La Grande is in Northeastern Oregon.  It is located approximately 4 hours from Portland, Oregon, 5 hours from Seattle, Washington, and 3 hours from Boise, Idaho.  Many students fly into Portland, Boise, or Seattle, and then take another plane to the regional airport in Pendleton, Oregon, which is serviced by Boutique Air. Pendleton is approximately 1 hour from La Grande.

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Greyhound Bus has recently announced the discontinuation of its bus services between Portland, OR and Boise, ID effective January 16, 2025. This means that while service line remains the same, Greyhound Bus will *no longer stop at any of the communities between Portland and Boise, including La Grande.*

• If you will need to be picked up at the airport, you will need to complete the Arrival Notification Form.
• Please e-mail your travel itinerary, including your flight, to international@eou.edu as soon as your arrangements are made.  Beginning July 1, 2017, students will be charged an airport pick up fee.  Fees are applied as follows:  Pendleton Airport  ($50), Tricities Airport in Pasco, WA ($100), or Boise Airport ($100). 
• For current transportation options, please visit eou.edu/mc/getting-to-la-grande/

Don’t forget to apply for your visa, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, book your flight to arrive in La Grande and attend ISO! Edit