International Arrival Planning

Fall 2023 Arrival Information 

If you are arriving to HSU as a new international student for Fall 2023 semester, there are specific arrival and move-in days that you must follow when coming to the HSU campus. During this time you will check in to your campus housing, report to a campus immigration officer, and get settled at HSU before classes. In addition, all international students are required to attend the international orientation with the Office of Global Engagement. Stampede (HSU’s Campus-wide New Student Orientation) begins the following week after your arrival for the fall semester and before classes begin.

The official Fall 2023 arrival, move-in, and international orientation days are as follows:

  • Arrival Days: Thursday, August 17 to Sunday, August 20, 2023
  • New International Student Orientation: Monday, August 21, and Tuesday, August 22, 2023
  • HSU Stampede Week (all student orientation): Wednesday, August 23 to Sunday, August 27, 2023
  • Fall 2023 classes begin: Monday, August 28, 2023

Please arrange for your arrival to HSU and to Abilene, Texas only during these days and complete the arrival form. All new international students are required to attend international orientation with the Office of Global Engagement prior to school starting in order to file their immigration paperwork. Failure to report to a school immigration officer (DSO), could result in your F-1 student visa being terminated. Please contact the Office of Global Engagement at globalengagement@hsutx.edu.

As a welcome gesture, if you will be living on-campus, HSU will provide a gift basket to assist you for your first few days here. You can find the complete list of welcome basket items here.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Before you depart your home country, please make sure you carry all of these items in your carry-on luggage, only.

  • Passport
  • I-20
  • Travel itinerary
  • Flight tickets/boarding pass
  • Copy of passport information page and visa stamps
  • Some cash for food
  • Toiletries
  • Change of clothes (in case of delays, missed flights, delayed luggage)
  • Emergency contact information:
    • Tifani Smith, Assistant Director Global Engagement
      • email: tifani.smith@hsutx.edu
      • phone: +1 325-670-1696
    • Campus Police, phone: +1 325-670-1911

Arrival/Airport Pickup Form

We provide airport pickup for our international students flying into Abilene Regional Airport from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm CST, 7 days a week!

Whether you are driving into Hardin-Simmons or flying into Abilene Regional Airport, we need to know when to have your room ready or when to pick you up at the airport.

Please fill out the Arrival Form below. Attach your flight tickets or type in your flight numbers, dates, and airlines so we can keep track of any issues that might arise (delays, cancellations).

Arrival Form