K.U.Leuven
	Purdue University

K.U.Leuven

Belgium has strict procedures for admitting foreigners for work and/or study. It is therefore of utmost importance that potential students make sure to have fulfilled all the necessary formalities before departure. These formalities may differ depending on your nationality, marital status, the duration of your stay etc. A detailed description of the formalities to be fulfilled before departure to and after arrival in Leuven can be found on the K.U.Leuven website (www.kuleuven.ac.be/english/about/goingleuven/b_formalitiesstud.htm). However, these formalities are subject to change. Therefore, you should contact the Belgian embassy or representative in your country to make sure that the exact procedures are followed.

In order to obtain a visa for Belgium the student must submit the following documents to the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in the country of origin :

1. a valid national passport;
2. a proof of permission to register at a Belgian University;
3. a proof of solvency: either a certificate showing that you have a study grant or a form ‘Agreement for acceptance of financial responsibility’ (in Dutch “Verbintenis tot tenlasteneming”, in French “Engagement de prise en charge”), available from the Belgian Consulate or Embassy. This document must be completed by the sponsoring person(s) (your parents or private sponsors) and legalised by the Belgian Consulate or the Embassy;
4. a certificate of good conduct which can be obtained from the police department; and
5. a medical certificate stating that you are in good health.

If the student’s family is following the student, the following documents must be submitted in addition to the above documents :

For the student’s spouse

For the student’s child(ren)
Each child’s birth certificate must be presented. Children are usually listed in one of their parent’s passports.

Never come to Belgium on a Tourist Visa if your studies take more than three months! Married students are advised to come first alone in order to prepare their family’s stay in Belgium.

Formalities to fulfil upon arrival

Upon arrival at the university, the following registrations have to be made as soon as possible:
- students must complete in person the university registration formalities; this should be done in the Student Registrar's Office (Naamsestraat 22, Leuven) by presenting the original official letter of admission and eventually by paying the registration fee; and
- within 8 days after arrival, every foreign visitor to Belgium must report to the Local Authorities at the Foreigners' Office (Muntstraat 3, Leuven).
In order to arrange for accommodation, students should contact the accommodation services of the university.

Belgium has a social security system which aims to cover the high financial cost of medical care. It has a health insurance system through which you can recover the greater part of your medical expenses. In Belgium you are obliged by law to be covered by health insurance.

All foreign students are required to subscribe to a third-party liability insurance policy when registering at the Registrar's Office of K.U.Leuven, unless they are already covered by such a policy. As proof of your subscription to such an insurance policy, you have to submit a declaration signed by your insurance company. Foreign students not covered for this liability must subscribe to a third-party liability insurance policy at a special annual rate for students of 13.00 EURO per year. The insurance policy protects you in case you cause damage to someone else or to someones property. It is especially useful to cyclists. The policy also entitles you to legal assistance.

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Purdue University

Each August, an orientation program for new graduate/professional international students is offered. Participation is advised since the program is designed to assist new students from abroad in their adjustment to life in the U.S. in general and especially to Purdue and the surrounding community. It is also important for new students to attend the orientation program to learn about their rights and responsibilities as non-citizens of the United States.

An arrival pick-up service at various local transportation debarkation sites will be provided by the International Student Services prior to the start of each orientation program. In addition, pre-orientation check-in sessions will be held prior to each orientation (immigration paperwork will have been completed for each student at this time and a social security representative will be available on specified days to take applications). All new and transfer students are required to complete the check-in process.

Detailed information on the above-mentioned programs, sessions and services are mailed to all new and transfer international students prior to their arrival at Purdue. We are pleased to make these programs available on-line as well at: http://www.iss.purdue.edu/.

In order to obtain a visa for the USA the student must submit the following documents to the US Consulate or Embassy in the country of origin :

Family members of the applicant may also be classified for a nonimmigrant visa to accompany or follow the student. Spouses and children of students may not accept employment at any time.

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