Incoming International Students

Congratulations on deciding to come to UF!
On behalf of the Navigators International Program and all of the University of Florida, welcome! We've prepared this webpage to help make the preparations for your trip as easy as possible. If we've left anything out, or you have any questions, please email us! All of the officers are here to help you and would be happy to respond to your emails. They are all listed on the Contact part of this webpage. If you don't know who to contact, email Mina Bishop, the NaviGators Coordinator, at minabish@ufl.edu. Take a look at our Resources page, which has many useful pointers, suggestions, and resources. Also, we've made up a list of things we recommend you take care of before you get here and that you should do once you arrive. We are constantly thinking of new things that you may help, so be sure to check back regularly.
Things to do before you come:
Get your passport and visa
	The last thing you want to have happen is to arrive and realize that your passport or visa expires before your planning on going home, or worse, that you don't have one and didn't know you needed one. How to get them differs from country to country, but make sure you find out how it's done and get both well in advance.
Know Florida's weather
	The weather here in Florida may be very different from what you are used to. Also, we measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius. So, be sure to take note of what sort of weather you should expect, and pack accordingly. Weather.com has some useful information on average monthly weather.
Schedule your travel
	Make sure you have all of your travel planned out to get you from your home to Gainesville. Once you get to Gainesville, there are usually taxis waiting at the airport that can take you to where you'll be staying. Make sure you have the address with you, preferably in your carry-on luggage, just in case.
Fly in to Gainesville
	There are several airports in Florida that you could fly in to, but we strongly recommend flying in to the Gainesville airport. If you were to fly to Orlando, Jacksonville, or some other airport, getting to Gainesville can be difficult and expensive.
Submit your NaviGators application
	If you wish to have a NaviGator mentor, you need to submit your application. You can download it from the Documents page. Just fill it out, save it, and email it back to us at ufnavigators@gmail.com.
Once you get here:
Get your Gator1
	This is your student ID card for the University of Florida. You need this to go to any sporting event, to ride the busses in Gainesville for free, to check out library books, and for many other events and places in Gainesville. Make sure you get this as soon as possible.
Want a bike?
	Many students in Gainesville ride a bike or scooter to and from campus, from class to class on campus, and sometimes even to the store. It's a cheap, quick way of getting around. Plus, there's free bike repair on campus. There are several bike shops around Gainesville. Here are a few near campus:       Chain Reaction       Gator Cycle       Swamp Cycle
Welcome Barbecue
	At the start of each semester we have a barbecue to welcome all of the new members, both incoming international students and American students who are just joining. Check the Calendar and the announcements on the main page for the date and time. This is a wonderful chance to make a ton of new friends, get a feel for life around Gainesville, and have some fun.