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Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the most frequently asked questions Cranwell International Center receives For further questions, please email us at international@vt.edu.


Please visit the IntlHokies Portal to submit the e-form or visit us during mid-semester travel signature events.

Please see our Social Security instructions. If you have additional questions, please visit our office during walk–in hours or email international@vt.edu.

Do you need CEIP or Co-Op approval for CPT? Start that process first! You must complete either CEIP undergraduate course or the graduate Co-Op process before you submit your CPT request. Please see our CPT basics page.

Please see our OPT Extension page.

Students are protected under FERPA laws. Please have your child contact and speak with us directly at international@vt.edu. For more information about FERPA, please visit Virginia Tech's FERPA page on the Registrar's website.

International students will have a couple of orientations:

  • International Student Orientation is broken into undergraduate and graduate students. International orientation dates, which are usually earlier than other orientations, will be listed on the Cranwell New Student page, in the Canvas Course of which all incoming international students are automatically enrolled, and in emails in the months leading up to your arrival.
    • Undergraduates: you also have Undergraduate Orientation to attend through New Student and Family Programs.
    • Graduate Students: you also have The Graduate School’s Orientation and your department’s orientation to attend as well.
      • The Graduate School will post the schedule on their orientation website.
      • Please be in contact with your department about their orientation schedule. We ask that you prioritize those.

  • Athletes and cadets, you have your own move-in schedule. Please defer to those lines of communication.
  • International Undergraduate Student Move-In is a few days before the undergraduate domestic student population. Cranwell and Housing will both communicate this exact date in the months leading up to orientation through email, the Canvas Course, and the StarRez Portal. You can also check the orientation schedule on our New Student Page
  • International Graduate students, please balance your arrival date with your International Graduate Orientation date, Graduate Orientation date, and start of your lease or housing arrangement.
  • Early move-in for undergraduates: Housing offers a limited number of early move-in slots. However, there are limitations to how far out you are allowed to move-in. Housing will release the exact dates and registration option in the two months leading up to the domestic move-in dates. You can check these dates and register through the StarRez Portal. Please note: There is an additional fee based on your housing arrangement for an early move-in registration.
  • Undergraduates: For all information related to housing, visit the Star Rez Portal. For questions, email Housing at Housing@vt.edu.
  • Graduate Students: If you need help securing housing, please use the Off-Campus Housing website as a resource.

For any questions about registration or enrollment, please visit the Academic Records page on the Registrar’s Office website.