International Admission > Admitted Students > Global DePaul Welcome

Global DePaul Welcome

​​​​​​​​​We look forward to welcoming you to our DePaul community! 

Airport Welcome Program

Welcome to DePaul- we want to be the first to greet you in Chicago! Student volunteers will be available to meet new students at Chicago O'Hare Airport. These students will help you navigate the airport, connect you to your planned mode of transportation, and ensure you get off to the housing you have already arranged. 
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​Sign Up for Winter 2024 

Registration Link: Airport Welcome​
Date: Wednesday,​ January 3rd, 2024
Time: 8 AM - 8 PM CST
Location: Chicago O'Hare International Airport ​

We are only able to accommodate students on the dates mentioned above. Please plan your trip to Chicago accordingly if you would like to be welcomed by student volunteers.​​


Please review the common questions and answers below. Don't hesitate to email us at welcome@depaul.edu​ if you have any additional questions. #YouAreWelcomeHere! ​ 

Click here​ to view what other resources you might need to set you up for a successful transition into DePaul’s community. ​ ​​  ​​

For Winter 2024, our ISS team will be organizing an enthusiastic group of DePaul volunteers to meet you at O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024. Volunteers will greet you at the airport, answer any questions you may have and help you find a safe way to travel to your first night’s stay in Chicago. Sign up for Airport Welcome here!

There are many factors to consider as you plan your flight to Chicago:

When does your visa allow you to arrrive?

When does your orientation start?

When can you move into your pre-arranged housing?

You can read more about what to expect at your orientation and find out the dates for the upcoming term on our orientation website, and you may also have a separate academic orientation to plan around as well.

We strongly recommend that you arrive a couple days early so you have time to adjust - even if this means that you need to book temporary housing in a hotel or hostel.

Please note that our Airport Welcome program is only on specific days and not offered every term.

There are many ways you can choose to travel from the airport to the place you will stay on your first night. Please read these travel suggestions and choose an option that works best for you and your needs.

Deciding what to pack and how much is important! Please plan your carry-on luggage carefully to ensure that your experience at the airport is as smooth as possible.  You can review our recommendations of important documents and items to bring with you as you travel. 

This is up to you!  But be sure to have a concrete plan before you depart your country. 

  • If you have not already reserved housing on-campus, but you plan to, you can read about how to apply for on-campus housing on the Housing website and send questions to housing@depaul.edu. They will assign you a specific move-in date. If you plan to arrive before the official on-campus housing move-in date, then we recommend you book temporary housing in a hotel or hostel, so that you know where to go when you arrive at the airport. 

  • If you need more guidance about how to find housing in Chicago (temporary housing or permanent housing), please visit our online housing guide. 

Yes! Here are some resources to explain how to open a bank account once you arrive. 

Phone service and Wi-Fi may be unavailable when you arrive in the US and international roaming may bring about costly phone bills during your stay. You can consider purchasing an American SIM card for your phone. This can be done by signing for a contract phone or opting for a pre-paid voucher card.

More information on Using Your Cell Phone Within the U.S.!

This is an important question and the answers are developing as the situation develops.  There are two website we recommend you bookmark and regularly check.  On these sites, you can read the most current information about DePaul’s response to COVID-19 and student resources available to you.  You can also read the International Student and Scholar Services explanations about the impact of COVID-19 on international students and their immigration status concerns.   

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