Travel Advisory- Entering the United States
The University will be closed for Winter Break from Thursday, December 24, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027. Normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm EST) will resume Monday, January 4, 2027. View the academic calendar for other university closures and academic deadlines.
2026-2027
Check in with the VISA Office will be virtual. Not all events are applicable, dates may be subject to change. Visit the VISA Office , Admitted International Student Guide, and Academic Calendar for additional details.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| December 13 – January 23 | VISA Office Check in |
| January – Online Self-Paced | International Student Orientation |
|
January 8 |
Day 1 GTAI – Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (online) SPEAK Test Deadline (see your department/graduate school for additional details) |
|
January 8 & 9 |
Discover your Pride: Monarch Orientation |
|
January 14 |
Intensive English Program Placement Testing |
|
January 15 |
English Language Center – Intensive English Program Orientation Monarch English Transition – MET Program Advising |
|
January 16 |
VISA Required Information Session Day 2 GTAI – Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (in person) (see your department/graduate school for additional details) |
|
January 17 – 19 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – no classes |
|
January 20 |
Spring classes begin |
|
January 30 |
Last day to register for classes International Student Welcome Reception |
|
March 16 – March 21 |
Spring Holiday – no classes |
|
May 4 |
Spring Classes End |
|
May 5 |
Reading Day |
|
May 6 – May 13 |
Final Exams |
Not all events are applicable to all students. The following calendar is provided as a courtesy, but may not be all-inclusive. The relevant office is the best source of information. Dates and locations may be subject to change.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
|
Prior to Classes |
New International Student Orientation. Virtual, self-paced |
|
Prior to Classes |
Graduate Student Toolbox. Virtual, self-paced |
|
Prior to Classes |
Crown Countdown pre-arrival series. Live webinars May - July; recordings on International Admitted Student Guide |
|
Prior to Classes |
Explore Your Kingdom. Online pre-orientation modules for undergraduates |
|
Prior to Classes |
Discover your Pride: Monarch Orientation for undergraduates. Sign up for preferred date |
|
June 1 - July 17 |
VISA Office Check-In for SEVIS Transfer/CoS students ONLY (online through International Student Portal) |
|
July 18 - August 28 |
VISA Office Check-In for All Students (online through International Student Portal) |
|
July 27 - September 15 |
Employment Paperwork (for students hired by ODU). In-person in VISA Office |
|
Until August 1 |
SPEAK Tests for TAs. Virtual; registered by department |
|
August 10 |
Monarch International Newcomer Transition (MINT) |
|
Until August 14 |
IEP Online Placement (Sign-up link) |
|
August 17 |
IEP In-person Placement, 1108 Dragas Hall (Students who take online placement test do not need in-person test) |
|
August 17, August 19, August 21, August 24 |
VISA Required Information Sessions. In-person (Only need to attend one) |
|
August 18 - August 20 |
IEP In-person Assistance and Advising (Walk in, 11am-3pm, 1108 Dragas Hall) |
|
August 20 |
Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (GTAI). Virtual. For students with TA positions; registered by department |
|
August 24 |
First Day of Classes |
|
Until August 28 |
IEP Check-In (online through International Student Portal) |
|
Ongoing through August |
MET Advising. By appt with Ann Kumm, akumm@odu.edu |
|
September 2 |
Add/Drop deadline (last day to register for classes) |
|
September 4 |
New International Student & Graduate Welcome Reception, Webb Center, 2-5pm. RSVP required |
Check in with the VISA Office will be virtual. Not all events are applicable, dates may be subject to change. Visit the VISA Office , Admitted International Student Guide, and Academic Calendar for additional details.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| December 13 – January 23 | VISA Office Check in |
| January – Online Self-Paced | International Student Orientation |
|
January 8 |
Day 1 GTAI – Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (online) SPEAK Test Deadline (see your department/graduate school for additional details) |
|
January 8 & 9 |
Discover your Pride: Monarch Orientation |
|
January 14 |
Intensive English Program Placement Testing |
|
January 15 |
English Language Center – Intensive English Program Orientation Monarch English Transition – MET Program Advising |
|
January 16 |
VISA Required Information Session Day 2 GTAI – Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (in person) (see your department/graduate school for additional details) |
|
January 17 – 19 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – no classes |
|
January 20 |
Spring classes begin |
|
January 30 |
Last day to register for classes International Student Welcome Reception |
|
March 16 – March 21 |
Spring Holiday – no classes |
|
May 4 |
Spring Classes End |
|
May 5 |
Reading Day |
|
May 6 – May 13 |
Final Exams |
Not all events are applicable to all students. The following calendar is provided as a courtesy, but may not be all-inclusive. The relevant office is the best source of information. Dates and locations may be subject to change.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
|
Prior to Classes |
New International Student Orientation. Virtual, self-paced |
|
Prior to Classes |
Graduate Student Toolbox. Virtual, self-paced |
|
Prior to Classes |
Crown Countdown pre-arrival series. Live webinars May - July; recordings on International Admitted Student Guide |
|
Prior to Classes |
Explore Your Kingdom. Online pre-orientation modules for undergraduates |
|
Prior to Classes |
Discover your Pride: Monarch Orientation for undergraduates. Sign up for preferred date |
|
June 1 - July 17 |
VISA Office Check-In for SEVIS Transfer/CoS students ONLY (online through International Student Portal) |
|
July 18 - August 28 |
VISA Office Check-In for All Students (online through International Student Portal) |
|
July 27 - September 15 |
Employment Paperwork (for students hired by ODU). In-person in VISA Office |
|
Until August 1 |
SPEAK Tests for TAs. Virtual; registered by department |
|
August 10 |
Monarch International Newcomer Transition (MINT) |
|
Until August 14 |
IEP Online Placement (Sign-up link) |
|
August 17 |
IEP In-person Placement, 1108 Dragas Hall (Students who take online placement test do not need in-person test) |
|
August 17, August 19, August 21, August 24 |
VISA Required Information Sessions. In-person (Only need to attend one) |
|
August 18 - August 20 |
IEP In-person Assistance and Advising (Walk in, 11am-3pm, 1108 Dragas Hall) |
|
August 20 |
Graduate Teaching Assistantship Institute (GTAI). Virtual. For students with TA positions; registered by department |
|
August 24 |
First Day of Classes |
|
Until August 28 |
IEP Check-In (online through International Student Portal) |
|
Ongoing through August |
MET Advising. By appt with Ann Kumm, akumm@odu.edu |
|
September 2 |
Add/Drop deadline (last day to register for classes) |
|
September 4 |
New International Student & Graduate Welcome Reception, Webb Center, 2-5pm. RSVP required |