International Student Orientation
This required orientation is presented by the William and Mary Reves Center for International Studies and will be held in August 2024 for fall admitted students, and in January 2025 for spring admitted students.
During the orientation, students will be registered with immigration and receive information and materials on the laws concerning your immigration status as well as other programs and services available on campus.
The program is designed to provide a smooth transition into life as a William & Mary student. More information regarding this mandatory program will be included in your pre-arrival packet, followed later by an email from the International Students, Scholars and Programs Office.
Official Undergraduate Transcripts Required
Although you may have submitted official transcripts and conferral of degree with your LSAC (Law School Admission Council) application to the LL.M. Program, if you were still attending school at the time of your application, you will need to provide us with a final “official”, sealed transcript as well as confirmation that your degree was awarded. William & Mary must receive your final official sealed transcripts before you will be able to register yourself for law classes. You may ship transcripts in advance.
If you did not apply through LSAC, but instead applied directly to William & Mary Law School, you uploaded "unofficial" transcripts into your LL.M. application. Prior to the start of the LL.M. Program, you will be required to ship your official, evaluated and authenticated transcripts (through a NACES.org member), to William & Mary Law School International Programs Office, 613 South Henry Street, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. We recommend that you use an express shipping service (FedEx, DHL, UPS) to track your shipment. If you use an express ship service, you may include the telephone number (757) 221-3800, and our email address: llmadm@wm.edu. A NACES.org approved transcript evaluation and authentication service must provide William & Mary Law School with your official final transcript and conferral. This may be sent electronically to llmadm@wm.edu directly from the NACES.org member that you utilized, or shipped directly from your NACES.org member to William & Mary Law School at the address listed in the paragraph above.
If you plan to sit for a bar examination while in the U.S., you will need to be able to order a second "official" transcript and degree certificate to be submitted with your bar application. William & Mary Law School will not return official transcripts received to LL.M. students.
Reves Center for International Studies
When you arrive to William & Mary Law School, you are required to attend an Orientation Program hosted by the Reves Center on the main campus.
The Reves Center houses both study abroad services and international student and scholar services. These services include advising on immigration regulations for students in F-1 and J-1 status, issuance of immigration documents (I-20s and DS-2019s), maintenance of immigration (SEVIS) records, and the organization of the international student orientation and other ongoing programs designed to assist our international community in adjusting to living at the William & Mary.
The Reves Center periodically emails incoming international students with important information prior to their arrival. There is a special section titled “New Students and Scholars” on the Reves Center website designed for incoming international students.
The Reves Center recommends that international students bring some cash when traveling to the United States. There have been a few instances where students have arrived and found that their credit or ATM card did not work.
Several activities are scheduled by the Reves Center during the first weeks of the fall semester to introduce international students to the William & Mary campus and Williamsburg community. These activities have included: a general orientation to the campus, a welcome reception, a shopping trip, and the opportunity to apply for a United States Social Security Number (if eligible).
While studying at William & Mary, international students are welcome to visit the Reves Center if they have questions.
Reves Center for International Studies
Phone: (757) 221-3594
Bank Accounts
For information on opening a bank account in the United States, please visit the Reves Center websiteMost banks in Williamsburg can handle overseas fund transfers. However, one should inquire about the services provided to accommodate currency exchange, wiring funds, etc. It is also possible that the bank in the student's home country has experience with Virginia commercial banks which could influence the bank selected for use during the student's academic stay in the United States.
Travel Information
For those students who enroll in the LL.M. Program at William & Mary and will travel to Williamsburg via airline, we offer some travel information prepared by the Reves Center.