Registration with KSIMS

When you are awarded a scholarship by the Ministry of Higher Education, it is important that you register on the Kuwait Cultural Office’s website. Registering on the website will allow you to have your offers approved, request official letters, keep a record of your documents, request the initial allowance and make other financial requests.

To register on the Office’s system, please follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to kcouS.org
  2. Choose “MyKSIMS”
  3. Choose “Create an account (student)”
  4. Enter your civil ID and email address (check it is corect and remember it).
  5. A password will be sent to your email. If you cannot find it in your inbox please check your Junk/Spam mail.
  6. Enter your account by using the password and email address.
  7. Complete all your personal details, including your name in Arabic and English and bank details, and upload copies of your passport, visa, civil ID and Thanawiya Certificate.

As you have an account on the Cultural Office system, you can request official letters and have your offer approved easily through it. You can apply for approval for  English language, Foundation, Degree, Master and PhD levels. You need to follow these steps:

  1. Check that your college/university is approved by MOHE by clicking on ‘University Guide’ on the Office’s website.
  2. Log in to your account.
  3. Select ‘Offer Approval’.
  4. Select ‘Requests’.
  5. Click on ‘Apply for Offer admission’.
  6. Choose the level of the offer (English, Foundation, Foundation and Degree, Master or PhD).
  7. Complete all the required fields and upload all documents.
  8. Submit

Approving the offer will take up to 7 working days as communication might be required with the university. You can always contact your advisor by email to check on progress.

New Scholarship Students

Our office is pleased to help you with your placement to approved schools in the U.S., which includes assistance with your application, authentication of your admission documents and registration with our office.

To better assist you, please contact the Placement Department if you are:

  •  An undergraduate student sponsored by the: Ministry of Higher Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Higher Council for Disabled Affairs, Prime Minister and Equate.
  • An undergraduate or graduate student sponsored by the Civil Service Commission.
  • An undergraduate privately-funded student who is under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education (your parents/guardian placed a deposit with the Ministry).

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS from the U.S. IMMIGRATION and CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

Information You Need to Know and Do Before Arriving in the U.S.

  1. Confirm that your passport and visa are valid for entry to the U.S.  Passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond date of expected stay in the U.S.
  2. The Customs & Border Protection Officer at the U.S. port of entry will be the only authorized person to open the sealed envelope containing your I-20 form/immigration document that you received from the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.
  3. While you are traveling, you should carry with you the following (do not check in these documents with your luggage):
    • Your passport (including the attached envelope of immigration documents) with visa,
    • SEVIS Form I-20 AB
    • Copy of the financial support letter issued by the Kuwait Cultural Office to your school
    • Name & contact information for your designated school official, pen and paper
    • You will have to complete the CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms, which will be given to you on flight before you land at your initial point of entry in the U.S.  It is important that you tell the Customs and Border Protection Officer that you will be a student.  Be prepared to provide the name and address of the school where you will enroll.  Once the inspection is complete, the officer will stamp your passport with a date of entry stamp.
  4. Secondary Inspection Requirements – If your information cannot be automatically verified by the inspector or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as “secondary inspection”.
    • We strongly suggest that you have the name and phone number of the foreign student advisor at your school, which can be found in your admission documents.  If you arrive during non-business hours (evenings, weekends or holidays), you should have a phone number where this individual can be reached during non-business hours.
    • Failure to provide proper documentation and comply with the entry/exit procedures is cause to refuse the student admission into the U.S.
    • There are times when a student may not be in full compliance, the student may be issued a Form I-515A “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor”, which authorizes temporary admission into the U.S. and requires the student to take immediate action to submit proper documentation.  Non-compliance with the directions contained on these forms can results in denied entry.
  5. US-VISIT – is a comprehensive entry-exit registration system that was implemented at all international airports throughout the U.S.  Non-immigrant visitors holding visas will be participating in the program, which involves obtaining a scan of two index fingerprints and a digital photograph of an arriving visitor.
  6. National Security Entry-Exit Registration Systems (NSEERS)
    • Some visitors will require additional scrutiny and will have to provide additional information under NSEERS.  Anyone could be subject to additional scrutiny and should follow the directions of the Customs and Border Protection Officer if additional information regarding itinerary, length of stay or other security questions is required
  7. Admission to the U.S. – Students should report to their school IMMEDIATELY and register for courses.
  8. Continuing Students who are traveling outside of the U.S. must see their foreign student advisor at the school and obtain an endorsement from the designated school official.  The endorsement will be made on page 3 of the Form I-20.  When returning to the U.S., a continuing student must present a valid Form I-20 with the DSO signature that the student is active and in good standing with the school.
  9. If you are authorized for Optional Practical Training (OPT) by your school, make sure that the school has updated your records in SEVIS and issued your new I-20 Form showing OPT authorization on page 3 of the form.

For further information, please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website regarding International Students at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/students/index.htm (link is external)

PRE-ARRIVAL CHECKLIST

  • Please carefully review the Admission Packet you received from the university (I-20, acceptance letter and other relevant information like housing, immunizations, brochures, etc.).
  • Please take note that some students are admitted to academic studies while others are admitted to intensive English programs.  Please check your I-20 and acceptance letters.
  • Complete and return all the necessary forms (housing, immunizations, etc.) enclosed in your admission packet to the school as soon as possible.  You are responsible to make your own housing arrangements.  Please contact the school directly to finalize your housing plans.
  • If you have been admitted to an intensive English program (ESL), you will have to submit an undergraduate application for academic studies.
  • SEVIS I-901 Fee – You will have to pay the $200.00 SEVIS I-901 fee before you have your interview with the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait to secure your visa.  This may be paid online through the Internet using a credit card.  The website address is http://www.ice.gov/sevis/students/index.htm (link is external).
  • We have provided you with a copy of your Financial Support Letter – This letter was submitted to the university, and indicates that you are a sponsored student of the Embassy of Kuwait.  The letter details the benefits that you will receive, which includes monthly allowance, health and dental insurance.
  • You may use this as a supporting document, which you can present to the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait when you secure your student visa.
  • You may also present this to your school if they ask for proof of health insurance.  The actual insurance card will be given to you once you have arrived in the U.S. and registered with our office.