Arriving in Madison

Travel Information

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), an office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), provides an information sheet to assist you in your entry into the United States: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_stdnt_fs.htm

Baggage: Do not send baggage, parcels, or similar personal effects in care of the university, there are no facilities for accepting or storing personal effects sent in advance. It is less expensive to have personal effects mailed after your arrival.

Climate: Madison's climate is subject to great temperature variations. During the summer (June-September), temperatures are often above 26.6 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) and occasionally above 32 degrees C. (90 degrees F.). During the winter (December-March), one must expect many days of -18 degrees C. (0 degree F.), and even lower. Both very light and very heavy clothing will be needed. Normal attire is usually casual rather than formal.

Currency: It may be difficult to convert non-U.S. money into U.S. currency immediately upon arrival in Madison. We suggest you bring at least $900.00 in U.S. traveler's checks for travel, food, rent, and incidental expenses. Check with your bank and credit card company to find out if your ATM and credit cards will be available to you in Madison, and what the limits are on using them abroad.

There are several ways to get to Madison:

There are four major airports near Madison. Several airlines fly into the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. The closest international airports are in Chicago, Illinois at Ohare and Midway Airports. Mitchell Field Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the largest airport in Wisconsin, and is only an hour and a half away from campus. Taxi, limousine and city bus service to the UW-Madison Campus or any location in Madison are available at the Dane County Regional Airport, and bus service is available from Milwaukee and Chicago to Madison.

Van Galder Bus Company provides service directly to campus from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. The Van Galder buses stop outside the Memorial Union next to the Red Gym, which houses International Student Services.

Badger Coaches offers daily express service from Mitchell Field airport in Milwaukee to Madison.

Bus service to Madison from many other cities is available through Greyhound Bus Lines. The Greyhound and Badger bus