Weber State University

Visiting your child at Weber State means flying into Salt Lake City International (SLC), about 36 miles south of Ogden. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from SLC to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.

• Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
• You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
• The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
• Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.

Just admitted to Weber State? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into Salt Lake City International (SLC) - ~36 miles south of the Ogden campus.
• From SLC: TRAX Green Line to North Temple, FrontRunner train to Ogden Central, then the free OGX bus to campus.
• A taxi/rideshare from SLC is ~$40 if you prefer a direct trip with luggage.
• Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
• Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.

Ogden, home to Weber State University, is an affordable mountain city north of Salt Lake City - about $1,050-1,600 a month all-in sharing and cooking. Weber State students ride UTA transit free with an Ed Pass, and the FrontRunner train reaches Salt Lake City's larger Indian community in under an hour.

Monthly cost of living in Ogden (a student estimate)

That's roughly $13,000-19,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

Weber State students share apartments near the Ogden campus; the UTA FrontRunner train links Ogden to the wider Salt Lake region.

• Weber State students ride UTA buses and FrontRunner train free with an Ed Pass.
• The FrontRunner reaches Salt Lake City in under an hour.
• Winters bring mountain snow - dress warmly.

Working part-time

On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.

Safety & student support

Ogden and its Weber State University campus areas are generally safe by US standards; use normal awareness at night.

• Weber State University runs a security escort, safety app and (often) campus shuttles - save the campus safety number.
• The campus and main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• Ogden is a small city; use normal awareness downtown at night.

Indian community & food

Ogden's Indian community is small, but Salt Lake City - under an hour by train - has the region's desi groceries, restaurants and temples.

Indian grocery stores

• Basic Indian spices and staples at international grocers in Ogden.
• Salt Lake City (FrontRunner, <1 hr) has the region's main Indian supermarkets.
• Mainstream stores carry a basic international aisle for everyday needs.

Student community

• Weber State's international student groups run cultural events.
• The Salt Lake area has Hindu temples and Indian associations.

• A few Indian restaurants in Ogden, with more in Salt Lake City.

Cost & living figures for Ogden last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.