International Student - Visa Information

Who Qualifies As an International Student?

International students are defined as "non-immigrant" visitors who come to the U.S. temporarily to take classes or get a degree. A non-immigrant is someone who does not have U.S. Citizenship or Legal Permanent Resident Status ("a green card"). Non-immigrants are required to have a U.S. visa in their passports to be allowed entry to the country. There are many types of visas, depending on the purpose for visiting the U.S. Most international students at UC Berkeley have an "F-1" or "J-1" student visa status. To learn more about non-immigrant visas, see the web site of the U.S. Department of State.

When making travel plans, keep in mind that a new F-1 or J-1 student is not allowed to enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the first day of their Summer Session program.

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How to Obtain F-1 or J-1 Student Status for Summer Session

If you are enrolling in Summer Session courses from abroad, follow the steps below to obtain an F-1 or J-1 Student Status:

1) Register for Summer Session. During the registration process, you will be guided through questions that will determine whether the F-1 or J-1 is the appropriate status for you. You will be offered the option to request a Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20 (F-1) or DS- 2019 (J-1) from UC Berkeley as part of this registration process. The Certificate of Eligibility is required to apply for your U.S. entry visa.

2) Enroll in a full-time course load. Full-time enrollment is required to be eligible for a F-1 or J-1 student visa status.

3) Fax to Summer Session at 510-642-2877 or email intl_summer@berkeley.edu with a PDF attachment copies of the following:

a. Financial records that show you are able to support your studies in the U.S. (see "Required Funding," below).

b. Passport - biographic page (page showing date of birth etc.)

DEADLINE
This is the deadline to submit all REQUIRED DOCUMENTS to complete the Certificate of Eligibility request.

Deadline	Session A	Session B	Session C	Session D	Session E
Request Certificate of Eligibility for Visa	April 25	May 9	May 23	June 6	June 27

4) Receive your Certificate of Eligibility via Federal Express mail. Pay your SEVIS fee (see "SEVIS Fee," below).

5) Make an appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area to apply for a F-1 or J-1 visa stamp. The visa stamp will be placed in your passport and is required for entering the U.S. You will be required to present your form I-20 or DS-2019 along with other documents to get the visa. Please note: Visa stamps are not required for Canadian citizens.

6) Enter the U.S with your F-1 or J-1 visa, and your form I-20 or DS-2019.

7) Attend a required Arrival Meeting to confirm your visa status with UC Berkeley.

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The SEVIS Fee

SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is a U.S. government system that maintains and manages data about exchange visitors, international students and their dependents in F or J visa categories during their stay in the U.S. New F-1 and J-1 students are required to pay a one-time SEVIS fee ($100 USD) and obtain receipt of payment before going to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the visa interview. Instructions and forms for paying the fee, as well as frequently asked questions can be found on the website: http://www.fmjfee.com.

The SEVIS fee is required under U.S. law and is used to cover the costs of operation of the SEVIS program. UC Berkeley does not receive any money from this fee.

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Required Funding to Obtain the Certificate of Eligibility Form:
I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)

UC Berkeley is required to verify that F-1 and J-1 international students will have sufficient funding for living expenses in the U.S. for the summer before we can issue the Certificate of Eligibility form. We estimate living expenses for each student to be a minimum of $2500 total. You must send proof of this amount to the Summer Sessions office after completing your online Registration.

Fax your financial documentation to the Summer Sessions office at 510-642-2877 or email as a PDF attachment to intl_summer@berkeley.edu. You may also be asked for such financial documentation at the U.S. Embassy when you apply for a visa stamp in your passport, so keep your original copy for this use.

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Examples of Acceptable Financial Documentation

The list below provides examples of the types of documentation you may use to provide proof of funding.

• If you are self-supported (using personal funds), you must send a bank statement or letter with your name on it verifying at least $2500 in your account.
• If a sponsoring organization is providing support, you must send a copy of an award letter printed on "letterhead" (business) stationary outlining the type, duration and amount of support which is at least $2500.
• If a family member or individual sponsor is providing support, you must attach a signed letter from the sponsor stating the sponsor's intention to support, the duration of sponsorship and exact amount of the support which must be at least $2500. The sponsor must also include a bank statement or letter showing at least $2500 in funding.
• You can also use our standard Financial Verification Form for your convenience

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Processing Time for Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20 or DS-2019

Once Summer Sessions has received your faxed documentation of funding in the amount of $2500 and your registration is deemed complete, your Certificate of Eligibility form will be sent to you via express courier mail within four weeks. Be sure to monitor your email in case we need to contact you for additional documentation. If you do not receive your document in this time period, email the Summer Sessions office at intl_summer@berkeley.edu.

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J-1 Students

Most international students with J-1 status are part of an established exchange program or are sponsored by government or international organizations. Due to the specific purpose of this visa, UC Berkeley will consider requests for the J-1 Certificate of Eligibility form DS-2019 on a case-by-case basis only and will approve them in very limited situations. Please contact Berkeley International Office to discuss visa options before you register for Summer Session courses if you think the J-1 may be appropriate for you.

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F-1 Students Attending Other U.S. Institutions Prior to UC Berkeley Summer Sessions

If you are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status, or you plan to attend another school prior to your UC Berkeley Summer Session program, you may not need a Certificate of Eligibility I-20 from us. However, individual situations vary. Discuss your plans with the International Student Adviser at your current school, or the school you plan to attend prior to UC Berkeley to determine the appropriate status for your situation. In general, you should request an I-20 from UC Berkeley Summer Sessions if you will be an F-1 student attending another U.S. school immediately prior to UCB Summer Sessions and you do NOT plan to resume your studies at that school after Summer Session (See 'F-1 Transfer Students').

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F-1 Transfer Student

If you are a F-1 student attending another U.S. institution immediately prior to your UC Berkeley Summer Sessions program and you do not plan to resume your studies at that school, you must complete the following steps to request a Certificate of Eligibility form I-20 from UC Berkeley to "transfer" your F-1 SEVIS record to us:

1. Print out the Transfer Verification Form (download PDF here). Complete the Student Information section.

2. Go to the International Student Adviser at your school and inform him/her of your plans to attend UC Berkeley following your program. Ask the Adviser to complete your Transfer Verification Form and to "release your SEVIS record" to the University of California at Berkeley.

3. Register Online for Summer Sessions. Enter your "release date" (this is usually the last day of the term in which you are enrolled at prior school) into the space provided on the registration form.

4. Enroll in a full-time course load. Full-time enrollment is required to remain in the U.S. legally as an F-1 student.

5. Fax to Summer Sessions at 510-642-2877 or email intl_summer@berkeley.edu with a PDF attachment copies of the following:
a. Financial records to Summer Session that show you are able to support your studies for the summer. (see "Required Funding")
b. Passport - biographic page (page showing date of birth etc.)
c. Transfer Verification Form (completed ) You do NOT need to mail the original - keep it for your records.


6. Receive your Certificate of Eligibility (it will be mailed to you via FedEx).


7. Attend a required Arrival Meeting to confirm your visa status with UC Berkeley. Your F-1 will expire if you do not attend this meeting.

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Students Admitted to a Fall 2008 Degree Program at UC Berkeley

If you are a newly admitted or returning student to a UC Berkeley degree program for the Fall 2008 semester, please contact Berkeley International Office to inform us of your plans to attend Summer Session classes. Special documentation or procedures may be necessary in your case.

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Enrollment Restrictions For Certain Types of Non-immigrant Status

U.S. Immigration law allows enrollment in classes full-time or part-time for a number of non-immigrant visa types such as E-2, L-2 and H-4. Full-time enrollment is different for each Summer Session, so be sure your enrollment is appropriate for your status.

If you have any questions about your visa status and your eligibility to enroll in Summer Session classes, contact Berkeley International Office.

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Full-Time Enrollment

The definition of full-time enrollment varies depending on the session or overlapping sessions. F-1 and J-1 students are required to maintain full-time units throughout their stay in the U.S. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and at any time (before or after your arrival in the U.S.) you decide to change your class schedule, contact Summer Sessions to make sure your action will not adversely affect your legal status in the U.S.

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Mandatory Arrival Meetings for International Students

All non-immigrant international students (all visa types) are required attend one of the Arrival Meetings scheduled for your session (see below). If you are attending more than one session, go to the meeting for your first session only.

The purpose of this meeting is to confirm your visa status with UC Berkeley and to give you important arrival information to help you get settled. Meetings last approximately one hour. Bring your passport, I-20 or DS-2019 (if applicable), I-94 (you will get this when you enter the U.S. ) and your local (U.S.) address information.

You will not be able to receive your Cal1Card (student identification card) until you have attended an Arrival Meeting.

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Applying for a Visa Stamp

All non-immigrant visitors must have the proper U.S. visa stamp in their passport in order to enter the U.S. For example, if you plan to be a full-time F-1 student during Summer Session, you must obtain a F-1 visa stamp in order to enter the U.S. in that status. The F-1 or J-1 student visa stamp can be obtained at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area (visa stamps cannot be obtained in the U.S.). You will need to present your Certificate of Eligibility and proof of funding as well as other documents described on the U.S. State Department's web site. You should also check your local consulate's website to determine if any additional documentation is needed. In all cases, you will need to make an appointment for an interview.

When making travel plans, keep in mind, a new F-1 or J-1 student may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the first day of their Summer Session program.

If you are already in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status (or in another status that allows you to attend classes at UC Berkeley), you are not required to obtain the entry visa stamp (since you are already here!). However, if you plan to leave the U.S. for any reason before your Summer Session program, please make sure you have the appropriate, valid visa stamp needed to re-enter.

Please note, Canadian citizens do not need to obtain a visa to study at UC Berkeley.

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Checklist for International Summer Sessions Students

Before arriving to UC Berkeley make sure you do the following:

• Review the required document list
  • Passport and visa
  • I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility)
• Make an appointment at the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your area to secure the proper visa stamp for entry into the U.S. Bring your I-20 or DS-2019 with you to the appointment and financial support.
• Once you arrive at UC Berkeley, bring your documents to the mandatory international Arrival Meeting by the end of the first week of your first Summer Session classes.

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