Visa Information

You will likely need a Form I-20 and an F-1 student visa to enter the United States and participate in Berkeley Summer Sessions. If this applies to you we will provide you with the supporting documentation you need to apply for this visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country.

International Student Services (ISS) can neither advise nor assist students who choose to enter the United States using B-1/B-2 visitor visas or the Visa Waiver Program (VWP/ESTA). Study restrictions apply to both. All international students are strongly encouraged to obtain F-1 student visa status.

Important note: ISS for Summer Sessions provides visa services for visiting students only. If you are a current, future, or returning degree-seeking student at UC Berkeley and you have any questions about your visa status during the summer, please contact the Berkeley International Office (BIO).

A Form I-20 is the certificate of eligibility issued by a Designated School Official (DSO) at the school where you wish to enroll. It shows that you have been admitted to an F-1 approved school and provides information about your program and dates of study.

Do You Need a Form I-20?

Most international students will need a Form I-20 in order to obtain an F-1 visa to enter the United States and participate in Berkeley Summer Sessions.

International students who are currently in the U.S attending school on an F-1 visa may or may not need to transfer their F-1 record to Summer Sessions. Please read more about F-1 Transfer Students here.

It is important to determine as soon as possible if you will need to request an I-20 from UC Berkeley in order to attend Summer Sessions as there are multiple required documents to submit before your I-20 will be issued.

For more information about whether you need an I-20 and how to request one, review information in our Help Center.

After you receive your Form I-20, you are ready to apply for your F-1 visa! Your student visa is what will allow you to join Berkeley Summer Sessions. There are many steps during the process of applying for a student visa and important information that should be considered while going through the process.

Below are some of topics and steps that will come up as you complete the process:

• Visa interview preparation
• SEVIS and associated fees
• Tourist visa and Visa Waiver Program
• Most important documents

For complete information on these topics and more, review student visa application information in our Help Center.

You should be fully aware of all F-1 regulations and it is your responsibility to maintain your F-1 nonimmigrant status while you are in the U.S. 

It is important to carefully review information from your I-20 and understand all the various regulations that may affect your F-1 status. Be sure to contact an international student adviser if you have any questions.

F-1 International students must follow these important rules.

• You must remain enrolled full-time.
• You must report your Arrival and U.S address in CalCentral within 10 days of arrival.
• You are not permitted to accept employment off campus without prior authorization.
• You must leave the U.S. or take action before the end of your 60-day grace period.
   

Review complete information about maintaining your visa status in our Help Center.

Full-time enrollment is required for visiting international students who wish to obtain a UC Berkeley Summer Sessions I-20 (F-1). Full-time enrollment must be maintained during the entire period noted on the I-20. Dropping below full-time status or withdrawing without approval from ISS may result in a violation of your immigration status.

Note: You must enroll in primarily in-person (not online) courses. Online course enrollment is limited. 

Review complete enrollment requirement information in our Help Center.