A few days after you are admitted, you will receive an invitation to your ISS Portal to apply for your visa documents. The deadline is about 1 month before your program begins, but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible! We will ask you to provide your passport, your admission letter, and proof of funding for your tuition and living expenses. For more information, see Visa Information.

After you receive your F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019, all new students must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee at least 3 days before their visa appointment or arrival, whichever comes first. Enter the information from your Certificate of Eligibility (F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019) and pay your fee at fmjfee.com. *Students who are transferring their SEVIS record directly from another U.S. school are not required to pay again.

Most students will need a valid student (F-1 or J-1) visa to enter the U.S. Visa applications can take a few weeks to a few months, so book your appointment at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible. For more information about applying for your student visa, see the Visa Information page and select F-1 or J-1 as applicable.

UC Berkeley Extension recommends several area housing providers, including private or shared apartments, dormitories and homestays. You are required to make housing arrangements directly with the recommended providers. Please do not send any housing payments to UC Berkeley Extension. We strongly suggest you apply early and arrange housing in advance of your arrival. For more details, visit our housing information page.

International students must follow specific regulations while in the U.S. regarding travel, course enrollment, employment, etc. Make sure you read and understand the international student rules and requirements before you arrive. For more information, see the Visa Information page and select F-1 or J-1 as applicable.

Students must comply with the requirements listed on the UC Berkeley University Health Services page, and must meet all deadlines.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

The University of California requires students who are accessing campus facilities at any UC location to be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. You may read the full policy here.

Immunization Requirements

Students are required to have the following immunizations:

• COVID-19 Vaccination
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis): a booster vaccine every 10 years for adults
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4)
• Tuberculosis (TB) blood or skin test
  • The first step for TB clearance is submitting the TB Screening Questions on the “Medical Clearances” page on eTang. Once you have submitted the TB Screening Questions, you will get a notification if there are additional steps you need to take (such as submitting TB test results, etc).

Please review the Mandatory TB & Immunizations Program website for the steps you need to complete and deadline information.

Upload your immunization records and enter your immunization dates on the "Medical Clearances" page on eTang.

We encourage you to start this process early as you may be required to complete additional steps prior to arrival on campus.

Getting immunizations in your country before you come to Berkeley is best, but you can also arrange a medical appointment for these after you arrive here. Your student medical insurance covers the cost of the above immunizations.

At least one month before your program start date, you will be asked to provide your photo for your Student ID Card. Details vary per program and will be shared via email.

Deadlines will vary by program. For most programs, full or partial payment is required about one month before the program start date. Check your invoice and refer to our Paying my Program Fees section for payment options.

Course enrollment policies and timing will vary by program. Your Academic Program Adviser will send you course enrollment information via email.

Students should plan to arrive in the U.S. before the program start date listed on their F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019. We recommend that you arrive in Berkeley 5 to 7 days before your orientation date. Note: Your I-20 program start date may not reflect your exact orientation date(s).

Students entering the US on an Initial Attendance Form I-20 may enter the country up to 30 days before their program start date. This date is listed on your I-20 as the Earliest Admission Date. For students transferring from another school, this 30-day entry rule does not apply.

To enter the U.S., international students must bring the following:

• Valid passport and F-1/J-1 visa
• Signed Form F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019 (printed, not electronic)
• SEVIS I-901 fee receipt
• Proof of financial support
• Proof of admission

Make sure to keep these documents with your carry-on luggage as you will need to show them at the Port of Entry. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will inspect your documents, ask you to provide your fingerprints, and ask you questions about the purpose of your visit (to study), where you will live, etc. Just remain calm and answer the questions honestly. Be prepared to provide this information on entry:

Your Housing Accommodations

Have the name, address, and phone number of where you will be staying (temporary or permanent).

School Official Information

Vanina Granell, Director, International Student Services

1995 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 | 510-642-2564

Also save our ISS Emergency number, 510-409-6156, in your phone. Please only use this number outside of normal business hours and only for very urgent matters. For medical or safety emergencies, please call 9-1-1. For non-urgent matters, please call our office during business hours at 510-642-2564.

The closest airports to Berkeley are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). ISS does not provide transportation for students to and from local airports, however we suggest you consider the following transportation services. All prices are estimates and vary based on time, route and number of passengers.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): BART is the local metro/subway public transportation system and has stations at both SFO and OAK. You will need to plan additional transportation to get from the BART station to your housing. Tickets are available for purchase at any BART station.

Airport Shuttle: Van pick-up services leave from major airports and will take you from the airport directly to your housing. There are many different companies and you can shop around for the best price. Reserve via their website ahead of time.

Ride-sharing Apps (such as Lyft or Uber): Mobile phone applications require you to download their app to access services. You need Wifi or cell service to use them and payment is processed directly from your phone.

Required! You must update your U.S. local address and report your arrival to ISS as soon as you enter the U.S. After your arrival in the United States, you must do the following:

1. Add your local (U.S.) address and current email address to your CalCentral student profile by selecting "Local" as your "Address Type". Also add your U.S. phone number (if you have one). Do not overwrite your foreign home address. Temporary or short-term addresses are accepted. A correctly written U.S. address looks like this:

   Example	Description
   1234 Main Street	Street address
   Apt 12a	Apartment or room number
   Berkeley, CA	City, State
   94720	Zip Code

   If you know where you are planning on living, you can even do this before you arrive!
2. Submit your Arrival Confirmation in your ISS Portal. You will need to provide:
   1. Copy/Screenshot of your I-94 Arrival Record. Contact visiting-intl@berkeley.edu right away if you are unable to find your I-94.
   2. Copy/Scan of your U.S. F-1 or J-1 visa
   3. Emergency contact person in the U.S. or one in your home country.

Deadline: Students should complete this process before the first day of class and no later than 10 days after arrival.

Orientation is your chance to meet your classmates and advisers, learn about program requirements, receive important information to help you succeed and start making friendships with your fellow students.

Your attendance at orientation is mandatory. The date and time for your orientation will be sent to you via email. If you are unable to attend orientation, please contact your program adviser as soon as possible.

Sample topics covered are:

• Maintaining Your Visa Status
• Health & Safety
• Cultural Adjustment
• Course Enrollment
• Academic Success

In the Fall and Spring semesters, students who are eligible* will receive a Cal 1 Card and Clipper Card. Generally, you will be able to pick up your Cal 1 Card from the International Student Services office the week before your Orientation. More details will be shared via email.

*Only Fall and Spring students who are eligible to take Concurrent Enrollment classes on campus are eligible for a Cal 1 Card.

Health insurance is required for the entire duration of your studies. We recommend that you carry your health insurance ID card with you at all times while in the U.S. For students with the UC Berkeley Extension health insurance plan, your ID card will be available for download about 1-2 weeks after you have reported your arrival (see above). You will be notified via email when it is available.

We also recommend that you save our After-Hours Emergency phone number (510) 409-6156 to your phone. Please only use this number outside of normal business hours and only for very urgent matters. For medical or safety emergencies, please call 9-1-1.