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.

SEVIS is a web-based system for maintaining information on international nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States. UC Berkeley Extension has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept F-1 and J-1 students and we are required to report the following information through SEVIS:

• Your name*
• Date and city of birth*
• Country of citizenship*
• Foreign address
• U.S. address
• Email address
• Phone number

*Schools are required to report this information for all dependents in the U.S. as well.

U.S. schools are also required to notify SEVIS if:

• there is a change in your U.S. address.
• there is a change in your present full-time status.
• you withdraw from school or stop attending courses.
• you fail to maintain full-time status.

The I-901 SEVIS fee is a $350 fee that all international students are required to pay. This fee helps fund the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that makes it possible for international students to pursue their studies in the United States. Please remember that this fee is separate from any visa fees charged by an embassy or consulate and school fees charged by the university.

• Newly admitted students with an "Initial Attendance" Form I-20
• Newly admitted students with an "Initial Attendance" Form I-20 who are applying for a change to F-1 status from another visa category
• F-1 students in the U.S. filing for reinstatement if they have been out of status for more than five months

Note: F-2 dependents do not have to pay the SEVIS fee.

As a prospective F-1 student, regulation requires that you pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before the Department of State will issue you a visa. To pay the fee with a credit card, log on to FMJfee.com and complete the form. Be sure to write your name exactly as it appears on your I-20. Be sure to print a copy of the online receipt and bring it to your visa interview.

If you are transferring schools, extending your program, applying for an F-2 dependent visa, or have paid the SEVIS fee within the last 12 months, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee.

To apply for an F-1 student visa, start by locating your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Visit USEmbassy.gov to search for embassy locations in your home country. If you click on the embassy that you would like to visit, you will be directed to that embassy's services.

Complete the Form DS-160 by following the instructions listed on the website. Answer all of the questions listed on the form to the best of your abilities. The Form DS-160 is used for many different kinds of visa applications, so be aware that some of the questions may not be relevant to you and your purposes for coming to the U.S.

To prepare for a successful visa interview, please ensure that you gather all of your required documents. It is also best to practice how you will respond to common interview questions. Make sure that your answers are clear and concise since visa interviews can be very brief. During your interview, remain calm and answer all the consular officer's questions openly and honestly.

Consular officers do security checks for all visa applicants. They do special security clearances for some applicants as required by law. Students who study scientific and technical subjects are subject to additional background checks. These clearances may take several weeks or longer. Be sure to make your visa appointment well in advance of your intended travel.

If your F-1 visa application is denied, you will receive a formal notification in the mail. Email us right away and attach this notification so we can best advise you on next steps.

Visitors admitted to the United States on a B-1 or B-2 tourist visa are strictly prohibited from enrolling in any of our full-time programs. To enroll in one of our full-time programs, you must either obtain an F-1 nonimmigrant visa from a consular officer abroad and seek readmission to the U.S., or apply to one of our international programs online and request a change of status.

Hand-carry the following documents during your trip:

• Signed Form I-20
• Passport and F-1 visa
• Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee payment (Form I-901)
• The name and contact information of your designated school official:

  Olga Paly

  International Student Adviser (PDSO/ARO)

  +1 510-409-6156

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gathers all travelers' arrival/departure information.

The I-94 is an online record of your arrival/departure to/from the U.S. and indicates on which visa you were admitted to the U.S. You can find your most recent I-94 after you arrive in the U.S. from the CBP I-94 website. The I-94 is used to verify immigration status, report your arrival to your school, apply for a driver's license and other uses.

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. Please carefully read page 3 of your I-20; note that violation of any of these conditions could lead to serious consequences. ISS is here and available to help you understand the various F-1 regulations that affect you. If you have any questions about your visa or status, please make an appointment with an international student adviser.

• You must be a full-time student.
• You must report any address change (permanent, overseas and/or U.S.) to UC Berkeley Extension within 10 days.
• If you are transferring from another school, you must complete the transfer procedure within 15 days of the program start date noted on your Form I-20.
• 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.

An F-1 student is admitted to the U.S. for a period known as "Duration of Status," which is recorded on your entry documents I-94 and I-20 with the notation "D/S." Duration of Status refers to the period a student is pursuing a full course of study, plus any authorized practical training following completion.

As an F-1 student, you are granted a 60-day grace period after your program end date, during which you are allowed to remain in the U.S. During your grace period, you may do any one of the following options:

• Travel within the U.S.
• Transfer to another U.S. school
• Prepare for departure from the U.S.

If you are unable to depart the U.S. within your 60-day grace period, please contact your international student adviser.

All F-1 students must maintain a full-course load while in the U.S. Minimum full-time enrollment can vary per program, however, generally, undergraduate programs require a minimum of 12 units while professional programs require a minimum of 8 units per semester. Generally, students may enroll in a maximum of 1 online course as part of their full-time requirements. Please verify this information with your specific program.

Students who are unable to maintain a full course load may be able to request a reduced course load due to medical or certain academic reasons. Students must obtain an approval from the international student adviser for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) before dropping below full-time academic status. Please consult with ISS if you wish to apply for authorization to drop below full-time.

An F-1 student who is unable to complete their program before the program completion date on the Form I-20 may apply for an extension. Students must have continually maintained status, have the approval of their academic department, and be making normal progress toward their academic goals.

Delays caused by academic probation or suspension are not acceptable reasons for program extensions. Students must apply for an extension before the program end date noted on the Form I-20.

An F-1 student who is unable to complete the educational program within the time listed on Form I-20 and who is ineligible for program extension is considered out of status.

If you are a student with an F-1 status and hold an I-20 from UC Berkeley Extension, you are eligible to work on the UC Berkeley campus up to 20 hours per week when school is session and full-time during school breaks.

Learn more about on-campus employment rules.

If you are suffering from a severe economic hardship due to unforeseen changes in your financial circumstances, you may apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S. CIS) for authorization to work off-campus. You must:

• Be able to demonstrate unforeseen severe financial problems.
• Be recommended by DSO to apply for part-time work authorization. An Employment Authorization Card issued by U.S. CIS is required.
• Have been in F-1 status for one academic year.

Please talk to your international student adviser before applying for this work authorization.

For general information, visit F-1 Off Campus Employment and International Organization Internship.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of authorized temporary training, internship, practicum or employment for F-1 students.

Eligibility: CPT is generally only available to students participating in certain programs. Students must be enrolled full time for at least one academic year before being authorized for CPT and the CPT must be an integral part of the student's program of study. (Academic credit must be granted to students.) Students must be in good academic standing and employment must be related to the student's field of study. CPT must be authorized prior to the beginning of work.

Length: CPT is granted on a semester basis and must match the academic semester dates.

How to Apply: Students must have a job offer, obtain the recommendation of their academic adviser and complete a learning plan.

To discuss eligibility for CPT or to apply, please email extension-intl@berkeley.edu or make an appointment with an International Student Adviser. 

Learn more about CPT here.

OPT is work that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. It is intended to provide students with practical experience in their field of study upon completion of a program.

An F-1 student must meet these basic requirements:

• Lawful enrollment on a full-time basis for one full academic year
• Successful completion of the course of study
• Receive a certificate from their course of study

A student may be authorized for a maximum of 12 months of practical training and may become eligible for another 12 months of practical training when he/she changes to a higher educational level. Learn more about OPT and speak to an International Student Adviser with further questions.

Note that only post-completion OPT is available to international students enrolled at UC Berkeley Extension.

No, generally, our students are not eligible. Only students who are eligible for a two-year STEM OPT extension can apply for an OPT extension based on the following criteria:

1. The student received a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree in the United States;
2. The student's employer is enrolled in E-Verify; and
3. The student has received an initial grant of post-completion OPT related to such a degree.