Once you have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport, you may begin planning your trip to the US to begin your academic program at UCSF.
Initial Arrival into the US from Abroad
When to Arrive
Initial F-1 and J-1 student visa holders may enter the US up to 30 days before the program start date printed on their most recent I-20 or DS-2019. It is not possible to enter the US more than 30 days before this date so please do not attempt to do so. F-1 can refer to the "Earliest Admission Date" that is printed on their I-20 for confirmation of the earliest date they may enter the US. Both F-1 and J-1 students should enter the US within 30 days of the Program Start Date on their I-20 or DS-2019. If it is not possible to enter the US by the program start date on your I-20 or DS-2019, please inform the ISSO as soon as possible to receive further instructions.
If you are transferring your F-1 record to UCSF, please refer to our webpage on transferring your student visa to UCSF. The content on this page is specifically for initial F-1 and J-1 student visa holders.
Changing Status Inside the US
If you are a student and you are changing your current visa status to F-1 or J-1 inside the US, please complete the ISSO check-in process described below within 30 days of the start date on your I-20 or DS-2019.
Entering the US
Upon landing in the US, you will pass through inspection by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Before the CBP officer admits you into the US as an F-1 or J-1 student, they will expect to see the following documents:
Passport
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you are entering the US unless your country is exempt from this requirement.
Visa Stamp (F-1 or J-1)
It must not be expired. Canadian passport holders are exempt from this requirement.
Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019)
Must be printed on paper. Trave with the most recent version. Do not enter more than 30 days before the program start date printed on your document.
UCSF Admission Letter
This letter will demonstrate that you have been admitted to UCSF. Your program may provide you with an additional letter. Travel with both if they do.
Financial Support Documents
If you are funded by your department, this may be your stipend letter. If you are self-funded, this may be a recent version of the funding documents you provided in your ISSO Student Visa Application.
Travel Tips
- Please do not put these documents into your checked luggage. They should be carried with you in your carry-on baggage.
- If you have any concerns about your passport's validity, please check with your airline since they will have the most up-to-date information about whether or not your passport is valid for entry into the US.
- If possible, plan your entry into the US during normal ISSO business hours. In case there are any questions about your visa record, the officer can contact the ISSO directly. The phone number for the ISSO international student advisor is (415) 502-2671. Please keep this number attached to your travel documents in case it is needed.
Checking in with the ISSO
Once you have entered the US in F-1 or J-1 status, the next step is to complete the ISSO Check-In and Arrival Reporting. The process for doing this is described on our New Student Check-In page.
All new students on an F-1 or J-1 visa status must upload their arrival documents to the ISSO Portal. Even transfer students and students changing status in the US. The ISSO cannot activate your F-1 or J-1 student visa record until you have submitted your arrival documents. Delays in completing the check-in process may result in delays being able to register for classes or apply for an SSN or ITIN.
Initial Student Visa Registration and Activation
To activate your F-1 or J-1 student visa status in SEVIS, the ISSO must complete the following:
- Confirm your arrival to UCSF (as evidenced by your I-94)
- Confirm your home address in San Francisco and phone number (provided via the ISSO Student Portal)
- All holds have been removed from your profile in the Student Portal
- Confirm you are enrolled in at least 1 unit at UCSF
New students to UCSF will have an ISSO hold placed on their profile in the Student Portal. To remove this hold, you must complete the ISSO Check-In process (steps 1 and 2). Once that is complete, your ISSO hold will be removed. However, there may be other holds that need to be removed before you are able to enroll in units so please work as quickly as possible to remove those holds as well.
Once the ISSO has confirmed all four items above, your student visa record will be registered and validated. If you are a J-1 visa holder, this action will result in an email from Bridge USA confirming your J-1 visa status is active. If you are an F-1 visa holder, once your record is registered, you will receive a new I-20. This I-20 will have a "Form Issue Reason" of "Continued Attendance" as well as a new travel signature on page 2.
Deferring your UCSF Start Date
If you are not able to arrive in the US and complete the Check-In process and initial registration process described above, it may be necessary to defer your admission to UCSF.
To defer your UCSF admission, please discuss the matter with your program advisor. The program advisor can let you know when the next possible start date at UCSF is and provide you with a document confirming that the deferral has been approved. Once your deferral has been approved, please contact the ISSO for a new I-20 or DS-2019 with your new UCSF program start date.
Impact of Deferring Your UCSF Start Date
If you have already received your F-1 or J-1 visa stamp, as long as your new UCSF start date is before the expiration of your student visa stamp, the deferral will have no impact. Once the 30