Spring 2024 | International Services and Engagement Office
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Dear Incoming Triton,
Welcome to UC San Diego!
The International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO) is here to support you as you begin your journey as a new international student at UC San Diego. Please review important information below about the visa process, pre-arrival resources, orientation, and ways to get involved at UC San Diego.
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Frequently Asked Question: “When Should I Start My Visa Process?” |
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Start the visa process now! Student visa appointment wait times are the longest during the summer months. Wait times to schedule an appointment at your local US consulate may be a few weeks or a few months, depending where you are applying. Because visa appointment availability is unpredictable, it is best to start the visa process as early as possible.
Here is a timeline working backward from the start of the Fall quarter* to help you plan your journey to UC San Diego.
September 23: The Fall 2024 quarter begins!
- You are expected to arrive to UC San Diego before the Fall 2024 quarter on September 23.
- Students with a September 23 Fall quarter Program Start Date can seek entry to the US as early as August 24**, as long as they have the appropriate documents (passport, visa, Form I-20 or DS-2019).
September 16: Required New Student Orientations
- We strongly encourage you to plan to arrive to San Diego in time for your new student orientations!
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Your mandatory College orientation, as well as in-person international student orientation events, will start the week of September 16.
- In order to enter the US, you must have a valid passport, Form I-20 or DS-2019, and a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp.
August 30 or EARLIER: Schedule your visa interview for as early as possible!
Visa delays do happen. Schedule your visa interview as early as possible.
Upon conclusion of a successful visa interview, the US consulate will collect your passport so that they can affix your visa stamp on the inside. It can take them 1-2 weeks to produce your visa and return your passport to you.
NOW: Start your visa process!
In order to schedule a visa appointment at your local US Consulate, you must first receive your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Request your Form I-20 or DS-2019 by following the STEP 1 instructions at iNewStudent.ucsd.edu.
Processing time for ISEO to issue your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is 15 business days.
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*This timeline is a general timeline based on the start of the Fall 2024 quarter. If you have been admitted to one of the following Summer Start Programs, you are required to arrive to the US by the start date of your Summer Start Program: (SPIS) Summer Program for Incoming Students; (SEI) Summer Engineering Institute; or the (RIMSE) Research Immersion in Materials Science & Engineering: Summer Schools.
**F-1 and J-1 students can enter the US up to 30 days before the Program Start Date printed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019.
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Did you know? You can check the visa appointment wait time at your local US Consulate* HERE by typing in the name of the city where the consulate is located. Wait times change weekly! Check back frequently.
- Visa appointment wait times are based on the amount of time you have to wait for an appointment after submitting your DS-160 visa application to the Consulate.
- In order to submit the DS-160 visa application to your local US Consulate, you must first receive your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego. We require 15 business days to issue your Form I-20 or DS-2019 after you have requested it.
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*If you are not sure which US Consulate is closest to you, you can look up where US Consulates are located in your country HERE.
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Watch Our First Steps Pre-arrival Webinar to Learn How to Start the Visa Process! |
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Once you've requested your Form I-20 or DS-2019, learn how to apply for your F-1 or J-1 visa stamp!
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Check out more 2024 Pre-Arrival Webinars to watch or attend live at iNewStudentWebinars.ucsd.edu.
*Note: If you have just recently Accepted your offer of admission, your status in the UC San Diego system may not yet be updated to allow access to log into iPortal. Please wait 2-3 business days after setting up your TritonLink Active Directory single sign on, and try again (you may need to clear your cache). If the issue is still not resolved, please email iPortal@ucsd.edu for additional support.
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June 7: On-Campus Housing Application Deadlines |
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iTriton: Required International Student Orientation Is Open! |
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iTriton, your online required international student orientation, is now available! To access iTriton, visit canvas.ucsd.edu and log in with your Active Directory/Single-Sign On to activate your student account. ISEO cannot invite you to the iTriton Online Training until your Canvas account is activated.
DEADLINE to complete iTriton: All new students starting their programs in Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 must complete this REQUIRED orientation BEFORE their arrival or by September 1, 2024 (whichever is earlier).
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Mandatory Health Requirements due July 10 |
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All incoming UC San Diego students are required to complete their health and immunization requirements by July 10. Failure to complete these requirements can result in an academic hold being placed on your student account, which may prevent or delay your registration in classes. Don't wait! Get started now on completing your mandatory health requirements.
For information and instructions, visit Student Health Service's Health Requirements for Students webpage.
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Pre-Arrival Webinars - Getting Ready for UC San Diego! |
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Throughout March, April, and May, ISEO hosted several pre-arrival webinars to help you learn about and navigate the onboarding process as a new UC San Diego international student. Recordings and slides for all webinars are available for you to refer back to as needed on topics such as:
To view recordings and slide decks for all webinars, visit iNewStudentWebinars.ucsd.edu and click on "Fall 2024 Pre-Arrival Webinars".
Recordings and slides are posted approximately 1 week after the webinar has taken place.
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Must-Do Pre-Arrival Checklist |
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NOW: Submit your request for your Form I-20 or DS-2019. See instructions here.
NOW: Begin your iTriton mandatory online orientation.
June 7: First-Year student deadline to apply for on-campus housing by submitting the housing application in your Enrollment Checklist. See here for more information on important housing application dates.
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June 7: Transfer student deadline to apply for on-campus housing by submitting the housing application in your Enrollment Checklist. See here for more information on important housing application dates.
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July 1: Deadline to submit your final transcripts to Undergraduate Admissions. Refer to Required Documents from Schools Outside the United States if any of your coursework was taken outside the U.S.
July 10: Meet immunization and TB screening requirements.
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Our friendly and knowledgeable ISEO Staff are here and ready to help you! Connect with our advisors by going to iContact.ucsd.edu.
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Want to see previous newsletters? Visit our website here.
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