Congratulations on your admission to the University predeparture...1 Congratulations on your admission to the University of California and welcome to the Riverside campus! International

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Congratulations on your admission to the University of California and welcome to the Riverside campus!

International Students and Scholars Tel. 951.827.4113Fax.951.827.3778

www.internationalcenter.ucr.edu

Please plan to arrive in Riverside prior to

Wednesday, September 13, 2017.

The Mandatory Undergraduate Transfer

International Student Orientation will take

place on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in

Highlander Union Building (HUB), Room 302.

Check-in at 8:30 AM.

Register via the Highlander Orientation

Database!

Continue to check your email account for

further updates.

https://vcsaweb.ucr.edu/Orientation/

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The International Students and Scholars (ISS)

The UCR International Student and Scholars office and the University of California,

Riverside campus will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2017 in observance of

Labor Day. No one will be here to assist you during this period.

The ISS is on campus to help

make your experience in Riverside

as rewarding as possible.

Please read everything in this letter carefully so that you can arrive better prepared

for life at UCR as an international student. Any further questions that you have can

be directed to our office by email. Please send your message to

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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Arrival Date

You should arrive in Riverside by

Wednesday, September 13, 2017.

If you are in F or J status and entering from

outside the United States, regulations allow you

to arrive up to 30 days in advance of the

program start date on your initial attendance

I-20 or DS-2019 form.

Please do not try to arrive earlier as you will be

refused entry.

Caution! Plan your arrival carefully and in advance! Public transportation from the airports and bus terminals can be limited, especially at night and on

weekends. Please refer to the Transportation pages for more information on

how to get to Riverside from LAX International Airport or from Ontario

International Airport. Also, please note that we will not accept any packages

delivered due to space limitations.

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Table of Contents

Important Dates for Undergraduate Transfer International Students Pre-departure Orientations Applying for a Visa & Entering the U.S. Important Facts SEVIS Fee Information SEVIS Transfer for F-1 and J-1 Students Housing in the U.S. On Campus Housing Campus Housing Move-In Temporary Housing Heath Insurance Required Health Immunizations Pre-Orientation Module for Undergraduates Class Registration Expenses Entering the U.S. Shuttle Transportation to Riverside Required International Student Online Check-In Mandatory International Student OrientationHighlander Orientation for Transfer Students Testing Information for Transfer StudentsClimate in Riverside Tobacco Free Policy Child Care at UCR School Aged Children International Peer Advisors (IPAs) Programs for International Students Student Organizations Useful Links

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Important Dates for Undergraduate Transfer Students

Wednesday, September 13 Early Residence Hall Move-in Day (additional fees required for early move-in)

Campus Apartment Move-in Day

Medical insurance begins (F 1 and J-1 International Students)

September 14-21 Undergraduate Transfer Student Activities and Welcome Events

Thursday, September 14 Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE), INTN 1020, at 1:00 pm

Friday, September 15 Mathematics Advisory Exam (MAE), check in at 10:00 AM.

Saturday/Sunday, September 16-17 Shuttles to area stores for groceries, sheets and other necessities

Wednesday, September 20 Mandatory International Student Orientation for Undergraduate Transfers

9:00 AM; Check-In at 8:30 AM, Highlander Union Building (HUB), Room 302

September 21-28 Settling-in Trips and Activities with the International Peer Advisor

Team

Monday, September 25 Fall 2017 Quarter begins

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Important Dates for Undergraduate Transfer Students

September 25-October 27 Deans Orientations

CHASS (College of Humanities and Social Sciences)

CNAS (College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences)

BCOE ( College of Engineering) (You will be contacted by your department if

required to attend a college orientation.)

SOBA (School of Business Administration (You will be contacted by your

department if required to attend a college orientation.)

Thursday, September 28 Instruction begins

Friday, October 13 All fees must be paid in full. DO NOT WAIT until October 13 to pay your fees.

Please make sure to pay them as soon as possible.

(Note: Late fee payment only allowed for international students in their FIRST

term. You must make sure to pay your fees in full by the date listed on the

calendar each subsequent term in order to avoid your classes being dropped

and/or being subject to late fee charges.)

You may view more important dates on the UCR Schedule of Classes Calendar!

http://chassstudentaffairs.ucr.edu/new_students/deans_orientation.htmlhttp://cnasstudent.ucr.edu/students/transfer/index.htmlhttp://www.engr.ucr.edu/http://registrar.ucr.edu/registrar/academic-calendar/default.aspx

Pre-Departure Orientations

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Education USA is an organization

sponsored by the U.S.

Department of State.

The International Student and Scholars office suggests attending a Pre-DepartureOrientation Program to assist you with any questions or concerns you may haveabout the departure from your home country to the United States.

Find out when and where Pre-Departure Orientations will be held in your homecountry!

http://www.educationusa.info/students-orientations.phphttp://www.educationusa.info/students-orientations.php

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Applying for a Visa & Entering the U.S. Important Facts

You must use the appropriate forms (I-20 for F-1 visa or DS-2019 for J-1 visa) from UC Riverside to obtain

your visa and to enter the United States.

If you have an initial attendance I-20 or DS-2019 Form, you must enter the United States in the 30-day

period before the program start date on your Form. You will not be allowed to enter if you arrive earlier.

If you are entering the United States with an initial attendance I-20 or DS-2019 Form, you will be required to

pay the SEVIS Fee before you apply for your visa. F-1 applicants pay $200 and J-1 visa applicants pay a

$180 SEVIS fee. Please see the next page for further information.

Do not enter the U.S. using a B-1/ B-2 (tourist) visa or visa waiver. You will not be able to change your status

to F-1 or J-1 in the U.S.

F-2 students are not able to pursue full-time degree programs in the United States. Do not enter in F-2 status

if you plan to be a full-time degree-seeking student. If you are currently in the United States in F-2 status, you

must file and be approved for a change of status to F-1 before the quarter begins. Please contact us at

[email protected] or (951) 827-4113 for further information.

Consulates require an in-person interview for most visa applicants. We recommend that you apply for a visa

as far in advance as possible since visa issuance can sometimes take up to 3 months depending on the

required security clearances. Please review the following information designed to assist you with the visa

application process.

mailto:[email protected]

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Applying for a Visa and Entering the U.S.Important Facts

You will need to apply for a visa at the United States

Consulate in your home country.

Please review the information about visa applications and fees at

the Department of States website.

You will be required to present your UCR Admission Letter,

your I-20 or DS-2019 Form, proof of financial support and a

receipt for the SEVIS Fee (if applicable) when applying for a

visa. Other items may also be requested. Be prepared to show

that you have significant ties to your home country and that you

will return there after completing your studies in the United

States.

If you are preparing to study in a field that the consular officer

may consider sensitive to the national security of the United

States, please plan to apply for a visa well in advance and be

prepared for potential delays. Students in fields such as

biochemistry, cell & molecular biology and electrical engineering,

for example, are sometimes subject to these security clearances.

In our experience, students from the Peoples Republic of China,

India, and Iran are often subject to such clearances.

http://www.travel.state.gov/

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SEVIS Fee Information

For students in F or J status and those

changing to F or J:

Who has to pay the SEVIS fee?

If you are entering the United States with an initial attendance

I-20 or DS-2019 Form, you will be required to pay the SEVIS

Fee ($200 for F-1 students; $180 for J-1 students) before you

apply for your visa or before you enter the United States (if a

visa is not required).

If you are a non-immigrant transfer student with a transfer

pending I-20 or DS-2019 Form, you do not have to pay the

SEVIS fee.

If you are changing levels from one-degree to another at

UCR, you do