Spring 2021 | Week 4 | Weekly updates for International Students @ UC San Diego
Dear International Student,

You are receiving this important notice to inform you of potential actions you are required to take if currently located in the United States. According to our records, UC San Diego issued you a Form I-20 (F-1) with a program start date corresponding to Spring 2021 Quarter Start Date (March 24, 2021 - April 9, 2021).

The latest guidance from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) outlines that institutions may only activate a student's Form I-20 or DS-2019 upon entry into the U.S. If the student is unable to enter the U.S. prior to the program start date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019, students should request an updated I-20 with a future program start date reflecting the quarter they intend to enter the U.S. Please take one of the following actions below.
If you have already taken one of the following actions below, you may disregard this message.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY
INSIDE THE U.S.:
  • Check-In for I-20/DS-2019 Activation: If you entered the U.S. and have a Spring 2021 Program Start Date listed on your Form I-20, ensure you log into iPortal to submit the Check-In for I-20/Ds-2019 Activation Request in iPortal no later than Friday, April 23, 2021

  • Address Reporting: International students are required to report any changes in current address. If you’ve recently arrived to the U.S., ensure your current address reflects a U.S. address. Learn more about updating your address in TritonLink.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE U.S., YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY
OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.:
If you have not entered the U.S., please remain outside of the U.S. until you receive an updated Form I-20 with a future program start date.

Please review the information below as you prepare for future arrival to the U.S.:

  • Requesting an I-20 from ISPO for Entry Into the U.S.: Once you have decided which quarter you plan to arrive to the U.S. to enroll in in-person/hybrid coursework, ensure you log into iPortal to submit the NEW ADMIT: I-20/DS-2019 Amendment/Reprint Request at least 60 days prior to your anticipated quarter of arrival to the U.S.

  • Address Reporting: International students are required to report any changes in current address. If you are currently abroad or have recently departed the U.S. and plan to remain abroad for the quarter, please update your current address in TritonLink to a foreign address. Learn more about updating your address in TritonLink.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING ENTRY FOR SUMMER 2021

International students in F-1 or J-1 status are required to enroll full-time each required quarter during the academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Summer and established breaks between quarters (Winter and Spring Break) are considered vacation and do not require enrollment. However, students who seek entry to the U.S. with a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 with a program start date in the Summer term are required to enroll full-time. Full-time in the summer term is defined by program start date listed on the Form I-20/Form DS-2019:

Summer 1 Program Start Date (June 28, 2021)
  • Summer Session 1 (6 units) and Summer Session 2 (6 units) OR
  • Summer Session 3 (6 units) )

Summer 2 Program Start Date (August 2, 2021)
  • Summer Session 2 (6 units) OR
  • Summer Session 3 (6 units)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Current SEVP guidelines require that one course must have and in-person or hybrid component. Graduate students who wish to enroll in graduate coursework during the summer are encouraged to discuss this option with your college or departments prior to enrolling.
As we continue to shift our services to accommodate the needs of our students, this schedule may fluctuate and is subject to change. ISPO's most current advising hours can be found at iContact.ucsd.edu.
Virtual Zoom Advising 
ISPO has expanded virtual advising hours to accommodate different time zones for the fall quarter. See the exact advising times/hours on our website.
Online Contact Form
Send ISPO an email through our Online Contact Form. These inquiries are directed to specific advisors depending on nature of the request.
Download the Official UC San Diego Mobile App!
GET THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FROM ISPO AND UC SAN DIEGO ON THE APP! ISPO Alerts--a new tool for receiving important updates for international students--will be available later this Fall term so don't miss out!  Available for iPhone and Android. Visit mobile.ucsd.edu for more information on how to download the app.
International Students & Programs Office | iStudents.ucsd.edu
WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER? All international students studying at UC San Diego are automatically subscribed to the iStudents Newsletter to ensure they receive proper immigration updates from our office. The information sent in this Newsletter is available on ISPO's website, iStudents.ucsd.edu, or may direct students to other external resources. You have the right to unsubscribe at any time from receiving updates from our office. You can do this by emailing istudents@ucsd.edu. Note, all international students at UC San Diego are responsible for staying up to date with immigration regulations that may affect them. To learn more, visit our website at iStudents.ucsd.edu