Spring 2021 | International Students & Programs Office @ UC San Diego
Dear Incoming Triton,

Welcome to UC San Diego!

The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) is here to support you as you begin your journey as a new student at UC San Diego and to help you navigate the ins and outs of your program as an international student. Please review important information below about mandatory trainings, orientation and ways to get involved at UC San Diego. 
Upcoming Pre-Arrival Webinars
Pre-Arrival Webinar:
Teaching Assistantships and English Language Requirements
Wednesday, April 28 at 8:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Join ISPO and the Teaching + Learning Commons as we discuss Teaching Assistantships (TA) and English language requirements for international graduate students. This webinar is hosted in partnership with the Graduate Division to make sure you have all the information you need to begin your journey as an international graduate student at UC San Diego. 
Register for Upcoming Pre-Arrival Webinars:
In partnership with the Graduate Division, ISPO will host a series of informative webinars this spring and summer, register now!:


Click on the webinars above to register. All webinars will be recorded and posted at iWebinars.ucsd.edu.
Important Information for I-20/ DS-2019 Issuance
iPortal is now LIVE!

International students requiring an F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the U.S. must request a Form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant J-1 exchange visitors). The I-20 or DS-2019 is required to apply for the F-1 or J-1 visa from abroad.

International students who are currently in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status and plan to transfer their SEVIS record to UC San Diego are ALSO required to submit the I-20 or DS-2019 request. 


  • Processing time for complete iPortal applications is 15 business days. Apply early to avoid visa delays.  
I-20/DS-2019 Details

  • Funding Requirements for I-20/DS-2019 Issuance: F-1 students must show nine months of financial support to obtain an I-20. J-1 students must show financial support for the entire duration of their program to obtain a DS-2019.
  • Refer to this link for required funding for your program. 

  • I-20/DS-2019 standard start dates: All students admitted for the Fall 2021 quarter should expect to receive a Fall 2021 Program Start Date (September 20, 2021) on their Form I-20 or DS-2019. 

  • Early-start program information: Only students who have been admitted into a degree program which requires enrollment or participation in the Summer 2021 term will be eligible to apply for a Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 with an earlier start date. Your department will communicate with you if you have been admitted into a program which requires an early start date. Students who are eligible can request an I-20 by submitting the NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Special Start Programs in iPortal.

For more information regarding early start programs, visit iNewStudent.ucsd.edu.
Are you Transferring from Another U.S. University to UC San Diego?

If you are currently in F-1 status at a U.S. university and plan to transfer to UC San Diego this fall, you still need to request an I-20 from ISPO! This is required in order to maintain your F-1 status, and you cannot begin classes here without it. 

Transfer students have two options when requesting an I-20: 

Want to learn more about your options? Read through the information linked above or attend our Pre-Arrival 2021: SEVIS Transfers webinar on May 6! 
Applying for Your U.S. Visa
Scheduling Your Visa Interview

If you are able to schedule a visa interview, after receiving your I-20/DS-2019 document you will need to complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form. You will need your SEVIS ID (number starting with “N” located at the top of your I-20/DS-2019) to complete this. In addition, J-1 students will need to provide UCSD’s J-1 Program Number. This number is: P-1-02849. 
 
When asked for UC San Diego’s contact information for the DS-160, you may put down the following: 
  • Contact name: Name of the advisor listed on your I-20/DS-2019 document 
  • Contact phone: 858-534-3730 
  • Contact email: istudents@ucsd.edu 

For more information, click here.  
Cancelled or Delayed U.S. Visa Appointments

ISPO is aware of the delays and/or sudden cancellations of nonimmigrant visa appointments in particular regions of the world due to the public health situation caused by rising COVID-19 rates. We know how much this impacts your ability to plan for Fall 2021 and can understand the concern it must cause.  

With this in mind, ISPO will continue to issue Forms I-20 (F-1) and DS-2019 (J-1) as quickly as possible to allow you to book or re-book an appointment as soon as you are able to. Our team is hard at work to ensure that these are issued promptly. In order to maintain our prompt I-20 and DS-2019 issuance pace, at this time, we are only able to facilitate expedite requests if you have a visa appointment booked for less than one month away from your iPortal date of submission. 

For any questions about your visa paperwork, please contact the ISPO Pre-Arrival Team at inewstudent@ucsd.edu.  
New Student Resources
Visit the iNewStudent Website!

This comprehensive site is designed just for new international students to help you understand the different steps you need to follow before you arrive! Go to iNewStudent.ucsd.edu now and click on Graduate Students.   
iTriton Online Training

To help guide you through the adventure ahead, we have created an online training that will map out your journey as an international student here at UC San Diego. There are 20 modules which cover various topics. We have arranged these modules in the order you may encounter them during your program. However, you can explore the modules in any order you'd like!  
 
Newly admitted international students are required to complete the iTriton Online Training during their first quarter at UC San Diego. All new Fall 2021 students will have until October 20, 2021, to complete this REQUIRED training.*  
*Please note that the iTriton training, immigration regulations are only applicable once you enter the United States in F1/J1 status. If you are participating in fully remote learning and DO NOT enter the United States, these regulations will NOT apply to you.    
New Student Zoom Advising Hours

Questions about requesting your immigration documents from UC San Diego? Newly-admitted international students are able to speak to an ISPO Advisor during our designated zoom advising hours for newly-admitted students for Fall 2021.  

For more information, visit iContact.ucsd.edu:
 
  • Mondays: 9 – 10:30 AM PDT  
  • Tuesdays: 4:30 – 5:30 PM PDT 
  • Wednesdays: 9 – 10:30 AM PDT and 4:30 – 5:30 PM PDT 
  • Thursdays: 9 – 10:30 AM PDT and 4:30 – 5:30 PM PDT 
  • Friday – Sunday: NO Advising. Visit iContact.ucsd.edu for other ways to contact ISPO.  
Contacting ISPO

Our friendly and knowledgeable ISPO Staff are here and ready to help you!  

Follow Us on Social Media!
Congratulations New Triton! We have put together an Instagram Filter Pack to celebrate our new class of international Tritons. Try it out, tag us (@ispo.ucsd), and let everyone know you are our newest iTriton! 
WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER?
You have been identified as an F-1 or J-1 International Student. To ensure you receive important regulatory information to maintain your immigration status while studying at UC San Diego, you have been automatically added to this newsletter to receive updates. You have the right to unsubscribe from receiving updates from our office at anytime. You can do this by clicking 'Unsubscribe...." at the bottom of this email block. If you are NOT in F1 or J1 status and believe you have been subscribed in error, please email iStudents@ucsd.edu.