UCI International Center

Requesting a Visa Document

Section 1

If you will be an international students an plan to attend UCI on a student visa. You will need to request that UCI issue you the proper visa document. 

  • An I-20 will be processed for students applying for an F-1 visa
  • A DS-2019 form will be processed for students applying for a J-1 visa

To read more about the differences between the F-1 and J-1 visa, click here.

Undergraduate Students:

Follow these steps to request your visa document:

  1. Log into MyAdmissionsApplication@UCI for complete requirements to accept admissions.
  2. You will also be able to submit your request for an I-20/DS-2019 visa document from the UCI International Center.
    • The processing time at the International Center for your I-20/DS-2019 document is 15 business days from the date a complete request is submitted.  
    • If you are attending another U.S. school and will transfer SEVIS record to UCI, the 15 business days processing time will start from the date your SEVIS record is released to UCI or the date your complete CFS and supporting documents are received by the International Center, whichever is later.
    • If your request is incomplete, you will be contacted via email directly after an advior has thoroughly reviewed your request. Incomplete requests will delay issuance of your visa document. 
    • You can check the status of your request here.

Do you have additional questions? Check out the FAQS for New International Undergraduate Students. 

Graduate Students:

Follow these steps to request your visa document:

  1. Review the instructions of the New Graduate Student Request—Student 2023-2024 packet and fill out the required and applicable pages.
    • Pages 4 & 5 are required; pages 6 & 7 must only be submitted if applicable.
  2. Submit the following documents to your admitting UCI academic department (follow their instructions on how to submit them):
    • New Graduate Student Request-Student 2023-2024 form (required and applicable pages)
    • Copy of your passport biographical page (the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start of your program at UCI).
    • If applicable, copies of your dependents' passport biographical pages.
    • Copy of your current visa type if you are changing your status from another non-immigrant visa to F-1 inside the U.S. (see instructions on the New Graduate Student Request form for more information).
    • Financial documentation showing proof of funds to meet the required amount (see here for information on acceptable sources of funding).

Your academic department will review your packet and send it to the International Center for the processing of your I-20/DS-2019 visa document.

  • After the International Center receives your packet from your department, we will review and process your I-20/DS-2019 document. Processing time for your visa document is 15 business days from the date of a complete submission. Incomplete requests will cause a delay in processing.
  • If you are transferring your SEVIS Record to UC Irvine, 15 business days will begin from your SEVIS release date or date of complete submission, whichever is later. 
  • If your application is incomplete, you will be contacted directly via email after an advisor has thoroughly reviewed your request.
  • You can check the status of your request here.

Receiving Your Visa Document:

F-1 Visa Students: You will receive your I-20 visa document electronically via DocuSign email.

J-1 VisaStudents: You will recieve your DS-2019 visa document electronically via DocuSign email.