When you arrive in the U.S., you will go through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at your port of entry. You will need to present your passport, F-1 visa, and I-20 form. The CBP officer will stamp your passport and I-20 form, and you will be allowed to enter the U.S.
Complete the Mandatory International Visiting Summer Student Visa Check-in:
This process is required for all International Visiting Summer Students who have ARRIVED IN THE U.S. and must be completed within five days of the program start date. It is used to report your arrival to the Department of Homeland Security and to “activate” your SEVIS record. The visa check-in process is all online. You will upload your documents through the online system.
Completing the online visa check-in process is essential for maintaining your visa status at UCI as an International Visiting Summer Student. The online visa check-in consists of filling out a check-in form and attaching your most recent I-94 document. You must upload these documents to the International Visiting Summer Student Upload Tool.
Maintain Your F-1 Visa Status
- Enroll Full-Time To maintain your F-1 status, you must enroll in and complete a full-time course load (at least 6 units) during the summer session.
- Maintaining your I-20: It is essential that you maintain your I-20 throughout your stay at UCI. This includes keeping your passport and visa up to date, enrolling in at least 6 units to maintain full-time enrollment, and staying in compliance with U.S. immigration regulations.
- Employment: As an international visiting summer student, you are only eligible for on-campus employment. Off-campus employment is strictly regulated by U.S. immigration law and requires special authorization.
- Traveling with your I-20: When traveling to the U.S., you should carry your I-20 with you at all times, along with your passport and F-1 visa. You may be asked to present these documents at the port of entry into the U.S.
Leaving UCI:
Once you complete your summer program, you must complete a check-out form and upload it here. The form notifies UCI that you have completed your program and are leaving campus.
If you plan to transfer your I-20 SEVIS record to another institution, you must also request this through the check-out form. A SEVIS record transfers request take 7 business days to process.