INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE

WELCOME TO UCLA SUMMER SESSIONS

Dear International Student,

We are thrilled to have you join us in an environment that

is welcoming and appreciative of international cultures and

perspectives—in a city that is truly a global gateway.

The International Student Guide is designed to address some

of the most frequently asked questions posed by international

students. After reviewing this guide, you will have a good idea

of what you need to do to register and enroll in courses, meet

visa requirements, maintain valid F-1 status, and have an overall

positive experience as a student in our institution.

Prior to your arrival, you will also be required to complete an

online orientation program that will further prepare you for a

successful time here at UCLA Summer Sessions.

Please visit our web site for more information regarding attending

UCLA Summer Sessions as an international student. For assistance

with questions or concerns regarding visa requirements, please

We hope you enjoy your time at UCLA Summer Sessions!

Sincerely,

UCLA IEO/Summer Sessions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Calendar

Student Checklist

English Language Courses

Enrollment

Adding / Dropping Courses

Tuition & Fees

BruinBill: Payments & Refunds

Health Insurance / Housing

International Student Requirements

I-20 Request

I-20 Transfer / Obtaining an F-1 Visa

iSTART@UCLA / Visa Check-In

Maintaining F-1 Visa Status / About UCLA

About UCLA  Directions to & from LAX

Campus Map

Directory

SESSION A

MAY 01

I-20 Request Deadline for

International Students

JUN 23

iSTART Orientation Due

JUN 26

Session A Begins

JUN 29 - 30

Visa Check-In

JUN 30

Impacted Course Drop Deadline

JUL 04

July 4th Observation

(Campus Closure - No Classes)

JUL 07

Non-Impacted Course

Drop Deadline

AUG 04

Six-Week Session Ends

AUG 18

Eight-Week Session Ends

SEP 01

Ten-Week Session Ends

SESSION C

JUN 01

I-20 Request Deadline for

International Students

AUG 04

iSTART Orientation Due

AUG 07

Session C Begins

AUG 10 - 11

Visa Check-In

AUG 11

Impacted Course

Drop Deadline

AUG 18

Non-Impacted Course

Drop Deadline

SEP 04

Labor Day Observation

(Campus Closure – No Classes)

SEP 15

Session C Ends

CALENDAR

Use the checklist below to keep track of your progress as you prepare

for your Summer Sessions at UCLA.

o January - Browse the Schedule of Classes

o February 15 – Register for UCLA Summer Sessions at summer.ucla.edu

NOTE: Please allow 24-48 hours to receive a conﬁrmation e-mail with your

UCLA University Identiﬁcation Number (UID)

o Create your MyUCLA account at logon.ucla.edu after receiving

your UID number.

o Enroll in a minimum of 8 units per session at my.ucla.edu

o March - You will receive an e-mail with the link to the online I-20

request. The following documents are required to complete your

I-20 request.

• Copy of Passport Biographical Page

• Conﬁdential Financial Statement

• Proof of Suﬃcient Funds

• Proof of English Proﬁciency

o March – Apply for On-Campus Housing (if desired) housing.ucla.edu

o Complete the I-20 request by:

• May 1 for Session A

• June 1 for Session C

NOTE: Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing and mailing of your I-20 request.

There is NO expedited processing or shipping.

o Search for your local U.S. Embassy / Consulate at usembassy.gov

NOTE: In most cases, you will need to wait until you have received the I-20

request form in the mail to make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy / Consulate

o Schedule an appointment to apply for the F-1 visa at your local

U.S. Embassy / Consulate

o Make the I-901 SEVIS payment at fmjfee.com at least 3 days before

your visa interview and print the payment conﬁrmation page.

o Attend your visa interview. Make sure to have all of your

documents on the day of your appointment:

• I-20 Form

• SEVIS Payment Receipt

• Valid Passport

• Financial Documents

o Make Travel Arrangements

• Purchase a plane ticket

• Make arrangements for transportation to and from the airport

• If you are arriving early, contact UCLA Housing about early

move-in availability or reserve a hotel in the area

o Pay all fees before Friday, May 19 via BruinBill on MyUCLA

NOTE: Failure to pay all tuition fees may result in your courses being dropped for

non-payment

o Sign-up for the mandatory Visa Check-In

NOTE: Information regarding signing up for the Visa Check-In will be sent via

e-mail in May for Session A and July for Session C

o Complete iSTART@UCLA pre-arrival orientation by:

• June 23 for Session A

• August 4 for Session C

o If living on campus, check-in with the UCLA Housing Oﬃce

on the Sunday before your courses begin

• June 26 Session A courses begin

• August 7 Session C courses begin

o Attend one of the mandatory Visa Check-Ins

• Thursday, June 29 or Friday, June 30 for Session A

• Thursday, August 10 or Friday, August 11 for Session C

Enjoy your time at UCLA Summer Sessions!

STUDENT CHECKLIST

UCLA English language courses are designed to promote further un-

derstanding of the English language for non-native speakers. English

language courses are taught by well-respected and highly trained

instructors. Whether you are interested in improving your academic or

professional English language skills, or interested in learning more about

American culture, you are sure to ﬁnd a course that meets your interests.

You can enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) or Communication

Studies 1A/1B courses.

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

There is no English proﬁciency requirement for these courses.

COMM ST 1A. Public Speaking for Nonnative Speakers (4).

This course is designed to make you the most accomplished speaker

that you can possibly be – in any country; under any condition; with

friends and family; in political, cultural, social, professional, and academic

circumstances. You will be approximating real-life situations throughout

the session in public speaking and communication with others from many

countries and cultures.

COMM ST 1B. Learning American English and Culture from Movies (4).

Designed for International Students, this course teaches you to turn

every movie you see into a powerful tool to understand how Americans

think, talk and act. Required movies are watched out of class and at your

convenience so all classroom time is spent engaging in focused conver-

sations that train you to eﬀectively and eﬀortlessly communicate with

Americans in a wide range of social, professional, and academic settings.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ESL

Proof of English proﬁciency is not required for enrollment in ESL only

courses; however, the Summer ESL Program at UCLA expects students to

have, at a minimum, intermediate English language proﬁciency. The pro-

gram deﬁnes “intermediate” as having had two years of solid foundational

English coursework, whereby students understand conversational and

academic English beyond basic structures and vocabulary, read interme-

diate level texts, and are able to write cohesive paragraphs and essays.

The ESL Program does not, unfortunately, accommodate beginners. All

students will be required to take a placement examination on the ﬁrst day

of classes.

ESL 20. Conversation & Fluency (4).

Lecture, four hours. Emphasis on speaking ﬂuently in English by examining

rules of conversation, participating actively in class discussions, making

group presentations, and completing out-of-class assignments designed

to promote interaction with native speakers and familiarize international

students with UCLA campus and local community. Oﬀered in summer only.

P/NP or letter grading.

ESL 24. Preparation for American University (4).

Lecture, four hours. Designed for international students planning to study at

an American university. Students research suitable undergraduate or grad-

uate programs, interview advisors at local universities, and learn to write an

eﬀective personal statement. Additional focus on academic reading, vocab-

ulary and speaking skills. Oﬀered in summer only. P/NP or letter grading.

ESL 21. Pronunciation (4).

Lecture, four hours. Designed to improve clarity, accuracy, and understand-

ing of spoken English through study and practice of pronunciation features

as they occur in real speech, using models from television, movies, and

online talks. Emphasis on individualized feedback through audio and video

recording technology. Oﬀered in summer only. P/NP or letter grading.

ESL 25. Academic Reading and Writing (4).

Lecture, four hours. Designed to improve reading speed and compre-

hension and knowledge of academic writing conventions. Emphasis on

synthesizing information from sources, providing proper citations, and

avoiding plagiarism. A major focus is on developing the ability to revise and

edit one’s own writing. Oﬀered in summer only. P/NP or letter grading.

ESL 22. Public Speaking (4).

Lecture, four hours. Emphasis on making presentations, interacting with

audience members, and leading group discussions. Video-recording of

student performances allows students to improve through self and peer

evaluation as well as individualized instructor feedback. Oﬀered in summer

only. P/NP or letter grading.

ESL 26. Business Communication: Speaking (4).

Lecture, four hours. Emphasis on giving business and marketing-focused

presentations (both individual and group), handling audience questions, and

running eﬀective meetings. Video-recording of student performances allows

students to improve through self-evaluation as well as individualized instructor

feedback. Oﬀered in summer only. P/NP or letter grading.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSES

As an international student, you are required to enroll in a minimum of 8

units per session of on-campus instruction, and are eligible to enroll in up

to 20 units (4-5 courses). However, due to the intensity and shortness of

the courses, we recommend visiting you take no more than 8-12 units (2-3

courses).

If you are struggling with your course load, or feel that your courses are

not right for you, please contact an International Student Advisor about

changing your course selections.

Drop and refund deadlines should be considered before changing course

selections. Students will not be able to exchange courses or be granted a

refund after the established deadlines.

MyUCLA enables you to enroll in classes easily and quickly. You may add or

drop courses using MyUCLA through the ﬁrst week of the term.

MYUCLA

MyUCLA (my.ucla.edu) is your portal to everything at UCLA. You’ll use it to

access your academic and ﬁnancial records, view your study list, see your

grades, make enrollment changes and order transcripts.

You will ﬁrst need to activate your UCLA Logon ID using your university

identiﬁcation number before enrolling in any courses. You can activate

your UCLA Logon ID at logon.ucla.edu.

You can use your Logon ID to access UCLA online services such as class

websites, library research guides, chat services, etc. It also provides users

with access to Bruin OnLine services such as an e-mail account, network

access, web hosting service, etc.

Your MyUCLA account is absolutely private (by federal law) and no one

other than you should be allowed access.

ENROLLMENT

DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION

You are not required to obtain approval when adding or dropping a course

during the ﬁrst week of the term. You may add or drop a course using the

“Find a Class and Enroll” feature on MyUCLA.

NOTE: In order to maintain valid F-1 status, you are required to be

enrolled in 8 units per session of on-campus instruction at all times.

AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION

ADDING COURSES

After Friday of the ﬁrst week of each session, you will need consent from

the instructor to add a class. You may add courses:

1. Through MyUCLA using a Permission to Enroll (PTE) authorization

number, which is provided by the instructor, or,

2. Submitting a Student Update Form with the instructor’s signature or

PTE to 1331 Murphy Hall

A late fee of $50 will be assessed for each course added beginning

Monday of the third week of each session.

DROPPING COURSES AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION

IMPACTED COURSES

Impacted courses may be dropped on or before Friday of ﬁrst week

through MyUCLA with no transcript notation. If you are unsure if your

course is impacted or not, a full list of impacted courses is available online.

Impacted courses dropped after Friday of ﬁrst week will NOT be eligible

for refunds.

After Friday of the ﬁrst week of the course, you will need to submit a petition

to drop an impacted course. Petitions for dropping impacted courses after

the deadline are approved only under extraordinary circumstances; there-

fore, you should consult the course instructor and explore academic options

other than dropping, before submitting the petition.

If the request is approved, the dropped course will appear on your tran-

script with a notation indicating the date and week of the term in which

the drop petition was ﬁled. To petition for the drop, complete a Student

Update Form and submit the request to the Summer Sessions Oﬃce, 1331

Murphy Hall.

NON-IMPACTED COURSES

Non-impacted courses may be dropped on or before the Friday of second

week through MyUCLA. Beginning Monday of the ﬁfth week, all drops

for non-impacted courses will require a Student Update Form with the

instructor’s signature. The form must then be submitted to the Summer

Sessions Oﬃce in person.

Non-impacted courses dropped after Friday of second week will NOT be

eligible for refunds.

Students may be dropped from their courses if fees are not paid by the

payment deadlines as outlined on our website. Please note that classes

cannot be exchanged after the refund deadline. It is your responsibility to

adhere to all deadlines. You will NOT be relieved of ﬁnancial responsibility

if you fail to attend class, are dissatisﬁed with course(s) and/or grade

received, or rely on system drops.

NOTE: In order to maintain valid F-1 status, you are required to be

enrolled in 8 units per session of on-campus instruction at all times.

ADDING / DROPPING COURSES

DEADLINES TO ADD A COURSE WITHOUT $50 LATE FEE

SESSION A JULY 7 at 5pm

SESSION C AUGUST 18 at 5pm

Tuition is assessed on a per unit basis. This means that your fees will de-

pend on how many courses you enroll in and how many units (or credits)

each course is worth. A complete fee overview for Summer Sessions is

available online, but in order to view your Summer Sessions charges and

ﬁnd out how much you owe, you’ll need to visit your BruinBill Account via

MyUCLA.

FEE CALCULATION EXAMPLE

The following example is intended to help you understand how fees are

calculated.

International students are required to maintain at least 8 units per session

of on-campus instruction. If enrolled in two courses that carry 4 and 5 units

respectively, e.g., ESL 25 and MATH 115A, your fees are estimated at $4,413

regardless of whether the two courses are oﬀered in Session A or Session C.

This is only an estimate, and the actual amount may vary depending on

whether you have attended UCLA Summer Sessions before, whether your

courses carry IEI and/or material use fees, or when courses are added.

NOTE: UCLA Summer Sessions does not assess fees for on-campus hous-

ing. Questions regarding on-campus housing fees should be directed to

the UCLA Housing Oﬃce.

TUITION & FEES

SUMMARY OF FEES

Registration Fee $790 (not applicable if enrolled in online courses only)

2017 Unit Fee $342 per unit

IEI Fee $61 (students without a bachelor’s degree)

Document Fee $50 assessed only for the ﬁrst summer term at UCLA

Health Insurance $375

iSTART@UCLA Fee $59

Late Add Fee $50 per class added after second week

SUMMER FEE CALCULATION EXAMPLE

Registration Fee $790

4-unit Course Unit Fees $342 x 4 = $1,368

5-unit Course Unit Fees $342 x 5 = $1,710

IEI Fees $61

Document Fee $50

Health Insurance Fee $375

iSTART@UCLA Fee $59

ESTIMATED TOTAL $4,413

BRUINBILL: PAYMENTS & REFUNDS

All students are assigned a BruinBill account which records all charges, pay-

ments and refunds associated with registration, housing, health insurance,

as well as miscellaneous fees such as ASUCLA charges, printing and overdue

library book fees. Your BruinBill is available under the “Finances & Jobs”

feature on MyUCLA.

PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Payment will be available after enrollment is complete. Online payments

must be made using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or AMEX

only). Please note that a processing fee does apply if paying using a cred-

it/debit card.

You can also wire funds directly from your bank using Travelex. If your cur-

rency is not included in the drop down list, you may request that your bank

make the transfer in US dollars or Euros.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Registration is only completed after all fees are paid. If you enroll in classes

after the deadline, your payment will be due on the following deadline.

Failure to pay by 5pm on the respective deadline will result in being

dropped from all courses.

NOTE: Students are responsible for adhering to payment deadlines. Fail-

ing to pay fees by the established deadlines may result in your courses

being dropped , having a 'Hold' placed in your account (you will NOT be

able to request a copy of your transcript) and/or having your on-campus

housing application cancelled.

REFUNDS

Tuition and IEI fees are refundable for courses dropped before their spec-

iﬁed dates listed below. Refunds may go back to the credit card used for

payment. If your payment was made in cash or via wire transfer, a check will

be issued and mailed to your local address in MyUCLA. If you are expecting

a refund, be sure to verify that your account addresses are up to date.

Refund checks will NOT be mailed to addresses overseas.

The iSTARTUCLA fee and the non-refundable deposit of $400 are not

refundable under any circumstances even if all courses are dropped before

instruction has begun. In the event of withdrawal, the total refund amount

will reﬂect the non-refundable iSTARTUCLA fee and the non-refundable

deposit, appearing as Processing Fee on the BruinBill account.

No refunds will be issued after the above deadlines. It is the student's re-

sponsibility to be familiar and comply with UCLA Summer Sessions policy

and regulations. Refunds will NOT be granted for lack of knowledge of

these policies and regulations.

Depending on the date of withdrawal, the health insurance fee may also not

be refunded.

REFUND DEADLINES

LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A REFUND – IMPACTED COURSES

SESSION A JUNE 30 at 5pm

SESSION C AUGUST 11 at 5pm

LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A REFUND - NON-IMPACTED COURSES

SESSION A JULY 7 at 5pm

SESSION C AUGUST 18 at 5pm

Students who drop courses after the speciﬁed deadlines

will not be granted a refund and CANNOT exchange a course.

PAYMENT DEADLINES

SESSION A & C COURSES

FRIDAY, MAY 19

by 5pm

ENROLLMENT AFTER MAY 19

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

3 by 5pm

ENROLLMENT AFTER JUNE 23

FRIDAY, JUNE 30 by 5pm

HEALTH INSURANCE HOUSING

Health insurance is a federal requirement for all international students –

no exceptions. To protect you from the high cost of health care in the

U.S., UCLA will enroll you in a two-part health insurance plan. For more

information, please visit http://summer.ucla.edu/academiccourses/inter-

nationalstudent/insurance.

BRUINCARE

BruinCare provides access to the Arthur Ashe Center Student Health and

Wellness Center, conveniently located right on the UCLA Campus. Your

BruinCard is all you need to access medical services at the Ashe Center.

Although most general services are included, some services may incur

additional fees. These fees will be added to your BruinBill account and are

payable directly online or in person at the Main Cashier in 1125 Murphy

Hall. BruinCare is mandatory for all visiting international students and

cannot be declined. Information can be found at www.summer.ucla.edu/

PDF/bruincare.pdf

Except in the case of a serious emergency, you must always visit the Arthur

Ashe Student Health Center on campus ﬁrst. If it is necessary to go to the

hospital, an Ashe Center representative will refer you for further treatment.

BLUE CROSS PPO

The Blue Cross PPO (provided by Ascension Beneﬁts & Insurance Solutions)

provides coverage for oﬀ-campus doctor’s visits and emergency care any-

where in the United States. The coverage period spans mid-June through

mid-September, so you will have continuous coverage if you plan on travel-

ling in the U.S before or after the period of study at UCLA.

HEALTH INSURANCE ID CARDS & PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS

Insurance information will be sent to you via e-mail prior to your Session

start date. After receiving the e-mail from the insurance company, you

will be able to print your health insurance card and login to the insurance

provider website.

During the summer, enrollment at UCLA is open to the public. Once en-

rolled, you are then eligible to sign up for summer housing with the UCLA

Housing Oﬃce. Please note only residence halls and university apartments

are managed directly by the UCLA Housing Oﬃce.

Concerns or questions regarding residence halls or university apartments

should be directed to the UCLA Housing Oﬃce. The UCLA Housing Of-

ﬁce will begin accepting applications starting mid-March.

ONCAMPUS HOUSING

Living on campus at UCLA has many advantages for Summer Sessions

students. The University provides comfortable furnished residence halls

within easy walking distance of classrooms, libraries, swimming pools and

recreational facilities. Housing is available for six-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-

week periods. Most students ﬁnd that living on campus is a convenient and

enjoyable option for the Summer Session.

OFFCAMPUS SUMMER HOUSING

University Apartments are available to Summer Sessions students who pre-

fer the independence of living oﬀ-campus. Apartments are located within

walking distance of campus.

STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18

Students aged 16 and 17 will be placed with other academically motivated

high school students in a clustered living-learning environment within the

regular residence halls. These high school students will live as independent

college students with support from a trained UCLA residential adviser.

The UCLA Housing Oﬃce is not able to accommodate Summer Sessions

students under the age of 16.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

FULLTIME STUDENT STATUS

UCLA Summer Sessions requires that all international students enroll full-

time and obtain the F-1 student visa to study. To be considered full-time,

you must enroll in a minimum of 8 units per session of on-campus instruction.

VISA STATUS

International students enrolling in UCLA Summer Sessions are required to

obtain an F-1 visa. To apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate in

your country, you must ﬁrst request an I-20 form from UCLA Summer Ses-

sions. The UCLA Dashew Center of International Students and Scholars is

responsible for issuing the I-20 forms on behalf of UCLA Summer Sessions.

International students coming from abroad are required to have valid F-1

visas in their passports when entering the United States. Canadian citizens

are not required to obtain an F-1 visa in their passport, but do need the I-20

for entry into the United States as an F-1 student.

The UCLA Summer Sessions does NOT provide visa advising or assistance

for students who choose to enter the United States under visa categories

other than F-1.

For more information regarding visa requirements, see http://summer.ucla.

edu/academiccourses/internationalstudent/visa

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

If you are from a country in which the oﬃcial language is not English, you

are required to submit proof of English proﬁciency. All students must meet

the English proﬁciency requirement, unless one of the following applies:

• You are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore,

or the United Kingdom

• You are currently enrolled in an academic institution where the primary

language of instruction is English*

• You enroll only in ESL courses or Communication Studies 1A/1B*

Proof of English Proﬁciency may be certiﬁed by submitting one of the

following test scores:

TOEFL minimum score of 550 for paper-based test; 213 for the computer-

based test; 79 for the internet-based test

IELTS minimum score of 6.5

iTEP minimum score of 5

CAE/CPE Level C1 Grades A,B, and C

I-20 REQUEST

International students who have never had an F-1 visa, or have been outside

the U.S. for more than 5 months, will be required to obtain a new I-20 from

UCLA and apply for an F-1 visa from their local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

After you are conﬁrmed enrolled in at least 8 units per session of on-campus

instruction, you will be sent an e-mail with the link to the online I-20

request portal. This online portal will allow you to upload your documents

and communicate with our oﬃce regarding your I-20. Please note that

it can take 2-3 business days to receive this e-mail and you will not be

able to access the link until the e-mail has been sent to you directly.

Below are the documents you will need to electronically scan, save in digital

format, and upload via the online I-20 request portal:

NOTE: These are strict deadlines and late applications cannot be

accommodated.

A scanned copy of the biographical passport page that shows the student’s full name, passport number, birth date, expiration date and photograph

Proof of Financial Support will require these two documents:

• Conﬁdential Financial Statement (CFS) - This form should be printed from the I-20 Request Portal, signed and uploaded when complete,

AND

• Supporting Bank Statement – Bank statement or letter from the bank showing available funds. Financial veriﬁcations must state that at

least US$7,800* will be available for each six weeks at UCLA.

*This amount is based on 8 units of enrollment. For students enrolled in more than 8 units, the minimum ﬁnancial veriﬁcation will go up by

$342 per unit.

• TOEFL minimum score of 550 for paper-based test; 213 for the computer-based test; 79 for the internet-based test

• IELTS minimum score of 6.5

• iTEP minimum score of 5

• CAE/CPE Level C1 Grades A,B, and C

In the absence of exam scores, registration center staﬀ may provide a letter verifying that the student has been screened for English proﬁ-

ciency. A sample can be provided.

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom are exempt from having to provide proof of English proﬁciency.

Passport

Information

Conﬁdential

Financial

Statement

(CFS)

Proof of

Suﬃcient Funds

Proof of English

Proﬁciency

I-20 REQUIREMENTS

I-20 REQUEST DEADLINE

SESSION A MAY 1

SESSION C JUNE 1

I-20 TRANSFER OBTAINING AN F-1 VISA

You will need to request a transfer I-20 if you are currently in the U.S. with

an F-1 visa and:

• You will be graduating from your university or high school before the

Summer Session and you will not apply for OPT

• You will be permanently leaving the U.S. following the summer at UCLA

• Your I-20 has a program end date that expires before or during the

Summer Session

• Your current program is ending and you will start at a new school in

the fall

Upon completing the registration form and enrolling in 8 or more units,

you will receive an e-mail prompting you to complete the I-20 request.

You will need to provide your SEVIS number and program end date. You will

also need to contact your F-1 advisor or DSO at your current school and

request that they release your SEVIS record to UCLA Summer Sessions.

Your transfer I-20 will not be issued until after your current program

has ended, and your advisor has released your record to UCLA.

When you receive your I-20 form from UCLA, you are ready to apply for

the F-1 visa. Your next steps will be to:

1. Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

(Form DS-160) and schedule an appointment at a U.S. Embassy/

Consulate.

2. Pay the application fee and gather the required documents.

3. Pay the SEVIS fee. SEVIS is the Student and Exchange Visitor Infor-

mation System operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Se-

curity (DHS). Go to www.fmjfee.com and pay the fee at least 3 days

before your visa interview. You will need your SEVIS number—

printed on the top right hand corner of your I-20— to process the

payment. You should take a printed receipt of your SEVIS payment

with you to your visa interview appointment. Failure to make the

payment may delay processing of your F-1 visa.

4. Attend a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate.*

5. Arrive in the U.S. and clear customs at a U.S. Port of Entry with the

following documents.

• Original I-20 form

• F-1 student visa stamp in passport*

• Valid passport

• Financial documents consistent with I-20

*Canadian students are exempt from obtaining an F-1 visa and therefore

DO NOT need to go to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate; however, they must

obtain an I-20 form from UCLA, pay the SEVIS fee before entry and abide

by all F-1 regulations.

iSTART@UCLA VISA CHECK-IN

iSTART@UCLA is an international student transition program sponsored by

the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS). It will

help you adjust to life at UCLA and in the U.S. The Pre-Arrival online mod-

ules cover a range of topics such as:

• Getting Started at UCLA

• Cultural Adjustment

• Visa Workshop

• Fun and travel opportunities sponsored by DCISS

You will be required to complete all mandatory iSTART modules prior to

arriving on campus. We encourage you to complete it as soon as possible,

as it will answer many of your questions about UCLA and Los Angeles.

A $59 non-refundable fee will be charged to your BruinBill account. The fee

includes all of the following items:

• Pre-Arrival Online Orientation

• Visa Check-In

• Access to our DCISS Social Programs

• iSTART Welcome Pack

o UCLA Sweatshirt

o Dashew Center Water Bottle

o UCLA Summer Sessions Bag

Additionally, the U.S. Government requires that we collect a photocopy

of immigration documents upon your arrival at UCLA. You are required to

attend a mandatory visa check-in to submit all required documents.

Students must bring the original and a copy of the following documents to

the visa check-in session:

• Completed and signed F-1 check-in form

• F-1 visa Stamp (Canadian Citizens are exempt)

• Passport Photo/Biographical Page

• I-20 form

• I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (The I-94 will be generated electroni-

cally on www.cbp.gov/I94 and you can only print the form AFTER your

arrival in the U.S.

IMPORTANT! When you pass through customs, check your

passport to ensure the oﬃcer has stamped it correctly. It should

say F-1 (not F2, B1/B2 etc.) If you notice an error, politely ask the

oﬃcer to correct the error. Errors in your admission record can

lead to problems.

The U.S. government requires us to collect these documents no later than

the Friday of the ﬁrst week of class (June 30 for Session A; August 11 for

Session C).

Copies must be made AFTER arrival in the U.S. to reﬂect any stamps or

comments made by U.S. Customs oﬃcials and prior to visa check-in.

Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your student visa.

Students will receive an e-mail from the UCLA IEO/Summer Sessions with

information on how to register for their Visa check-in.

DEADLINE TO COMPLETE iSTART

SESSION A FRIDAY, JUNE 23

SESSION C FRIDAY, AUGUST 4

VISA CHECK-IN DATES

SESSION A THURSDAY, JUNE 29 & FRIDAY, JUNE 30

SESSION C THURSDAY, AUGUST 10 & FRIDAY, AUGUST 11

MAINTAINING F-1 STUDENT STATUS ABOUT UCLA

To maintain legal F-1 student status at UCLA, you are required to:

• Complete the mandatory visa check-in procedure and iSTART

pre-arrival orientation.

• Maintain full-time enrollment (8 units per session of on-campus

instruction) and earn a passing grade in all your courses.

• Conform to regulations for travel outside of the U.S. and keep your

passport valid for six months beyond the summer sessions program.

• Accept no oﬀ-campus employment; work no more than twenty

hours per week on campus while attending school on a full-time basis.

• Notify the Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars

before you transfer to another U.S. school.

• Leave the U.S. or transfer to another U.S. school within sixty days

after the completion of your program.

If for some medical or emergency reason you are unable to attend full-

time, you must contact an advisor at the Summer Session/IEO oﬃce (1331

Murphy Hall). In exceptional and rare circumstances an advisor can approve

a course load of fewer than 8 units if you have an illness or other medical

condition (substantiated by a physician's statement).

CODE OF CONDUCT

As members of the UCLA Summer community, summer students have the

same rights and privileges as current admitted UCLA students and are held

to the same standards of conduct. The UCLA Student Code of Conduct

mandates a safe, supportive and inclusive campus community that engages

students to foster their academic success, personal growth and responsi-

ble citizenship. Behavior governed by the UCLA Student Code of Conduct

includes academic honesty, treatment of others, health and safety, use of

resources, and use of alcohol and controlled substances. UCLA’s reputation

for academic excellence and institutional integrity is of paramount impor-

tance, and UCLA does all within its power to maintain its standards. Visit the

Dean of Students website for more information at http://www.deanofstu-

dents.ucla.edu/

TITLE IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimina-

tion—which includes sexual harassment and sexual violence—in educa-

tional programs and activities. All students are protected by Title IX, regard-

less of whether they have a disability, are international or undocumented,

and regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Visit the Title

IX Oﬃce/Sexual Harassment Prevention website for more information at

http://www.sexualharassment.ucla.edu/

Students may be required to complete a mandatory orientation.

CAMPUS SAFETY & SECURITY

UCLA works hard to ensure the wellbeing of all its students through a

professional police department. Services include an evening van service,

walking escorts, bike lockers and emergency telephones placed through-

out campus. Visit the UCLA Police Department website for information at

https://www.ucpd.ucla.edu/

DIRECTIONS TO AND FROM LAXABOUT UCLA

BRUINCARD

The BruinCard is a student’s oﬃcial university identiﬁcation card. It allows

students to borrow library books, work out in the campus gym and re-

ceive discounts at a selection of local businesses. If students are living on

campus, they will use it for meals and dorm access, among other conve-

niences. The BruinCard can also be used as a debit card on UCLA Campus

and at some restaurants in Westwood. You need to set up an account and

deposit money before using it as a debit card. Students can apply for the

Bruin Card after completing registration and enrollment. Visit the Bruin-

Card website for information at https://secure.bruincard.ucla.edu/bcw/

web/Home.aspx

NO SMOKING POLICY

Creating a safe environment for our students, faculty and staﬀ is our

priority at UCLA.

Tobacco use is prohibited everywhere on campus and at properties

owned or leased by UCLA. There will be no designated smoking areas.

We ask that tobacco users be respectful of our neighbors and not con-

gregate or litter on their property.

All tobacco users who want to quit are encouraged to call the free Cali-

fornia Smokers Helpline at 1-800-NO-BUTTS.

Tobacco users who wish to quit also can obtain free nicotine-replacement

therapy kits (NRTs). Students can receive these at the Ashe Center, where

counseling and tobacco-cessation support will also be available.

IMPORTANT: UCLA is a smoke-free campus. Smoking will not be

allowed in university housing facilities as well as inside or outside uni-

versity buildings and in public areas.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the closest airport to UCLA

campus (approximately 12 miles away), and there are a variety of options

for transportation from LAX to Westwood:

Shuttle Services operate continuously and can take you to UCLA for ap-

proximately $16 to $25. To catch one of these, go to the outer lanes and talk

to one of the shuttle dispatchers. They will usually be able to put you on a

shuttle within 15-20 minutes.

Super Shuttle is one of the larger companies- they have dispatchers at

LAX between 08:00 a.m. -12:00 a.m. You may schedule a trip at http://

www.supershuttle.com/

Fly Away Buses provide daily nonstop bus service — one-way and

roundtrip — between Westwood and LAX. At LAX, you can board from

the lower level outside the baggage claim. Stand by the green “Flyaway

Buses and Long Distance Vans” signs in each terminal.

Each bus is marked with its service location, look for the one marked

Westwood to get to UCLA.

The shuttle stops at UCLA Parking Structure 32 on Kinross Avenue, two

blocks north of Wilshire Blvd., west of Gayley Ave. Buses depart every

hour on the hour from Westwood and LAX (both directions simultane-

ously) between 6 a.m.—10 p.m., seven days a week. Cost is $10 each way

(Credit Card payments only).

Taxis can be picked up curbside (inside lanes), right outside baggage

claim. Fares to UCLA from LAX are about $40, including a $2.50 airport tax.

General Tips

1. Never leave baggage unattended. Do not entrust bags to a stranger,

even if they seem trustworthy.

2. Be attentive and watchful of signs, directions and maps at the air-

port. Listen carefully to announcements made over the PA (public

address) system.

3. Beware of solicitors inside and outside the airport terminal who may

oﬀer to provide a ride. Don't encourage a conversation with them.

Similarly, don't divulge details of your trip to a stranger.

SUMMER SESSIONS www.summer.ucla.edu

1331 Murphy Hall international@summer.ucla.edu

BRUINCARD CENTER www.bruincard.ucla.edu

123 Kerckhoﬀ Hall bruincard@ﬁnance.ucla.edu

DASHEW CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & SCHOLARS (DCISS) www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu

417 Charles E. Young Drive West

HOUSING www.housing.ucla.edu/summer

LIBRARIES www.library.ucla.edu

PARKING & COMMUTER SERVICES www.transportation.ucla.edu

555 Westwood Plaza

REGISTRAR’S OFFICE www.registrar.ucla.edu

Enrollment Veriﬁcation and Transcripts transcripts@registrar.ucla.edu

1113 Murphy Hall

STUDENT ACCOUNTING www.sfs.ﬁnance.ucla.edu

1121 Murphy Hall stdacctg@ﬁnance.ucla.edu

STUDENT HEALTH-SERVICES ASHE CENTER www.studenthealth.ucla.edu

MyUCLA www.my.ucla.edu