Frequently Asked Questions for Students Accepted to UC San Diego

Completion of your NEW ADMIT request before its due date (as shown in iPortal) is subject to our advisors' current workload and it is not guaranteed.

EXPEDITE REQUESTS WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF YOU MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 

1. You already hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp, and your flight to the U.S. is scheduled prior to the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You must upload a copy of your flight itinerary and your valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp as part of your expedite request.
     
2. Your visa appointment is scheduled prior to the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You must upload a copy of your DS-160 visa appointment confirmation page showing your name, date of birth, and passport number; the date of your visa interview; and the location (U.S. consulate) of your visa appointment.
     
3. Your Program Start Date is less than 30 days away from the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You will be required to upload a copy of your UC San Diego admission letter showing your name and confirming your program start date to your expedite request.
     
     

PROCESSING TIME REMINDER: The processing time for your Form I-20 or DS-2019 document is 15 business days from the date you successfully complete and submit your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Incomplete requests will cause a delay in processing. If your application is incomplete or invalid, you will be contacted by an ISEO Advisor via the Comments section of your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Processing delay due to incomplete or invalid requests is not sufficient reasoning to request an expedite. 

How to submit your expedite request:

If you fall into one of the three reasons listed above AND you have the required documentation, please submit your expedite request via the instructions below: 

1. Visit iContact.ucsd.edu and Email ISEO through the Contact Form.
   
2. Fill out the form, including your PID. Respond to the following questions as follows: 
   • I am a: Newly-admitted International Student (ISPO) 
   • I have a question about: iPortal Request/Technical Assistance 
   • More specifically, I’d like to learn more about: Expedite a Pending Request
     
3. Complete the remaining drop-downs the form is asking for.
   
4. In the “Any additional information you’d like to share?” field, tell us which one of the three expedite reasons outlined above matches your situation, and provide a brief explanation. 
   • Example explanation: I am requesting an expedite because I am in situation #1: I already have a F-1 visa and my flight to the US is 10 days from now. I submitted my iPortal request for my Form I-20 yesterday, but the due date on the request shows that my I-20 won’t be ready before my flight. I have uploaded a copy of my flight itinerary and my F-1 visa as proof.
5. Upload the documents outlined above that are required to support your expedite request. NOTE: Expedite requests submitted without the required documentation will be considered ineligible for expedite.
   
6. Submit the contact form. 
   

An ISEO Advisor will respond to your expedite request within 3-5 business days (1 week). If your expedite request meets the criteria above, you will receive confirmation that your request has been forwarded to an advisor for consideration. We will do our best to complete your request as soon as possible, but completion of your request before its due date as shown in iPortal is subject to our advisors' current workload and it is not guaranteed. 

If your expedite request does not meet the criteria above, you will receive a response that your request does not meet the requirements and is ineligible for an expedite. 

Do not send multiple expedite requests. This negatively impacts processing time for both students and advisors. 

No. You do not need to fix your iPortal profile information in order to submit your NEW ADMIT request for your Form I-20 or DS-2019. ISEO issues immigration documents using your passport and the documentation and responses you provide in your NEW ADMIT request e-form. Please submit your NEW ADMIT request as soon as you have access to iPortal. 

The information shown on your iPortal profile is carried over from your admissions application. The information you provided on your admission application is now the information in university records. To update your biographical and contact information in university records, please follow the relevant instructions: 

• Changing Your Legal Name 
• Lived Name & Personal Pronouns 
• Updating your Addresses or other contact information 

Note that it may take several weeks for changes you request to take effect in university systems, including iPortal. 

No. Students are required to sign their Form I-20 or DS-2019 by hand. Students will be expected to show their hardcopy, hand-signed Form I-20 or DS-2019 at the U.S. embassy/consulate when going to interview, and at Customs when arriving for entry to the United States. 

After receiving your Form I-20 or DS-2019 in iPortal, you will need to download it, print it, and sign it.

Note that if your last date of enrollment or last date of authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT) at another U.S. institution is within 5 months (152 days) of the quarter start date at UC San Diego, you may be eligible to request to transfer your SEVIS Record to UC San Diego. Please note the information below is ONLY applicable for F-1 students. J-1 Students seeking a SEVIS Transfer should first contact ISEO .

What does it mean to transfer my SEVIS record?

Many students think the term ‘Transfer’ only applies to the transferring of academic credits or units from one school to another. For example, transferring 60 units/credits from a Community College to UC San Diego. However, for international students, the terms ‘SEVIS Transfer’, ‘Transferring my SEVIS Record’, or ‘Releasing my SEVIS Record’ can actually mean something different!

If you are currently enrolled at another U.S. institution and hold an active SEVIS record and SEVIS ID Number, you may be eligible for a SEVIS Transfer.

• A SEVIS Transfer occurs when a Designated School Official (DSO) at your current institution electronically sends your SEVIS record (Form I-20) to UC San Diego.
• Once they electronically release your SEVIS record, UC San Diego can then issue you a Form I-20 with the SAME SEVIS ID Number. The I-20 you receive from UC San Diego will reflect your new program dates and details.
• A DSO can electronically release your SEVIS record on the same day or schedule a transfer for a future date. The date that the record is released from your current school to UC San Diego is know as your  SEVIS Record Release Date. 
  
• UC San Diego does not use a transfer-in form for students transferring into our school. If your current school needs verification of your SEVIS transfer, please contact ISEO via icontact.ucsd.edu

How do I know if I am eligible for a SEVIS transfer?

If your last date of enrollment or last date of employment on post-completion OPT is within 5 months (152 days) of your program start date at UC San Diego, you may be eligible to request a SEVIS Transfer.

• Eligibility to transfer is decided by your current school that holds your SEVIS Record and Form I-20.
• Note that SEVIS Transfers are NOT automatic upon Accepting your Offer of Admission from UC San Diego. You must contact your current school to request a timely SEVIS Transfer.
• The deadline for F-1 students to request a SEVIS transfer from their previous school is 60 days after the program completion date or OPT end date, whichever is later.
  

What’s the process of transferring my SEVIS record?

SEVIS Transfers require coordination between you, the DSO at your current school, and UC San Diego.

1. Schedule a SEVIS Release Date: You’ll need to contact your DSO at your current school and let them know that you wish to transfer your SEVIS record to UC San Diego. Our SEVIS school code is SND214F00088000. Ensure that you obtain written confirmation from your school that your SEVIS record was released successfully in active status. Ensure that your release date is within 5 months of when you wish to begin your full-time program at UC San Diego.
   
   
2. Request Form I-20 from UC San Diego in iPortal: Don't wait until your SEVIS Release Date to request your Form I-20 from UC San Diego! Even prior to your SEVIS Release date, you can log into iPortal and request your I-20 from UC San Diego. We will issue your I-20 within 15 business days of your iPortal Request or your SEVIS Release Date, whichever is later. If your SEVIS Record is not released to UC San Diego on your indicated SEVIS Release Date, UC San Diego will contact you to let you know! However, it is your responsibility to follow up with your current school to ensure the SEVIS record was released successfully on your SEVIS release date to UC San Diego.
   
   
3. Receive UCSD I-20 from UC San Diego & Begin Program: Once you receive your document from UC San Diego, ensure that the SEVIS ID listed is the same SEVIS ID number listed on your previous school’s I-20. Begin your program at UC San Diego on the program start date listed on your Form I-20.

What am I eligible to do during my SEVIS-transfer period?

• Enroll in summer courses prior to beginning your program in the fall without needing to adjust your program start date.
• Work on-campus once you receive your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego prior to beginning your program in the Fall. 
• Exit and re-enter any time before their program start date but may only re-enter the U.S. with a valid F-1 or J-1 Visa and your I-20/DS-2019 from UC San Diego in hand.

Please note the difference between your Personal Identification Number (PID) and your Active Directory (AD) username. 

Your Personal Identification Number (PID) is your official UC San Diego ID number. It is provided in the form of A00000000.  

Your Active Directory (AD) username is the first part of your UC San Diego student email (________@ucsd.edu). It consists of your name or initials (for example, if your name is John Jacob Smith, you may have an AD username of jsmith, jjsmith, jjs001, etc.: jsmith@ucsd.edu). 

Using Active Directory Username for Single Sign-On (SSO): Your Active Directory username is used as your email address and as your username to log into any UC San Diego site that requires Single Sign-On. Your PID will not work as a login username unless it is explicitly stated to enter your PID. 

For further information on setting up your Active Directory account, see here. If you have set up this account but have forgotten or need to change your password, please visit https://password.ucsd.edu/. 

If you require assistance with your Active Directory UC San Diego account access, please contact ITS by following instructions here. 

After you have requested and received your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego, you are able to request changes (also known as 'amendments') to your document, report changes in your admission or enrollment, or request a hardcopy be printed and mailed to you. Depending on the type of amendment you'd like to make, you may be directed to a different service form within iPortal: 

How to Request Amendments or Reprints in iPortal: 

1. Log into iPortal at iportal.ucsd.edu. 
2. Under the Services tab, select and fill out the “NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Amendment/Reprint Request”. 
   • Remember to SAVE your form when you are done answering the questions. 
3. Upload required documents and SUBMIT 
   • After saving your NEW ADMIT form, find it again under the Requests tab.  
   • Upload the documents the form requires of you. Depending on your request, you may be required to upload supporting documents. 
   • SUBMIT the form. Please only click Submit once—it may a few moments for the form to submit.
     

_{*How will my name appear on my Form I-20 or DS-2019? When ISEO creates a student's Form I-20 or DS-2019, we follow the official SEVIS naming guidelines as outlined at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/sevis-basics/system-data-entry-standards/name-standards. Please note that “Passport Name” is NOT a required field on the Form I-20 or DS-2019. When a student receives their document, they may find this field to be blank. This not an error, as it is not a SEVIS requirement.}

INITIAL Form I-20 or DS-2019 - Receiving a NEW SEVIS ID NUMBER from UC San Diego: 

F-1 and J-1 students who have been issued an Initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 (meaning, you received a new SEVIS ID number) may seek entry to the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the Program Start Date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Transfer Pending Form I-20 or DS-2019 - Receiving the SAME SEVIS ID NUMBER from UC San Diego:  

F-1 and J-1 students who have been issued a UC San Diego Form I-20 or DS-2019 showing the same SEVIS ID number as they had at their previous U.S. institution may enter the U.S. any time before the Program Start Date listed on their UC San Diego document. Unlike students who receive a new SEVIS ID, there are no restrictions on entry for SEVIS Transfer students showing the same SEVIS ID number. However, SEVIS Transfer students should only re-enter the U.S. with their UC San Diego Form I-20 or DS-2019 in hand, as the I-20 or DS-2019 from their previous institution will no longer be valid.

1. Search the consulate’s website to see if they offer expedited or emergency visa appointments. Most consulates will consider requests for expedited or emergency appointments. However, this may not be available at all posts.
   • NOTE: Most consulates will require you to already have a visa appointment booked, even if the date is many months away, before they will consider a request for an earlier appointment. 
2. Follow the consulate’s instructions to submit the expedite or emergency appointment request. Upload a copy of your Form I-20/DS-2019 to the request. In the request text, let the consulate know your Program Start Date and that you are requesting a visa appointment in advance of that date, so that you can report to UC San Diego in time to start your program of study.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU CANNOT GET AN EARLIER APPOINTMENT:

If you are unable to arrive to San Diego by the Program Start Date listed on your Form I-20/DS-2019, please contact ISEO for guidance: iContact.ucsd.edu