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General Requirements for International Students

International applicants who are admitted for graduate study at UCI will receive an official letter of admission and also a packet with a Confidential International Applicant Questionnaire (CIAQ). To expedite issuance of your student visa, you must complete this document and return it along with any documentation requested therein as soon as possible. Admitted students should also familiarize themselves with the UCI International Center and how they can help with many international student issues.

For students granted employment on campus such as a Teaching Assistant (T.A.) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) position you must obtain a United States Social Security Number (SSN). Without a SSN you are not permitted to work in the United States. To obtain your SSN, you must:

Have a valid student visa I-20.
Have a current passport.
Have an I-94 card.
Have proof that you are registered as a full-time student
Have a letter from your home department at UCI containing information about your job offer.
Have a letter from UCI's International Center verifying your visa status

To start the process of obtaining your SSN, bring the above items directly to the UCI International Center. After you meet with the International Center representative, you will need to go in-person to a local Social Security Office to submit your SSN Application. Be sure to get a receipt from the Social Security Office to show that you have applied for your SSN. Please apply early to compensate for possible delays in issuance of your SSN.

Please note that, to be employed as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate, international students who are not citizens of countries where English is either the primary or dominant language, are required to pass an oral English proficiency exam approved by the UCI campus. More information about English Proficiency Examinations is available on the OGS Website.

If you receive compensation from a U.S. job or money awarded to you from a Fellowship or University support, it is potentially taxable by the United States Government. Many countries have Tax Treaties with the U.S; this means students from those countries with Tax Treaties are exempt from paying taxes on certain money earned. To find out if your country has a tax treaty go to the IRS website.

Students from countries that do not have Tax Treaties with the U.S. must pay taxes on money earned. For more specific information on the Tax documents needed, contact Roshita Tolani in UCI's Office of Graduate Studies.

For more information about becoming an international graduate student at UCI, please visit the prospective international student page on the Office of Graduate Studies website.