UCI's international diversity provides you with an ideal setting to prepare for life before and after graduation. One of the key concepts UCI can teach is the importance of a diversity of perspectives among students, scholars, faculty, and staff. By bringing students and scholars to our campus from nearly every country, we create a great potential for testing and exchanging perspectives.
These interactions also help you deepen your understanding of the United States as a nation with multiple nationalities and cultures. Similarly, they help our U.S. students and scholars better understand the depth and richness of many nations throughout the world. We rely heavily upon our students to broaden their world views and ours by communicating their perspectives and by listening to the perspectives of others.
For international students wishing to begin study at UCI for the upcoming Fall Quarter, we are strongly urging you to complete your paperwork and make your plans well in advance. Given the U.S. consulates' more comprehensive review of individual student histories and situations, we anticipate that it will take a much longer amount of time for you to obtain your student visa and process related paperwork critical to your travel and study at UCI. Please consider ways that you can have paperwork completed and contacts identified weeks in advance. For example, consider paying your visa fee in advance so that you have your receipt available for the day when you can officially submit your visa to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country. Similarly, make sure you have all required documents and that complete your passport application, CIAQ, and other required forms in advance of when you think you might need them. This way, if you don't have information requested on the forms, you will have extra time to obtain needed information. Make yourself aware of all U.S. Immigration rules and regulations that will affect you as a visiting student. Also, review the U.S. State Department's website page detailing the most common reasons for a visa being denied. Planning ahead will save you precious time.
UCI students and visiting scholars from abroad are encouraged to visit the UCI International Center. The UCI International Center can be found on the web and on the UCI campus in 3800 Berkeley Place. The UCI International Center works together with other UCI offices to provide an orientation program that helps international scholars pursue their goals while at UCI. They also provide specialized services, counseling and programs for all international students, from the time of their arrival to their departure. The center offers services such as orientation for new scholars, English conversation classes, as well as programs for the families of international scholars. In addition, they offers assistance with questions regarding immigration issues, employment, financial aid, tax matters, and cultural adjustment, as well as a number of other topics.
International graduate students coming to the United States to study at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) should address certain matters well before arriving in the United States. By
planning ahead and taking care of certain matters prior to your arrival, you will make your adventure and academic experience much more enjoyable. Some of the matters you should research, think about, and make arrangements in advance of your departure from your country are:
International Grad Students