Welcome to UC Berkeley! We hope that your stay here is productive and enjoyable. The following is a list of items Visting Scholars, Postdocs and Researchres must do soon after your arrival on campus.
Arrival Checklist |
Check in with your host department
Your department administrator will register you and give you information about your CalNet ID number (required for getting UCB identification card).
They will also give you information about your benefits and privileges on campus.
a Scholar Information Meeting
Attendance is required at one of our Scholar Information Meetings to verify your arrival and complete your final immigration paperwork review.
Attend a Visiting Scholars and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) Orientation
Offered once a month from 10 am to 12 noon at the International House (see link for schedule). Enrollment for the orientation is required. See the VSPA web site for more information.
Read one of the Quick Guides provided by the VSPA:
- GETTING STARTED: A Quick Guide for Postdocs
- GETTING STARTED: A Quick Guide for Visiting Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers
Verify Your Health Insurance
Your department administrator will verify your required health insurance coverage. If you have questions or wish to purchase health insurance, the University Health Service at the Tang Center, 2222 Bancroft Way, has a presentation every Tuesday at 10 a.m. on scholar health insurance, dependent coverage, and dental insurance.
Subscribe to the Postdoc Email Listserv
This is an unmoderated listserv that provides a forum for issues of general importance to scholars.
- Send email to: postdocnet@lists.berkeley.edu
- Leave the subject line blank.
- In the message section, type: subscribe postdocnet, and send.
Majordomo will send a confirmation request that includes an authorization command. Send another email to majordomo@listlink.berkeley.edu. Leave the subject line blank. Copy and paste the authorization command exactly as shown into the message section, and send.
Apply for a Social Security Card
J-1 scholars who will be paid in the US, and J-2 dependents with USCIS- approved work permits, should apply for a Social Security Card. No sooner than ten working days after your arrival in the US, take your passport and visa documents to the Social Security Administration, 2045 Allston Way (near Shattuck), Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Ask for a receipt for your application.
Stay Safe!
Read the brochure Safety Counts available from the UC Berkeley Campus Police. Take precautions against becoming the victim of a crime. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Never leave your purse, briefcase, or laptop unattended. At night, walk with a group in well-lit areas or use the campus escort service called BearWALK. Use the campus Night Safety Shuttle, the bus that runs around the campus perimeter at night.
Get a California Driver's License (if you plan to drive here)
If you are a new resident to California, you are required to apply for a California Driver's License after 10 days of arrival if you plan to be driving. A Driver's License is not required if you will not be driving, but some people get one anyway to use as identification instead of their passports. A California State Identification Card is also an option if you don't want to apply for a Driver's License for identification purposes. It is highly recommended that you make an appointment at the Department of Motor Vehicles for either application; if not, you will may need to wait in line for several hours. See also Driving in California and Buying A Car.
Get your DS-2019 signed for travel
To re-enter the U.S. after your initial entry, your form DS-2019 must be signed by an Adviser in Berkeley International Office. This will be done for your convenience at the Scholar Information Meetings.
However, if you are traveling out of the U.S. before attending the Scholar Information Meeting, stop by the Berkeley International Office office to get your travel endorsement on the DS-2019. See also Travel and Re-entry.