F-1 and J-1 Students

The information on this page is intended for UC Berkeley campus staff working with international degree-seeking students and Education Abroad Program (EAP) reciprocity students. Meet our International Student Advisers and see their selected liaison units.

Upcoming Workshops

Our next workshop will be in Fall 2019. Stay tuned for the details!

Newsletter Archive

Newsletters are sent out once a semester to both the GSAO and Advisornet listservs. You can also sign up to receive the newsletter.

January 2019

April 2019

Past Presentations

Advising International Students

Immigration and Regulatory Updates

Unique International Student Needs

Want to learn more about the population we serve? Check out our international student enrollment reports.

End of Semester Reminders

Students NOT Completing Degrees in Spring 2019 - If your students need more time to complete degrees, make sure they check their I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) immigration documents to see if they need to submit a Program Extension to Berkeley International Office.

Graduate Students Completing Degrees in Spring 2019 - Please advise any students completing their degrees in Spring 2019 to check in with BIO if they are unsure of their post-completion plans, options, and timing.

Employment for Students Graduating in Summer - If students are graduating in the summer, this may impact their ability to work on or off campus more than 20 hours per week. Generally, if summer is a student's final term, they will be limited to part-time work (50% appointments) during that final term, unless they will be using their post-completion employment authorization. If this is problematic, please have them check with BIO to confirm the best summer employment strategy and options.

Graduate Student on Spring or Fall Filing Fee/In Absentia - Please remember to refer international students to BIO to discuss their Filing Fee/In Absentia plans and visa options. While these are both considered legitimate registration statuses for visa purposes, there are logistical issues related to travel and employment that are critical for students to discuss with BIO as they make their plans for the FF/IA term and beyond.

Graduate Students completing degrees in Summer - This group—particularly PhD students—is a bit tricky for BIO for visa purposes, and it is often (but not always!) required for a student be enrolled for final unit(s) during the summer even if the university would allow them to complete and file without enrollment. If you have any students with plans to complete degrees in summer, please be sure that you refer them to BIO to strategize their degree timeline and post-completion visa options as soon as possible. Each case is unique, so it's critical that these students meet with a BIO adviser before finalizing plans.

Top 10 Tips for Maintaining F/J Student Status

Hiring Employees on F-1 Optional Practical Training

5 Tips for Successfully Advising International Students

Compiled by Berkeley International Office

  1. Build relationships by expressing curiosity 
    and interest about educational and cultural differences.
  2. Foster sense of belonging by promoting 
    social engagement, and encouraging 
    leadership development.
  3. Connect students to learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom through Office of Undergraduate Research, DeCal, Berkeley Connect, and Public Service.
  4. Recognize and support multiple dimensions 
    of a student’s identity (nationality, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) especially during periods of transition.
  5. Normalize students' experiences and encourage them to seek support services through Berkeley International Office, CPS, TRSP, SLC, DSP.