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.

Fall 2019 Reminders

  • Maintaining Proper F-1/J-1 Visa Status - Please check out our Top 10 Ways to Maintain F or J Visa Status.
  • Welcome new undergrad and exchange students! Take a look at BIO's New Students page to make sure students have all the information they need to start your first semester successfully. Information includes BIO orientation, visa processes, arrival tasks, housing, and more. 
  • Full-Time Enrollment ASAP - Students should work with their academic advisors to become enrolled for Fall 2019 as soon as possible before the start of the Fall 2019 semester. BIO has the first 30 days of the term to report to Department of Homeland Security that all international students are enrolled properly. 
  • Reduced Enrollments - If students will be enrolled less than full-time or need a withdrawal they must first consult with Berkeley International Office. Any adjustments to enrollment can have a serious impact on an international student's visa record, and we will need to work with you to determine their visa options.
  • Students completing in Fall 2019 - If students are completing their degree in Fall 2019, make sure they are aware of post-completion visa options and suggest that they visit Berkeley International Office with any questions. Be aware that documents (I-20 or DS-2019) may not reflect the correct end date of the degree program because these are issued years in advance and academic plans change (particularly for PhDs!). It's critical that students communicate with BIO if they are completing earlier than expected, since they may not receive reminders. 
  • Program Extensions - F-1 and J-1 students receive notifications when their documents are expiring soon. They must submit a request to our office to extend documents at least 3 business days in advance.
  • Employment Authorizations - Make sure that employment documents are up-to-date! Remember that J-1 students must be authorized for ALL on-campus employment. F-1s must be currently enrolled students with non-expired I-20s to continue on-campus employment. F-1 and J-1s must be authorized for ANY off-campus employment and those options are limited.

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.