(COVID-19): Campus Health Updates

Back to COVID-19 Home Page

***Please Click Here for Official Campuswide Updates***

Registrar's Office FAQ Page | Official University FAQ Page 

FAQ For International Students at UCI in 2020
This FAQ has been prepared to help students interpret campus policy as it relates to recent changes in the public health and immigration contexts. This document does not change existing policies. Any official guidance from the International Center or Provost’s Office in the future may override these guidelines.  For questions about visas and related documentation, please contact the International Center. Please review this chart to help understand individual situations.  The information is subject to change and will be updated as we get new information.

Can international students enroll from their home countries?
International students may take a fully online course of study from their home countries in most cases. Please work with your particular graduate program to understand if this is an option for you. PhD students with funding guarantees will still be supported while remote.

Can international students still study in the US?
Continuing international students may stay in the US regardless of courses. However, incoming initial students must enroll in at least one in-person course to be eligible to enter the US. 

What is an “in-person” course?
Courses that require access to a laboratory, an in-person discussion section, in-person evaluation or testing, or fieldwork or experiential learning in the United States are considered “in-person” and can be hybrid, flipped, dual delivery, or other formats. Courses in WebSOC listed with a room number or TBA are considered “in-person” by the university.

When will we know which in-person courses are available to students?
Many previously identified graduate courses, and most directed study will be offered with in-person components and are listed as such in WebSOC. These courses are all appropriate for meeting your requirements. Schools and departments will finalize any additional offerings, which will be available in mid-August. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisors and program chairs to make course selections.

Can incoming grad students defer admission?
Schools and programs may make this decision locally. Please reach out to your graduate program director if you are interested in deferring.

What is going to happen to everyone’s visa documents?
The International Center, Graduate Division, and Enrollment Management will work together to ensure that all I-20s that need to be reissued are completed in an appropriate time frame. Students with confirmed consular appointments will be prioritized for document issuance.