Visa Information for International Students Attending Summer Sessions

Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) provides visa assistance to all international students attending UC Davis Summer Session Programs. Information on this page will let you know if you need a Certificate of Eligibility I-20 form from our office, and if so how to request your I-20 form. There is also information here on maintaining your legal F-1 student status during your summer session program.

If you are a continuing F-1 student at UC Davis you do not require another I-20 to attend Summer Session courses.

If you are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status attending another institution, or you plan to attend another school prior to your UC Davis Summer Session program, you may or may not need an I-20 from UC Davis. Please discuss your plans with the international student advisor at your current school, or the school you plan to attend prior to UC Davis to determine the appropriate requirements for your situation.

You will probably need to request an I-20 for Summer Session if you are:

• Coming to UC Davis from outside of the United States primarily to attend Summer Session courses,
• Are attending another school prior to UC Davis Summer Session and do NOT plan to continue your studies at that school after Summer Session, or
• Are admitted to a Fall 2008 degree program at UC Davis and planning to attend Summer Session full time.

J-1 Students

Most international students with J-1 status are part of an established exchange program or are sponsored by government or international organizations. Due to the specific purpose of this visa, UC Davis will consider requests for the J-1 Certificate of Eligibility form DS-2019 on a case-by-case basis only and will approve them in very limited situations. Please contact SISS to discuss visa options before you register for Summer Session courses if you think the J-1 is appropriate for you.

Step 1: Apply for Summer Session. See http://summer-sessions.ucdavis.edu/apply.html. You will receive email notification of your acceptance.

Step 2: Complete the SISS I-20 Request Form. This can be downloaded by clicking here. You will need the Adobe Reader to download this .pdf document. If you need this free program, you can download the latest version of the Adobe Reader.

Step 3: Return the completed I-20 Request form along with all of the required supporting documents to SISS as instructed on the form. Our current processing time is 14 working days.

Maintaining your legal status is your responsibility. If you have any questions about your responsibilities in maintaining your F-1 status, please contact our office immediately. Contact information for all SISS staff is on our web site.

Requirement to Report to SISS
You are required to report to SISS within 10 days of your program start date.  For students transferring to UC Davis from another school in the U.S. your transfer is not complete until you have checked-in with SISS.

Requirement to Maintain a Full Course of Study
You are required to register for and complete a full course of study (6 units for each Summer Session term).

Requirement to Maintain a Valid Passport
You must maintain a valid passport at all times.  It is your responsibility to renew your passport before it expires.  Applications for renewal or extension of a passport must be made with the Embassy or Consulate of the country issuing the passport.

Requirement to Report Your Current Address
You are required by law to provide your current Davis area residential address to SISS. P.O. Boxes, departmental addresses, and foreign addresses are not acceptable. Address updates should be reported to SISS within 10 days.

Requirement to Report Early Departure
You are required to inform SISS if you plan to leave the University before the completion date on your I-20, and the reason for doing so.  Please consult with your International Student Advisor if you need to leave the University.

Requirement to Follow Employment Regulations
F-1 students may work on-campus part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time during school vacations and summer.  Off-campus employment is not permitted without permission from the US Department of Homeland Security.

Requirement for Receiving SISS Authorization for Travel Outside the United States
If you plan to travel outside of the U.S., you must meet with an advisor one week before you plan to leave. Bring proof of enrollment in 6 units to this meeting. The advisor will review your enrollment, I-20 and passport.

If your visa has expired or you were only granted one entry on your visa, you will need to renew it in order to re-enter the U.S. You cannot renew your visa in the U.S. It must be renewed at an American consulate outside the U.S., preferably in your home country.

Necessary documents for F-1 and F-2 travel outside the United States and for reentry to the U.S. include:

• A valid passport
• A valid F-1 or F-2 visa stamp
• An unexpired UC Davis SEVIS I-20 with a recent SISS travel signature.  You should request a travel signature from SISS at least five days prior to traveling.

It may not be necessary to extend an expired visa when traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days. Please check with SISS regarding eligibility requirements for automatic revalidation of an expired visa.

Requirement to Report a Change in I-20 Information
You are required to keep your I-20 current and updated at all times.  If you have a change in any of items listed on your I-20, you must request and obtain a new I-20 from SISS by filling out an “I-20 Request Form”. Examples of changes are:

• Change of Legal Name (passport name only)
• Change of financial sponsorship
• Change of completion date

Requirement to Complete a Transfer of SEVIS Records
You are currently authorized to attend UC Davis (If you have a UC Davis I-20).  If you decide to attend another school in the U.S. you must notify your International Student Advisor of your intent to transfer and what school you are planning on transferring to.  Your International Student Advisor will then enter a “Transfer Release” date in SEVIS (this date should be before you begin at your new school). After this date is reached your new school can issue you an I-20.  You will then need to report to the Designated School Official at the new school within 15 days of your new program start date.

Requirements for F-2 Dependents
Dependents (spouse and/or children under 21 years of age) who accompany F-1 students to the United States are admitted in F-2 status.  F-2 dependents may not be employed in the U.S. and may only engage in taking occasional classes incidental to status (please consult with your SISS advisor if you have questions about this). F-2 dependents who wish to pursue an academic degree are required to change to F-1 non-immigrant status.