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Fall 2021 Planning for International Students and Scholars

Originally published: April 29, 2021

UPDATED: Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from international students, scholar, and their families, with information about where to find answers. Please note that many units on campus continue to update resources and we encourage you to find information through these helpful sources across campus.

If you have questions about visa issues or related topics not addressed below, email us at siss@ucdavis.edu.

The campus community is encouraged to frequently check the UC Davis Campus Ready website for regularly updated information, campus policies and requirements. For questions about graduate education, please email gradservices@ucdavis.edu.

Fall 2021 Planning Frequently Asked Questions for International Students and Scholars

COVID-19 Vaccine, Reporting Your Vaccine, and Campus Requirements 

Visas and Arrival at UC Davis 

  • How do I get a visa?

  • If you do not already have a visa, please be aware of recent updates in the visa process. On April 26, 2021, the U.S. State Department announced a National Interest Exception for students from certain countries. This emergency measure grants a visa needed for entry into the United States.
    - Read more about the National Interest Exception 
    - Students from India may qualify for the National Interest Exception as well. 

    If you do not qualify for the National Interest Exception, keep checking visa appointment wait times for consulates and embassies in your preferred city so you can request an appointment as soon as they are available.

    SISS is here to support our students, especially at this time during your visa application process. We are offering a formal letter of support as an additional document for your application. You may choose to include this with your documents when you submit your visa application or go for your in-person interview. Download this letter of support in iGlobal when you log into your Term Plan.

  • I completed my Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). What do I do now?

  • Once you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) document, it’s time to start planning for your trip to northern California!

    Step 1: Submit your Summer or Fall Term Plan in our iGlobal system.

    Step 2: Whether you plan to come to the United States for summer session(s) or fall quarter, submit an I-20 Document Request or a DS-2019 Document Request immediately. Requests must be submitted at least two months before you plan to arrive.

    Step 3: To aid with the timely processing of visa applications, the U.S. State Department announced a National Interest Exception, an emergency measure granting travel into the United States for students from certain countries. (Students from India may qualify for the National Interest Exception as well.)

    Step 4: If you do not qualify for the National Interest Exception, keep checking visa appointment wait times for consulates and embassies in your preferred city so you can request an appointment as soon as they are available.

  • When should I arrive for fall quarter?

  • SISS generally recommends that international students arrive one to two weeks before the start of classes with the following exceptions:
    Unvaccinated students are required to self-sequester for seven days upon arrival in Davis. We recommend unvaccinated new first-year or unvaccianted first-year transfer students arrive at least seven days prior to the start of orientation activities so they have time to self-sequester before attending events in person.

    Learn more about UC Davis Orientation
    Learn more about Orientation for International Students

  • When is orientation for international students?

  • Dates for Orientation for International Students will be announced soon.

    Please note, UC Davis Orientation (September 17-21), an orientation offered to all new students on campus is mandatory. This is different from  Orientation for International Students.

  • Am I required to attend orientation?

  • UC Davis Orientation (September 17-21), is offered to all new students on campus and is mandatory. It is strongly encouraged that you attend in person. Orientation for International Students is a separate orientation from SISS and highly recommended for new international students. 

    Unvaccinated students who are new to UC Davis are encourage to arrive at least seven days in advance of events so they can fulfill the self-sequestration requirement before attending activities on campus.

Help for Fall Planning 

  • Should I register for in-person classes?

  • Yes, we encourage international students, regardless of where they are in the world, to register for in-person classes. In an update to campus on May 27, 2021, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan wrote:

    "We advise all international undergraduate students to register for courses as soon as they are able to do so based on the information in the system at the time they register. Currently, it is better for undergraduates to register for courses under the assumption that they will be able to attend in person. If in-person attendance proves impossible, we will provide additional information on the Global Affairs website in August, and we will communicate any alternative instruction options.

    International graduate students should discuss plans and possibilities with their program or Graduate Studies regarding enrollment for fall quarter."

    Read the Provost's update to campus from May 27, 2021

  • What if I can’t get into the country to attend in-person classes?

  • Please work with your academic advisor to determine your courses and academic plan. UC Davis recognizes the need for flexibility in some cases, particularly for those with health conditions and international students affected by travel restrictions. Although some online courses are planned, the majority of classes are planned as in-person instruction. In an update on May 27, 2021, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Croughan wrote:

    "We are encouraged by the recent determination by the U.S. Department of State to allow students with valid visas to enter the United States without contacting an embassy or consulate prior to traveling. We are also hopeful that embassies and consulates will continue to reopen and that wait times for obtaining a student visa will continue to improve. However, we are aware that there is still a possibility that some international students will not be able to obtain a visa in time to arrive for the start of fall instruction in September. To address this issue, we will do our best to have some alternative instruction options in place for international students who are unable to obtain a visa in time to come to campus for the start of fall quarter."

    Read the Provost's update to campus from May 27, 2021

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently issued guidance for the 2021-22 academic term that upholds previous direction allowing for international students to pursue 100% online classes from outside the United States:

    “The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020, and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the United States or abroad. Significantly, there are no changes to the original guidance, which will remain in effect during the 2021-22 academic year.”

    Read the guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  • Will there be enough online courses available for me to make progress toward my degree?

  • On April 26, UC Davis announced plans for a full return to activities in fall 2021. UC Davis recognizes the need for flexibility in some cases, particularly for those with health conditions and international students affected by travel restrictions. Although some online courses are planned, the majority of classes are planned as in-person instruction. In the April 26 statement, Chancellor Gary S. May and Provost Mary Croughan wrote:

    “We are closely monitoring the situations at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad and continuing to advocate through various channels on behalf of our international community. We know that an inability to acquire a visa and other travel restrictions may prevent some students from being on campus in the fall, so we will do our best to have some alternative instruction options in place. In some cases, students may need to adjust their academic plans in consultation with their academic advisor. We also ask that departments and faculty help ensure that international students are not disproportionately impacted by situations beyond their control. As of now, we expect that all international students should be able to arrive in person for winter quarter, and thus anticipate that winter courses will be delivered in the same manner as they were before the pandemic. We will continue to monitor the ability for international students to arrive by winter quarter, and will consider the extent to which additional remote course offerings may be necessary in winter.”

    Read the Chancellor and Provost's update to campus on April 26, 2021

  • Can I take online classes if I am in the United States?

  • All students who have or will physically arrive in the United States after March 9, 2020 (including newly admitted students for fall 2021) must take at least one in-person class during fall quarter 2021. If you will start your program in the summer, check with your SISS advisor to determine if an in-person class is needed. SISS encourages international students to join us on campus this fall if they can obtain visas. A majority of courses will be offered in-person beginning in fall quarter.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently issued guidance for the 2021-22 academic term: The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020, and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the United States or abroad. Significantly, there are no changes to the original guidance, which will remain in effect during the 2021-22 academic year.

  • If I arrive after the start of the fall quarter, can I still enroll in classes?

  • Contact your academic advisor or graduate coordinator for questions about late arrival.

  • Can I defer my admission to UC Davis if I am not able to travel to the U.S.?

  • Please contact your appropriate admissions office with questions about deferred admission or admission requirements:
    - Undergraduate students should email Undergraduate Admissions
    - Graduate students should email Graduate Studies 
    - Professional students should contact the admissions office of the professional school they have applied to (e.g., Graduate School of Management, Law School, etc.)

Getting Settled on Campus

  • How do I make friends and find community at UC Davis?

  • Please visit the SISS Finding Your Global Community webpage for information about accessing activities, the Global Ambassador Mentorship Program, upcoming events, and more. This page is updated with new information as it becomes available.

  • How can I familiarize myself with campus, and how do I get to know the Davis area?

  • Learn more about getting settled at UC Davis, available services, and activities, and get to know more about your surroundings in Davis by reading our International Student and Scholar Handbook. 

Campus Housing

Additional Questions

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Campus and Community