STEP 1: Request Your Immigration Documents (2024)

Accept your Admission Offer and Complete Your Enrollment Checklist

Once you’ve been admitted, please log into your applicant portal and complete your Enrollment Checklist. This includes:

• Accepting your offer of admission
• Completing the California Residency for Tuition Purposes Questionnaire (if required)
• Submitting your transcripts from all institutions attended

You must Accept your offer of admission in order to move forward with any other UC San Diego processes for newly admitted students, as well as the visa process.

Create Your TritonLink Active Directory Account

After accepting your offer of admission, you must set up your TritonLink Active Directory account.

Approximately 2-3 days after Accepting your offer of admission, you should receive an email asking you to create your TritonLink Active Directory account. Please watch for this email and make sure to follow the link to complete your TritonLink Active Directory account setup as quickly as possible. (If within a few days of Accepting your offer of admission you do not receive the TritonLink Active Directory Account Setup email, please check your SPAM or Junk folder. If you still have not received it, email processing@ucsd.edu to have it resent.)

When you create your TritonLink Active Directory account, you will receive your UC San Diego student email and your PID (Personal Identification Number). Once you have set up your account, you should also be able to log into the Duo Registration Portal. All UC San Diego students are required to use Duo two-step authentication.

You must create your TritonLink Active Directory account in order to begin the visa process, as well as other important tasks such as applying for housing or registering for classes.

Understanding your PID vs. your Active Directory account

Please note the difference between your Personal Identification Number (PID) and your Active Directory username.

• Personal Identification Number (PID) is provided in the form of A00000000.
• Active Directory username consists of your name or initials (for example, if your name is John Jacob Smith, you may have an AD username of jsmith, jjsmith, jjs001, etc).

Using Active Directory Username for Single Sign-On (SSO): Your Active Directory username is used as your email address and as your username to log into any UC San Diego site that requires Single Sign On. Your PID will not work as a log on username unless it is explicitly stated to enter username or PID.

The TritonLink page provides further information regarding the Active Directory account lookup tool (under Set Up an Account), which allows students to look up their Active Directory username by inputting their PID and last name. From there, students can go to password.ucsd.edu to set the password for their Active Directory account.

How to Create a Duo Account

DUO is required for all UC San Diego affiliates, including new students. DUO Two-step login is a security feature that reqires verification of identity when loging into UC San Diego protected systems. After setting up your Active Directory credentials, you must register for Duo before you can access any UC San Diego Single-Sign On (SSO) based site or application, such as iPortal .

The DUO app is accessible through the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. For further support, please reference the primary DUO information page and the Service Desk provides full support for DUO if needed.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Using Correct Credentials: Please make sure you are using your correct AD credentials (not PID) and are registered with DUO to access UC San Diego Single Sign-On sites.

• VPN: If there are additional issues connecting to UC San Diego sites, please use the UC San Diego VPN. Instructions for installing the VPN can be found here . The VPN also uses DUO, so the student must be registered with DUO beforeusing the VPN. Instructions for logging into the VPN using DUO can be found here .

• F-1 or J-1, which one is for you? When filling out your iPortal request, iPortal will help you determine which visa status is the appropriate status for you. However, you may also familiarize yourself with this in advance by reviewing our F-1 or J-1: Selection of Visa Classification webpage.

• Prepare to prove you meet the F or J Funding Requirements. To receive the Form I-20 or DS-2019, you must prove that you meet the funding requirements for the F or J visa category. Review our Funding Requirements webpage to learn what amount of funding you are required to show, and which financial documents you can use to prove that you meet the funding requirements.

• Prepare required documents for upload. In addition to your proof of funding documentation, you may be required to upload some or all of the following to your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Make sure you have these documents ready to upload:
  • Color copy of the biographical page of your current valid passport. Your passport expiration date must show that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the start of your program.
  • Your official admission letter. You may be asked to upload a copy of your UC San Diego admission letter showing the start date of your program of study.
  • IF you will be transferring your active SEVIS record from another U.S. institution, a copy of your current Form I-20 or DS-2019. If you are currently enrolled at another U.S. institution or on U.S. work authorization under the F-1 or J-1 visa, and you plan to transfer your active SEVIS record to UC San Diego, you will be asked to provide a copy of your most recent Form I-20 or DS-2019 from the institution that currently holds your SEVIS record.
  • IF YOU PLAN TO BRING DEPENDENTS: If you plan to have your spouse and/or children under the age of 21 accompany you to the United States on an F-2 or J-2 dependent visa, you must also provide the following:
    • Color copy of the biographical page of each dependent’s passport, valid for 6 months after the start of your program.
    • Proof of your relationship to each dependent, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate. All documents must be in English.
  • Other supporting documents may be required of you. If additional documents are needed, you will be directed to upload them either by the iPortal form or by an ISEO Student Advisor upon review of your NEW ADMIT request.

1. Log into iPortal at iportal.ucsd.edu/
   1. Note that iPortal requires you to log in with your Student SSO (PID) or Active Directory credentials, so make sure you have completed your account set up, which includes setting up your login credentials.
2. Select and fill out the correct NEW ADMIT service form
   1. Under the Services tab, select the correct NEW ADMIT service form:
      1. NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Request if your UC San Diego program is beginning in the Fall, Winter, or Spring term
      2. NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Summer Start Program if your UC San Diego program requires you to begin in the Summer. Please submit the “NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Summer Start Program” request if you have been admitted to one of the following programs:
         1. (SPIS) Summer Program for Incoming Students
         2. (SEI) Summer Engineering Institute
   2. The form will walk you through several questions to collect the required information.
   3. Remember to SAVE your form when you are done answering the questions.
3. Upload required documents and SUBMIT
   1. After saving your NEW ADMIT form, find it again under the Requests tab.
   2. Upload the documents the form requires of you.
   3. SUBMIT the form. Please only click Submit once—it may a few moments for the form to submit.

For instructions on REQUESTING your Form I-20 or DS-2019, please see the section above entitled, “REQUEST your Form I-20 or DS-2019 in iPortal”.

Once your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is ready, it will be uploaded to your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal for you to access. You will need to download it, print it, and sign it.

The processing time for your I-20/DS-2019 document is 15 business days from the date you successfully complete and submit your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Incomplete requests will cause a delay in processing. If your application is incomplete or invalid, you will be contacted by an ISEO Advisor via the Comments section of your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.

For students transferring their SEVIS record to UC San Diego, the 15-day processing time will begin from your SEVIS release date or date of successfully completed and submitted NEW ADMIT request in iPortal, whichever is later. If your application is incomplete or invalid, you will be contacted by an ISEO Advisor via the Comments section of your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.

Remember, you can check the status of your request by logging into iPortal at any time!

After receiving your Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students), you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. This fee is required of every international student issued a brand new Initial Form I-20 or DS-2019, which has a new SEVIS ID number.

Once you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, you will see a confirmation page. Save a PDF copy of this confirmation page for your own records; you will be required to bring it to your visa interview.

SEVIS Transfer Students: Students transferring their SEVIS record to UC San Diego are NOT required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again, since the SEVIS Transfer process allows them to keep their SEVIS ID number the same.

After receiving your Form I-20 or DS-2019 and paying the SEVIS I-901 fee, complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form. In order to fill out this form, you will need your Form I-20 or DS-2019, which shows your SEVIS ID number:

• F-1 students: Your SEVIS ID number starts with an “N” and is located in the top LEFT corner of your Form I-20
• J-1 students: Your SEVIS ID number starts with an “N” and is located in the top RIGHT corner of your Form DS-2019. As part of your DS-160 application, you will also need to provide UCSD’s J-1 Program Number, which is: P-1-02849

When the DS-160 asks you for UC San Diego’s contact information, you may put down the following:

• Contact name: Name of the advisor listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019
• Contact phone: 858-534-3730
• Contact email: istudents@ucsd.edu

When submitting the DS-160, you may also be required to pay a visa fee*. Alternatively, some embassies/consulates may require the fee payment at the time of your visa interview. Make sure you have reviewed the website for the embassy or consulate where you plan to schedule your interview.

After you have successfully submitted your DS-160 application and paid any required fees, follow the embassy/consulate’s instructions to schedule your visa interview. Every U.S. embassy/consulate has a slightly different process for scheduling their visa interviews. Make sure you review the instructions on the website for the specific embassy or consulate you plan to apply at, so that you know what is required and expected for your interview.

*Note that the visa fee required by most U.S. embassies/consulates is different from the SEVIS I-901 fee.

Make sure to thoroughly review our Applying for a Visa page for detailed information on:

• What documents you should bring to your interview
• Preparing for your interview conversation with the Consular Officer
• Visa delays and denials
• Visa requirements for citizens of Canada and Bermuda
• Applying for a visa in a country where you do not hold citizenship
• ...and more!

Upon successful completion of the visa application process, the U.S. embassy or consulate will collect your passport and affix the F-1 or J-1 visa stamp to an inside page. Note that it is common for this process to take 1-2 weeks, sometimes more. This means there may be a period of time where you are without your passport.

It is recommended you check with the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply, how they will return your passport and visa stamp to you.

Completion of your NEW ADMIT request before its due date (as shown in iPortal) is subject to our advisors' current workload and it is not guaranteed.

EXPEDITE REQUESTS WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF YOU MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. You already hold a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp, and your flight to the U.S. is scheduled prior to the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You must upload a copy of your flight itinerary and your valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp as part of your expedite request.
     
2. Your visa appointment is scheduled prior to the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You must upload a copy of your DS-160 visa appointment confirmation page showing your name, date of birth, and passport number; the date of your visa interview; and the location (U.S. consulate) of your visa appointment.
     
3. Your Program Start Date is less than 30 days away from the due date shown on your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal.
   • You will be required to upload a copy of your UC San Diego admission letter showing your name and confirming your program start date to your expedite request.

PROCESSING TIME REMINDER: The processing time for your Form I-20 or DS-2019 document is 15 business days from the date you successfully complete and submit your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Incomplete requests will cause a delay in processing. If your application is incomplete or invalid, you will be contacted by an ISEO Advisor via the Comments section of your NEW ADMIT request in iPortal. Processing delay due to incomplete or invalid requests is not sufficient reasoning to request an expedite.

How to submit your expedite request:

If you fall into one of the three reasons listed above AND you have the required documentation, please submit your expedite request via the instructions below:

1. Visit iContact.ucsd.edu and submit the CONTACT FORM.
   
2. Fill out the form, including your PID. Respond to the following questions as follows:
   • I am a: Newly-admitted International Student (ISPO)
   • I have a question about: iPortal Request/Technical Assistance
   • More specifically, I’d like to learn more about: Expedite a Pending Request
     
3. Complete the remaining drop-downs the form is asking for.
   
4. In the “Any additional information you’d like to share?” field, tell us which one of the three expedite reasons outlined above matches your situation, and provide a brief explanation.
   • Example explanation: I am requesting an expedite because I am in situation #1: I already have a F-1 visa and my flight to the US is 10 days from now. I submitted my iPortal request for my Form I-20 yesterday, but the due date on the request shows that my I-20 won’t be ready before my flight. I have uploaded a copy of my flight itinerary and my F-1 visa as proof.
5. Upload the documents outlined above that are required to support your expedite request. NOTE: Expedite requests submitted without the required documentation will be considered ineligible for expedite.
   
6. Submit the contact form.

An ISEO Advisor will respond to your expedite request within 3-5 business days (1 week). If your expedite request meets the criteria above, you will receive confirmation that your request has been forwarded to an advisor for consideration. We will do our best to complete your request as soon as possible, but completion of your request before its due date as shown in iPortal is subject to our advisors' current workload and it is not guaranteed.

If your expedite request does not meet the criteria above, you will receive a response that your request does not meet the requirements and is ineligible for an expedite.

Please do not send multiple expedite requests. This negatively impacts processing time for both students and advisors.

No. You do not need to fix your iPortal profile information in order to submit your NEW ADMIT request for your Form I-20 or DS-2019. ISEO issues immigration documents using your passport and the documentation and responses you provide in your NEW ADMIT request e-form.Please submit your NEW ADMIT request as soon as you have access to iPortal.

The information shown on your iPortal profile is carried over from your admissions application. The information you provided on your admission application is now the information in university records. To update your biographical and contact information in university records, please follow the relevant instructions:

Changing Your Legal Name

Updating your Addresses or other contact information

Note that it may take several weeks for changes you request to take effect in university systems, including iPortal.

For step-by-step instructions on how to resubmit your request, see our iPortal Instructions and Troubleshooting webpage.

No. Students are required to sign their Form I-20 or DS-2019 by hand. Students will be expected to show their hardcopy, hand-signed Form I-20 or DS-2019 at the U.S. embassy/consulate when going to interview, and at Customs when arriving for entry to the United States.

After receiving your Form I-20 or DS-2019 in iPortal (iportal.ucsd.edu), you will need to download it, print it, and sign it.

Note that if your last date of enrollment or last date of authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT) at another U.S. institution is within 5 months (152 days) of the quarter start date at UC San Diego, you may be eligible to request to transfer your SEVIS Record to UC San Diego. Please note the information below is ONLY applicable for F-1 students. J-1 Students seeking a SEVIS Transfer should first contact ISEO .

What does it mean to transfer my SEVIS record?

Many students think the term ‘Transfer’ only applies to the transferring of academic credits or units from one school to another. For example, transferring 60 units/credits from a Community College to UC San Diego. However, for international students, the terms ‘SEVIS Transfer’,‘Transferring my SEVIS Record’, or ‘Releasing my SEVIS Record’ can actually mean something different!

If you are currently enrolled at another U.S. institution and hold an active SEVIS record and SEVIS ID Number, you may be eligible for a SEVIS Transfer.

• A SEVIS Transfer occurs when a Designated School Official (DSO) at your current institution electronically sends your SEVIS record (Form I-20) to UC San Diego.
• Once they electronically release your SEVIS record, UC San Diego can then issue you a Form I-20 with the SAME SEVIS ID Number. The I-20 you receive from UC San Diego will reflect your new program dates and details.
• A DSO can electronically release your SEVIS record on the same day or schedule a transfer for a future date. The date that the record is released from your current school to UC San Diego is know as your SEVIS Record Release Date.
  
• UC San Diego does not use a transfer-in form for students transferring into our school. If your current school needs verification of your SEVIS transfer, please contact ISEO via icontact.ucsd.edu .

How do I know if I am eligible for a SEVIS transfer?

If your last date of enrollment or last date of employment on post-completion OPT is within 5 months (152 days) of your program start date at UC San Diego, you may be eligible to request a SEVIS Transfer.

• Eligibility to transfer is decided by your current school that holds your SEVIS Record and Form I-20.
• Note that SEVIS Transfers are NOT automatic upon Accepting your Offer of Admission from UC San Diego. You must contact your current school to request a timely SEVIS Transfer.
• The deadline for F-1 students to request a SEVIS transfer from their previous school is 60 days after the program completion date or OPT end date, whichever is later.
  

What’s the process of transferring my SEVIS record?

SEVIS Transfers require coordination between you, the DSO at your current school, and UC San Diego.

1. Schedule a SEVIS Release Date:You’ll need to contact your DSO at your current school and let them know that you wish to transfer your SEVIS record to UC San Diego. Our SEVIS school code is SND214F00088000. Ensure that you obtain written confirmation from your school that your SEVIS record was released successfully in active status. Ensure that your release date is within 5 months of when you wish to begin your full-time program at UC San Diego.
2. Request Form I-20 from UC San Diego in iPortal:Don't wait until your SEVIS Release Date to request your Form I-20 from UC San Diego!Even prior to your SEVIS Release date, you can log into iPortal and request your I-20 from UC San Diego. We will issue your I-20 within 15 business days of your iPortal Request or your SEVIS Release Date, whichever is later. If your SEVIS Record is not released to UC San Diego on your indicated SEVIS Release Date, UC San Diego will contact you to let you know! However, it is your responsibility to follow up with your current school to ensure the SEVIS record was released successfully on your SEVIS release date to UC San Diego.
3. Receive UCSD I-20 from UC San Diego & Begin Program:Once you receive your document from UC San Diego, ensure that the SEVIS ID listed is the same SEVIS ID number listed on your previous school’s I-20. Begin your program at UC San Diego on the program start date listed on your Form I-20.

What am I eligible to do during my SEVIS-transfer period?

• Enroll in summer courses prior to beginning your program in the fall without needing to adjust your program start date.
• Work on-campus once you receive your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego prior to beginning your program in the Fall.
• Exit and re-enter any time before their program start date but may only re-enter the U.S.with a valid F-1 or J-1 Visa and your I-20/DS-2019from UC San Diegoin hand.

Please note the difference between your Personal Identification Number (PID) and your Active Directory (AD) username.

Your Personal Identification Number (PID) is your official UC San Diego ID number. It is provided in the form of A00000000.

Your Active Directory (AD) username is the first part of your UC San Diego student email (________@ucsd.edu). It consists of your name or initials (for example, if your name is John Jacob Smith, you may have an AD username of jsmith, jjsmith, jjs001, etc.: jsmith@ucsd.edu).

Using Active Directory Username for Single Sign-On (SSO): Your Active Directory username is used as your email address and as your username to log into any UC San Diego site that requires Single Sign-On. Your PID will not work as a login username unless it is explicitly stated to enter your PID.

For further information on setting up your Active Directory account, see here. If you have set up this account but have forgotten or need to change your password, please visit https://password.ucsd.edu/.

If you require assistance with your Active Directory UC San Diego account access, please contact ITS by following instructions here.

After you have requested and received your Form I-20 or DS-2019 from UC San Diego, you are able to request changes (also known as 'amendments') to your document, report changes in your admission or enrollment, or request a hardcopy be printed and mailed to you. Depending on the type of amendment you'd like to make, you may be directed to a different service form within iPortal:

Requesting Form I-20/DS-2019 Amendments or Reprints in iPortal:

1. Log into iPortal at iportal.ucsd.edu.
2. Under the Services tab, select and fill out the “NEW ADMIT: I-20 or DS-2019 Amendment/Reprint Request”.
   • Remember to SAVE your form when you are done answering the questions.
3. Upload required documents and SUBMIT
   • After saving your NEW ADMIT form, find it again under the Requests tab.
   • Upload the documents the form requires of you. Depending on your request, you may be required to upload supporting documents.
   • SUBMIT the form. Please only click Submit once—it may a few moments for the form to submit.

_{*How will my name appear on my Form I-20 or DS-2019? When ISEO creates a student's Form I-20 or DS-2019, we follow the official SEVIS naming guidelines as outlined at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/sevis-basics/system-data-entry-standards/name-standards. Please note that “Passport Name” is NOT a required field on the Form I-20 or DS-2019. When a student receives their document, they may find this field to be blank. This not an error, as it is not a SEVIS requirement.}

INITIAL Form I-20 or DS-2019 - Receiving a NEW SEVIS ID NUMBER from UC San Diego:

F-1 and J-1 students who have been issued an Initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 (meaning, you received a new SEVIS ID number) may seek entry to the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the Program Start Date listed on their Form I-20 or DS-2019.

Transfer Pending Form I-20 or DS-2019 - Receiving the SAME SEVIS ID NUMBER from UC San Diego:

F-1 and J-1 students who have been issued a UC San Diego Form I-20 or DS-2019 showing the same SEVIS ID number as they had at their previous U.S. institution may enter the U.S. any time before the Program Start Date listed on their UC San Diego document. Unlike students who receive a new SEVIS ID, there are no restrictions on entry for SEVIS Transfer students showing the same SEVIS ID number. However, SEVIS Transfer students should only re-enter the U.S. with their UC San Diego Form I-20 or DS-2019 in hand, as the I-20 or DS-2019 from their previous institution will no longer be valid.