Welcome to UCLA! Now that you are here, what do you do now?

It is MANDATORY that you check in with our office when you arrive to UCLA. Please see the following link for instructions and samples to the documents that you must bring with you. You must bring the originals AND the copies. Failure to check-in will result in a HOLD placed on your records. (http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/files/pdf/CheckInInstruction.pdf)

Please sign up for ONE of the below Check-in Sessions by clicking on the link. All check-in sessions will be held in the Lobby of Bradley International Hall.

August 25, 2009 (Tuesday)	at 2pm	registration link
September 2, 2009 (Wednesday)	at 10am	registration link
September 8, 2009 (Tuesday)	at 10am	registration link
September 17, 2009 (Thursday)	at 2:30pm	registration link
September 23, 2009 (Wednesday)	at 2pm	registration link
September 28, 2009 (Monday)	at 10am	registration link

There are several orientations that you should attend to familiarize yourself with UCLA.

• For Undergraduate Students:
  
  
  • Dashew Center’s NISSO (New International Students & Scholars Orientation)
    http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/Programs.aspx?ViewID=0&subviewID=0
    - Tuesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 17, 2009
    - You will receive an introduction to life in the United States and at UCLA. In addition, you will get an introduction to the resources that will make for a successful transition as an international student, such as housing, finances, visa regulations, transportation, and legal issues. You will get to meet fellow international and domestic students through various workshops and events.
    
    
  • UCLA Orientation Program
    http://orientation.ucla.edu
    - You will receive an introduction to the academic and campus life at UCLA. You will also get help in registering and enrolling in classes. There are 11 sessions throughout the summer for First-Year students and seven sessions for transfer students.
  
  
  
• For Graduate Students:
  
  
  • Dashew Center’s NISSO (New International Students & Scholars Orientation)
    http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/Programs.aspx?ViewID=0&subviewID=0
    - Tuesday, September 15 through Thursday, September 17, 2009
    - You will receive an introduction to life in the United States and at UCLA. In addition, you will get an introduction to the resources that will make for a successful transition as an international student. You will get to meet fellow international and domestic students through various workshops and events.
    
    
  • UCLA New Graduate Student Orientation
    http://gsa.asucla.ucla.edu/orientation/
    - Highly Recommended for all new international graduate students. Falls on the Friday following Dashew Center’s NISSO (September 18, 2009).
    
    
  • Departmental Orientation
    - Please check with your department for their orientation dates
    
    
  • Teaching Assistants Conference/Orientation – Monday, September 22
    http://www.oid.ucla.edu/units/tatp/conference
    - For those of you who will be a TA for the Fall Quarter, please refer to the TA Conference website. You should check with your department to make sure that it does not conflict with your departmental orientation.
    
    

Check on URSA for your registration times and dates.

Check on URSA for your fee information. Your fees MUST be paid by 5pm on September 19, 2009. This will result in the termination of your F-1 student status. For academic calendar see http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/calendar/calf09.htm

Check on URSA to change your address information. You address must be updated at all times. F-1 regulations require that you update your address with 10 days of a change. Your local address must be the address that you are currently staying. You must also keep a foreign address updated as well.

All newly admitted F-1 students are required to attend a mandatory F-1 Visa Regulation Workshop. This workshop will be given during New International Students and Scholars Orientation (NISSO). If you are unable to attend NISSO, you MUST sign up for one of the following workshops:

September 21, 2009 (Monday)	at 2pm
September 28, 2009 (Monday)	at 1pm
October 2, 2009 (Friday)	at 2pm

* For resources regarding off-campus housing, please visit the Community Housing Office website at www.cho.ucla.edu.

Check on http://www.orl.ucla.edu/about/ for your more information regarding on-campus housing.

• Fall 2009
  On-Campus residents will receive an email in mid-August 2009 which will provide them a link to the Housing Move-In Reservation System. From this site, residents will be able to view their assigned move-in date and time, and print their parking pass.
   
• On-Campus Move In
  Students who are unable to move in during the scheduled fall move-in dates may request permission to move in early. There is a cost for early move-in.

Students must contact the front desk of their assigned building to request early move-in.

Dykstra Hall/De Neve Plaza	(310) 825-5451
Hedrick Hall/Hedrick Summit/Hitch Suites	(310) 825-2965
Rieber Terrace/Rieber Vista/Saxon Suites	(310) 825-2275
Sproul Hall/Sunset Village	(310) 825-2075

F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and up to 40 hours a week during vacation periods.

Students are only allowed to work off-campus with proper work authorization. Please refer to the link below for more information and eligibility requirements for Curricular Practical Training:
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/files/pdf/CPTGuideline.pdf

You must have a Social Security Number in order to receive wages from employment. Please refer to the links below for more information on how to apply for a Social Security Number:
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/files/pdf/SSLRequestForm.pdf http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/files/pdf/SSLSampleLetter.pdf

REMINDER: You cannot apply for a Social Security Number if you are not employed or do not have a job offer letter.

You are required to maintain full-time course load at all times in order to maintain F-1 visa status. Failure to do so can result in a violation and or termination of your F-1 visa status.

Undergraduates must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units and Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 8-12 units (please check with your department).

Please contact an F-1 counselor as soon as possible if you cannot maintain a full-time course load.

If you are traveling abroad, you must have your I-20 properly endorsed for travel by a Designated School Official (DSO). Please make sure to request a travel signature at least 5 business days before leaving the country. Please refer to the link below for the Travel Authorization Request Form: http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/files/pdf/Travel.5.05.pdf

UCLA’s Transportation Office can help you get to, from, and around campus and around once you’re here. There are several methods of transportation. UCLA participates in vanpools, carpools and campus shuttles. There are also Los Angeles public transit that can drop you off on-campus. For more details see the following website: http://www.transportation.ucla.edu

Welcome Picnic for New International Students and Scholars – Saturday, October 3rd at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. Come meet fellow international students and scholars, as well as domestic students and UCLA staff. We’ll have fun under the sun with food, games, music, and good friends.