International Students – Pay for SEVIS Fee

Pay the required SEVIS I-901 fee after you have received your 1-20 or DS-2019. The SEVIS I-901 Fee is a separate fee to be paid from the visa application, and receipt of payment is needed prior to applying for the F-1 and J-1 student via/scheduling a visa appointment. The fee is $350 for anyone on an F-1 Visa and $220 for anyone on a J-1 Visa.

Who needs to pay this fee?

• If you are a new incoming student with an initial attendance I-20 or DS-2019 form you are required to pay the SEVIS fee before you apply for your visa or before you enter the United States (if a visa is not required).
• If you are a SEVIS transfer student with a transfer pending I-20 form, you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee.
• If you are changing status to F1 or J1, you will be required to pay the SEVIS fee.
• If you are out-of status and re-entering the United States with an initial attendance I-20 form, you will be required to pay the fee.
• Anyone on a F-2 or J-2 Visa does not need to pay this fee.

When do new students need to pay the SEVIS fee? They must pay at least 3 days prior to going to a U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa interview, before appearing at the Port of Entry (if you do not need a visa because you are a citizen of an exempt country), or before filing a change of status form application while in the United States.

For more information, including the processes on how to pay, visit the International Students and Scholars website. After you pay, keep a receipt of your payment confirmation that you can bring with you to any visa interviews.

 Gather Your Immunization and Tuberculosis (TB) Requirement Records

For incoming students, all UC required vaccines and TB clearance dates and records are due in the UCR patient portal (chconline.ucr.edu) by first day of quarter, January 2, 2024. A registration health hold will be placed in R'Web for non compliant medical clearances in the patient portal. All UC immunization and TB compliance requirements and helpful video tutorials can be found at studenthealth.ucr.edu/immunzation.

 Attend the Transfer Celebration!

Join us here on campus on Saturday, October 5 for our Winter Transfer Celebration. You'll learn more about our academic offerings, how affordable UCR can be, and meet some world-class faculty!

Check your email for information on how to RSVP and details about the day itself!

 Don’t Miss the Final SIR Deadline

If you haven’t already, the deadline to complete your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) is Oct. 15. Say “YES” to UCR by submitting your SIR via MyUCR!

Need help? Watch this handy video on how to complete your SIR!

 Complete Your Statement of Legal Residence (SLR)

If you’re a resident of California and don't want to be charged out-of-state tuition, you’ll need to submit proof of residency by Dec. 1. But why wait? Once you’ve submitted your SIR, you can access the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) on MyUCR. To learn more, visit registrar.ucr.edu.

 Register for Orientation

Highlander Orientation is a mandatory program for new students that will take place over two days: a virtual session on Friday, Dec 6, and an in-person session on Tuesday, December 17. Both are mandatory.

Register for both sessions by December 2.

Discover resources and network with staff, faculty, advisers, and other incoming transfer students. Explore student organizations and get a head start on registering for classes. Check MyUCR for registration information. 

 International Students – Schedule Your Visa Interview

Around October is when you’ll want to schedule your visa interview with a nearby United States Embassy or consulate. Every location has a different way to schedule appointments, so find the one nearest you and reach out to them about scheduling your interview. 

 Submit Official Academic Documents

Official, final high school and college transcripts and official test scores including any AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and TOEFL or IELTS scores are due by Nov 1. Make sure to turn everything in on-time or risk not meeting pre-requisites for courses or even putting your enrollment in jeopardy.

 Submit Your Housing Contract

Get the entire campus experience by living on campus. You are eligible for a Campus Apartment but must act promptly to obtain one of the limited number of spaces available for winter quarter.

You can view apartment styles, floorplans, and rates at housing.ucr.edu. Decide whether you would like a room alone, or save money by sharing a room.

 Waive Health Insurance (if needed)

All UCR students are required to have health insurance coverage and are automatically enrolled in our university health insurance plan UCSHIP. If you already have comparable health insurance coverage, you can waive out of UCSHIP. Visit studenthealth.ucr.edu/waiving-ship for details.

 Military-Affiliated Students - Apply for Your GI Bill Benefits!

If you’re a student veteran or dependent, you may have GI Bill benefits that would likely cover many of the financial expenses of attending UCR but that’s all reliant on the right forms and processes being done. If you haven’t already, read their basic overview and then feel free to reach out to the campus Veterans Affairs School Certifying Official (VASCO) at vasco@ucr.edu with any specific questions or if you want to meet with them.

 Upload your R’Card Photo

The UCR ID Card (R’Card) is your multi-functional campus identification card that connects you to dining plans, library resources, printing services, building access (door key), free campus events, and more. Newly SIR’d students may request their R’Card online starting in early November. This action should be completed by early December if living on campus, to ensure Housing’s ability to program residents’ R’Cards with meal plan and door access prior to moving in.

Learn how to request your R’Card and review photo submission deadlines to ensure your R’Card is ready at Orientation. A New Card fee of $33 will appear on student accounts automatically, even if no request has been made. R’Cards not collected at Orientation in December may be picked up in person from the Highlander Service Station.

 Log Into Your Student Health Portal

Finish completing all mandatory non-compliant immunization and TB screening/clearance items. Class registration will be held if all requirements are not completely compliant so make sure you’re responding quickly to any secure messaging from the immunization mandate staff in your patient portal at chconline.ucr.edu.

 Deadline: Submit your Statement of Legal Residency!

If you’re a resident of California and don't want to be charged out-of-state tuition, you’ll need to submit proof of residency by Dec. 1. Once you’ve submitted your SIR, you can access the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) on MyUCR. To learn more, visit registrar.ucr.edu.

 Winter Fees Due 

Friday, Dec. 23, is the deadline to pay winter fees without an Administrative Tuition Processing fee of $45 and/or a potential loss of class enrollment.

All payments (including in-person, online, or drop-box checks/money orders) are due by 3 p.m.

Please be advised that postmarks are NOT accepted.

 Student Veterans and Beneficiaries – Attend an Onboarding Session

In addition to the mandatory Highlander Orientation, you’ll also have a specialized onboarding hosted by the Veterans Resource Center, typically right before classes begin. This session will cover financial benefits, disability benefits, career preparation opportunities, research tips, and other topics that incoming student veterans may want to know about. This onboarding is optional but may help you get some questions answered prior to classes beginning! Contact the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) with questions!

 Get Involved!

With classes beginning soon, take the remaining time to think about what you want your college experience to be.

Search HighlanderLink to see clubs and organizations that you can join. Most of them are free to join and they’d love to have you. Most also allow prospective students to attend meetings and events, so you can even get involved now if you wanted to start getting to know them and make friends before classes even begin!

You can also start looking for events that you might want to attend on our campus event calendar. You may find a concert you want to attend, an open house for one of UCR’s many Ethnic and Gender Centers, or even academic events, like lectures and research symposiums. There’s always something going on!

 Classes Begin!

You’ve made it! Have a great quarter and enjoy being a Highlander!

During this first quarter, consider looking for an on-campus job, stopping in to meet your faculty members and TAs one to one during their office hours, and explore if any study abroad options fit your academic schedule.

 Fall Transcript Due!

If you were taking any fall courses, those transcripts are due by Jan. 15 and missing this deadline could affect your enrollment.