For students in other visa categories (E, L, A, and others), please contact OISS for information and guidance.
- WHAT TO EXPECT ONCE YOU ARE ADMITTED
- GETTING YOUR STUDENT VISA
- USD'S HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
- SCHEDULE MANDATORY IMMIGRATION CHECK-IN
- PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR HANDBOOK
- ORIENTATION / EVENTS CALENDAR (UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS)
- ORIENTATION / EVENTS CALENDAR (GRADUATE STUDENTS)
On this page you will be provided with information on things that you would need to be aware of as an ADMITTED international student. The information is broken down into categories that appear below. Please review the information carefully; feel free to contact OISS if you have any questions.
What to Expect Once You are Admitted
Once you have been admitted to the University of San Diego (as confirmed by a letter offering you admission), you will be provided with instructions by the Admissions Office on how to obtain your Form I-20. Your Form I-20, or Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) student, will be issued by the USD Admissions Office once you have submitted all pertinent requirements.
Getting Your Student Visa
Once you have received you Form I-20, the next step is to apply for an F-1 visa. You will need to make an appointment for an interview with a Consular Officer at an American Embassy or Consulate in the city where you reside. Please refer to the checklist below for documents that you would need to prepare before going on your interview. Please take note that, depending on the specific embassy or consulate you are applying to, you may be required to provide additional documents in support of your application. For guidance, please refer to information found on your embassy or consulate's website.
Checklist
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student
- Proof of Payment of SEVIS Fee
- Documentation of Financial Ability to Meet Expenses
- Evidence of English Ability
- Passport Valid for At Least 6 Months Into the Future and With Available Empty Pages
- Confirmation Page of Application Form DS-160 (to complete the Form DS-160, please click here.)
- Proof of Payment of the Non-Refundable Application Fee
- Visa Reciprocity Fee, If Applicable
- School Transcripts, If You Are a Transfer Student Applying for a New Visa
- Color Photographs
USD's Health Insurance Requirement
All international students at USD are required to have health insurance that will cover them for the duration of their studies here in the United States. Please refer to this page for guidance on university guidelines on health insurance.
Students have the option to purchase health insurance through USD. Details (cost and summary of benefits) will be provided to the student upon check-in. During check-in, student is expected to indicate whether he intends to purchase health insurance through USD. The insurance premium is automatically added to your university bill at the time of registration during each semester. Payment for the insurance premium is due with tuition through the One-Stop Student Center.
(Click HERE to view current price list and benefits summary.)
Students that already have health insurance that covers them in the United States may opt to waive coverage through the university. Since the waiver is online, it is advised that students fill-out and submit the waiver even before they are scheduled to meet with OISS to ensure a quicker check-in process. For information on the online waiver, please click here (and choose "Student Waive"on the left hand panel of the webpage).
For questions on the health insurance requirements and online waiver, please feel free to send us an email.
Pre-arrival Information
Checking-in with OISS
All new international students are required to check-in with OISS within seven days of arrival in San Diego. You may set-up an appointment with OISS in advance for your check-in. We have identified various schedules for check-in so please refer to this calendar for guidance. You may call or email our office to make your appointment. Please allot anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour for your check-in.
Documents to Prepare for Check-in
- Your Passport
- Your Form I-20
- Your I-94 card (white card usually stapled to your passport; may be green in some instances)
- Your immunization records*
- If you have your own health insurance privately or through your embassy, it may be good for you to bring your insurance information so we can provide you with some assistance on filling out the ONLINE WAIVER FORM if you had not already done so.
Also, be prepared to provide our office with your USD ID NUMBER and your ADDRESS in SAN DIEGO. We need your ID number to lift the OISS hold on your student account, and we will need your local address to register you on the SEVIS system.
*All new international students are required to be immunized and screened for certain types of diseases. Please click here for more information.
Travel Information
For the student venturing off to the United States to earn a degree, traveling can be a source of both excitement and stress. You are likely eager to find out what documents you need to bring, how much money to bring, what to expect upon arrival here in the United States, etc. To help prepare you for your departure, please consult Education USA's excellent guide on pre-departure planning found here.
