We advise you to thoroughly read through our International Student Handbook.

Important Dates for Newly Admitted International Students

Arriving at UC Riverside

You must arrive in Riverside no later than 9:00am on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. If you are F or J status, and are entering from outside the United States, you can enter up to 30 days in advance of the program's start date on your initial attendance indicated on the  I-20 or DS-2019 Form. Please do not try to arrive earlier as you may be refused entry.

Caution! Plan your arrival carefully! Public transportation from the airports and bus terminals can be limited, especially at night and on weekends. Please refer to the Airport Transportation portion of this webpage for information on how to get to Riverside from LAX International Airport or from Ontario International Airport. Also, please note that we will not accept any packages delivered to our center due to space limitations.

If you are currently in the United States in F-2 status, you must file and be approved for a change of status to F-1 before the quarter begins. Contact Kelly Hinosawa at Kelly.hinosawa@ucr.edu for more information.

No services at the UCR International Education Center on Friday, March 28, 2008. The University of California, Riverside campus will be closed for Cesar Chavez Day.

Mandatory International Student Orientation Program and Document Check-In

This orientation is mandatory for all F and J students. Orientation and Document Check-In will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 from 9:00am-1:00pm in the International Education Center Library. The orientation will inform you about the academic system, student services, and organizations at UCR. We will talk about immigration regulations, health insurance and services, registration and enrollment procedures, and cross-cultural adjustment. We will also provide special assistance for personal needs: help you with finding permanent housing, opening bank accounts, going shopping, etc. The cost of the orientation is $20.00, which covers part of the program expenses during this period (your account will be billed for this amount). Lunch is provided.

Please bring the following items with you:
 
**A completed International Student Personal Record Form.

Original documents plus one legible copy of:
 Your passport picture page with validity dates
 Your visa
 I-94 Card-front and back (usually the white card stapled in your passport)
 Your UCR I-20/DS-2019 (if applicable)
 If you attended school in the United States before being admitted to UCR, bring a copy of your 
 previous school's I-20/DS-2019. 
 A small passport size photograph of yourself 
 You local contact information and emergency contact information
 If you have an F-2 J-2 dependent, you will also need to bring copies of their pertinent information
 (I-20, DS-2019, passport, visa and I-94 card).

If Your Visa Status Is Something Other than F or J (E, H, L, etc.)

You are required to attend our Mandatory Document Check-in, however, you are not required to attend orientation. We do encourage you to attend. Please bring in person to our office a photocopy of your relevant documents during the Mandatory Document Check-in (passport, visa, approval notice with extension of stay and/or I-94 form). We will maintain a confidential file and will assist you in the event that you have to change your non-immigrant visa status. If you are currently a dependent (H-4, E-2, L-2, etc.) and are interested in changing your status to F-1 before you begin your studies at UCR, please contact Kelly Eldridge Hinosawa at Kelly.hinosawa@ucr.edu.

Parking

If you will need to park on campus for the Spring 2008 Orientation Program, please contact Kelly at kelly.hinosawa@ucr.edu by March 18th. We will arrange to have a permit for you at the Kiosk on campus. The cost for 2 hours will be $4.00. You may also park in Visitor Lot 10, which is diirectly across the street from our building on East Campus Drive. The cost is approximately $8.00 for the day or $2.00 per hour. the dispenser only takes debit cards and electronic credit cards. If you have already purchased a long term permit for the quarter, you must park in that appropriate lot.

Information about parking permits for the quarter can be found at http://www.parking,ucr.edu/.

Parking and Transportation Lot Map

Climate In Riverside - Be Prepared!

Fall temperatures range from 24-29 C in the daytime to 7-13 C at night. In the winter we have occasional rain showers, and temperatures range from 10-21 C in the daytime to 0-5 C at night. Spring temperatures range from 16-27 C in the daytime to 10-16 C at night. Summer temperatures can be hot, ranging from 32-38 C in the daytime to 16-21 C at night. Bring a variety of clothing, mostly for warm weather, but bring sweaters or jackets. You may want to visit nearby mountains, which have snow in the winter.