Visa and Enrollment info for International Students
| Dear International Students and Scholars,
During the campus’ transition to online instruction until April 10th, the Dashew Center will remain open during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM) and continue regular operations. While F and J visa regulations limit online course enrollment for purposes of visa compliance, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of State has approved exceptions that will accommodate online course engagement for students attending institutions that have made COVID-19 adaptations. The Dashew Center will continue maintenance of valid immigration status for students who maintain full-time enrollment (undergraduate students: minimum of 12 units; graduate students: minimum of 8 units) despite the transition to online instruction. Please plan accordingly to be present on campus when in-person instructions resumes. Please note that the campus’ transition to online instruction does not change F and J visa responsibilities to maintain valid status within the U.S. Please refer to the links below for information on F and J status requirements:
For students who have questions about requesting authorization for a Reduced Course Load, please contact the Dashew Center front desk to schedule an appointment with an F-1 or J-1 Counselor, 310-825-1681. For scholars who have questions or concerns regarding the impact this may have on their program activity, please contact your faculty supervisor or your academic department contact person. Campus will remain open, including research laboratories, housing, hospitals, libraries and clinics. The Dashew Center will continue maintenance of valid J-1 status for all scholars. The Dashew Center highly recommends that you limit non-essential travel. Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. State Department Travel Advisories for updated information about travel restrictions. If you decide to travel, be aware that other countries could change travel restrictions without notice, flights may be canceled or new re-entry restrictions could be imposed when returning to the United States. Please also connect with your country’s local Embassy or Consulate for additional guidance on specific travel advice by your home country government. For F-1 and J-1 students engaging in practical training (e.g. OPT, STEM OPT Extension, Academic Training): If your employer has made changes to their workplace requirements due to COVID-19 (e.g. temporary closure), please consult with your employer to seek alternative ways to maintain employment such as teleworking or other arrangements. The Dashew Center would also like to remind you that U.S. federal and state agencies will never request personal information from you by phone, text, or email. For more information about scam and fraud attempts, please visit our Scams and Safety resource page. These are exceptional, unprecedented times. All of us at UCLA are here for you and are working to ensure the achievement of your educational goals in spite of the challenges COVID-19 may present. Please take good care of yourselves and stay informed. Sincerely, Sam Nahidi |
