The International Students and Scholars office would like international students to see the March 6, 2023 announcement from USCIS regarding premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking OPT. The full announcement can be found on the USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-premium-processing-new-online-filing-procedures-for-certain-f-1-students-seeking-opt

UCR students, faculty, and staff comprise a dynamic, global community and are impacted by world events every day. We are deeply saddened by the death of Mahsa Amini and distressed to see violence inflicted on people who protest for basic human rights. Our thoughts are with those in our community who have connections to the...

Submit your nominations today to honor UCR's outstanding international community! These awards recognize exceptional students, scholars, faculty, and staff who have had a significant impact on the international community at UCR. Their contributions help enrich the international experience at UCR and enhance UCR's global engagement. Nomination period: March 1 - March 25, 2022 Award categories...

Dear Campus Community, The events of this past week in Europe have left many of us shaken by the images and stories coming out of Ukraine. The unexpected war has made us feel vulnerable and helpless; we shake our heads in horror and wonder, “how can this be happening?” We feel compelled to look for...

Giving Tuesday is an annual fundraising event where non-profit organizations try to raise as many funds as possible in a 24 hour period. For 2021, International Affairs hosted two fundraising efforts: one to support Education Abroad scholarships and one to support international students at UCR. Our Giving Tuesday campaign, “A Bigger Advantage - Expanding Education...

9 September, 2021 The International Students and Scholars Office (ISS) proposes to change its practice of not allowing J-1 scholars to pay our processing fees for issuing a DS-2019. Currently, our practice is to permit only the PI/Department to pay these fees, when in reality there is no regulatory statute to prevent the scholar from...

Dear Campus Community, As you have seen from recent news coverage, the safety and security situation in Afghanistan has unraveled quickly as Allied troops withdraw and the Taliban resurgence took over the Afghan government. It is upsetting to watch the news coverage in Afghanistan and other areas of the world that are experiencing violence and...

Please join us for an end of-the-quarter ISS Town Hall on Thursday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m. pacific time. The increase in verbal attacks and physical violence directed toward Asians and Asian-Americans during the pandemic, most recently the horrific and senseless killings at Atlanta-area this past last Tuesday, are shocking. The ISS team is here...

As students and scholars prepare for the Winter Break, the ISS team held a final Town Hall meeting to discuss current issues before the university closes. Topics included California’s Regional Stay at Home Order, California’s Travel and Quarantine Advisory, Global Travel Restrictions, and Winter 2021 SEVP Registration Guidance for F-1 students. In addition, pre-submitted questions...

Hello Highlanders. It’s finally week 10, the last week of the quarter before finals. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the quarter more difficult with remote learning, but UCR faculty and staff are working hard to support all of you. Whether you are happy that the quarter is almost over or you are just getting started...

The ISS team hosted a Pre-Arrival Webinar for incoming international students on November 13, 2020. For those who were not able to join us, you can watch a replay of the webinar below, along with resources and links to additional information shared. Dear New Students, Thank you for joining us for the webinar last Friday...

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a change to the Duration of Status (D/S) rule that would limit the amount of time students and scholars can remain in the US to two or four years, depending on specific conditions. The ISS team hosted a Town Hall discussion to provide an overview of the new...

Halloween is tomorrow, October 31! Halloween is a holiday celebrated in many countries on October 31 to remember the dead. There are many fun traditions to do at home with family and/or friends, such as decorating, trying recipes, and carving pumpkins. When it comes to dressing up in costume for Halloween, it is important to...

While the world is still responding to the coronavirus pandemic, it can be challenging to adjust to learning at home. However, being away from campus does not mean that the campus resources are not available to you. In fact, UCR faculty and staff are working extra hard to help you do your best. We have...

Dear continuing international students, Thank you for your patience as the University works through the guidance for international students for the fall quarter. It has been stressful and difficult for all of us to wait for specific instructions. We want to do as much as we can on the front end to try to make...

Dear Campus Community, At UC Riverside, we value international students. Representing more than eighty countries, our international students not only study on our campus but also serve as ambassadors for UCR throughout the world. We realize greater breadth of perspectives because they have chosen to make UCR their educational home. Many contribute to our research...

University of California Board of Regents Chair John A. Pérez and President Janet Napolitano issued the following joint statement today (July 14) on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to rescind a directive that would have forced international students to leave the country if their schools held all classes online due to COVID-19: This...

We want to reassure you that the entire UCR community, the University California System and educators across the U.S. continue to advocate for changes to the recently announced governmental guidance impacting F-1 international students. We are on your side. The University of California system announced plans to sue the federal government over the policies. A...

Dear UCR Community, As you know, Monday’s sudden announcement from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) prompted immediate action from colleges, universities, and higher education organizations across the country. The University of California system announced plans to file suit against the federal government. Nearly 100 professional organizations have signed a joint letter with the...

Dear F-1 Students, As you know we are currently evaluating the latest government guidance for the Fall 2020 quarter and we will update you when we have more information. In the meantime, we hope that you will take a few moments of your time to let us know where you are currently and what your...