Hello new incoming Fall 2026 international students.
We understand getting to UC Merced is not easy especially after a long flight from abroad. Our Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) will have two separate trips to pick up students up at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) on the following days:
Pick Up Day #1: Friday, August 14, 2026 departing SFO at noon (12:00pm)
Your international flight must arrive to SFO by 10:00am to allow you sufficient time to get through border control and clear customs. Otherwise it is recommended you arrive the day before and stay at a hotel that provides free shuttles to and from SFO. PHD level graduate students with a Teaching Assistantship or Graduate Student Researcher position should arrive on this date to complete mandatory new hire paperwork by the August 17th deadline. Otherwise your first pay check will be delayed until October 1st. Undergraudate students can arrive on this date, but prior housing arrangements must be made in advance. Early move in if you are living in on-campus housing must be made before your arrival.
Pick Up Day #2: Thursday, August 20th departing SFO at noon (12:00pm)
Your international flight must arrive to SFO by 10:00am to allow you sufficient time to get through border control and clear customs. Otherwise it is recommended you arrive the day before and stay at a hotel that provides free shuttles to and from SFO.
Please note the instructions above that if you cannot arrive to SFO on one of the above dates before 10:00am, you can arrive the day before and stay at a hotel near the airport. The shuttles will leave each day promptly at noon to arrive to campus before the on-campus housing office closure. Limit your luggage to two check-in baggages. The shuttle is for students only.
If you would like to be picked up from the San Francisco Airport (SFO) on one of the days above, please complete the form with the required information. There will be a $75 fee charged by our Transportation and Parking Office. Further information on this payment will be sent by email following completion of the form.
