Welcome New Fall 2025 International Students!
F-1 and J-1 students are required by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the UC Merced Office of International Affairs (OIA) to attend the New International Student Orientation (NISO). Your arrival is validated/registered in the Department of Homeland Security database SEVIS after attending NISO. This orientation is separate to the university-wide orientation. Both orientations are mandatory for an international student attending UC Merced on a F-1 or J-1 student visa.
Mandatory Check-In
Upon arrival to UC Merced, please check-in by emailing International Students & Scholars (ISS) office at iss@ucmerced.edu, and attach the following documents:
- Copy of your I-94 Admission Record (you can access and print your I-94 from the Customs webpage after your arrival to the US)
- F-1 or J-1 Student Visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
- Completed New Student Check-In Form
Mandatory New International Student Orientation
The International Student Orientation is an opportunity for you to meet your International Student Advisors and also meet other new international students. You will learn about important immigration regulations related to your F-1 or J-1 student visa, campus policies, procedures and resources. (During the Fall semester, there are two separate new international student orientations: One for undergraduate students and one for graduate level students.)
Dates, times and locations may change due to university policy changes. Please check back regularly for more information.
New International Student Orientation for Graduate Students (Master's and Doctorate degree level)
Graduate Students
The Fall 2025 new international graduate student orientation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. More details will be emailed to you as the date approaches. Please check-in with the Office of International Affairs upon your arrival (before orientation) by emailing iss@ucmerced.edu. Please attach a copy of your visa, I-94 and New Student Check-In Form to the email.
Please direct any questions to ISS at iss@ucmerced.edu.
It is important to read all incoming emails from the Graduate Division or Graduate Students Services regarding mandatory training and/or hiring paperwork. If you have a TA/GSR appointment, you must be preent to complete the hiring intake by thier deadline date or your first paycheck may be delayed. You will need your UC Merced Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, your visa, your passport and I-94 to complete hiring paperwork folowing your arrival.
New International Student Orientation for Undergraduate Students (Bachelor's degree level) & UCEAP Reciprocity Students
Undergraduate & UCEAP Reciprocity Students
The Fall 2025 new international undergraduate student orientation will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. More details will be emailed to you as the date approaches. This is a mandatory orientation to review how you maintain your visa status while studying in the U.S. No registration is required for this mandatory Office of International Affairs orientation.
Please check-in with the Office of International Affairs upon your arrival (before orientation) by emailing iss@ucmerced.edu. Please attach a copy of your visa, I-94 and New Student Check-In Form to the email.
Fall 2025 classes begin on August 27, 2025.
Please direct any questions to ISS at iss@ucmerced.edu.
