Spring 2014

New International Student Pre-Arrival Webinar

Sasha ChangRebecca Sablo

Berkeley International Office

Paulette GreisnerUC Education Abroad Program

Welcome!Sasha Chang•International Student Advisor•Berkeley International Office

Paulette Greisner• Director• UC Education Abroad

Program

Rebecca Sablo • Assistant Director for Student Services• Berkeley International Office

Webinar Agenda• University of California, Berkeley• Berkeley International Office (BIO)• Finding housing• Campus resources for international students• Travel information• Student panelists• Questions

GoToWebinar Control Panel

• Feel free to ask questions using the question chat box

University of California, Berkeley• Founded in 1868• Top 10 university nationwide• 350 degree programs• 22 Nobel Laureates• Home of Oski the Bear

Student StatisticsFall 2013 Enrollment Data• 5,645 international students from 120 different

nations– 61.22% of all students are undergraduate level.– 38.78% of all students are graduate level.

• 2,039 new international studentsSpring 2014• 151 new international students

Berkeley International Office (BIO)• International student

orientation• Personal and cultural

adjustment• Navigating the campus• Non-academic assistance• Visa-related advising• Workshops• Social programs

Appointments (510) 642-2818Drop-In advising (M-F, 10-12, 1:30-4

BIO Website• Information and tutorials• International student

stories• Student request forms• Contact information• Events calendar• Campus and community

resources

Bookmark BIO website on your computer!

BIO Facebook pageFacebook.com/BerkeleyInternationalOffice• Stay informed

about upcoming events and workshops!

• Keep in touch with your fellow Cal students from around the world!

Like Berkeley International Office page on Facebook!

Berkeley Programs for Study Abroad (BPSA)• EAP advisor - Scott McElhinney

– scottmc@berkeley.edu– (510) 642-5820– 160 Stevens Hall, near clock tower– Drop-in advising hours

• Monday 3-4pm• Tuesday 2-3pm• Thursday 11am-12pm

Ask Scott about EAP policies or procedures (if you aren’t sure whom to ask for help, whether it’s academic, administrative, or personal in nature, you can contact Scott).

Transfer, Re-entry & Student Parent Center• Transfer student program• Transfer student guide• trsp.berkeley.edu

BIO, International House

BPSA, Stephens Hall

TRSP Center, César E. Chávez Student Center

Finding Housing

On-Campus Housing

• Residence Halls*• International House*• Shared apartments/suites*• Single or family apartments

– Usually reserved for graduate students, and students with spouses or children

* No longer available for Spring 2014, but students are encouraged to apply for Summer or Fall 2014

On-Campus Housing

Things to consider:• Eligibility• Application deadlines• Distance from campus• Amenities• Room occupancy• Social environment

http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/housing/

Off-Campus HousingResources• Cal Rentals• Berkeley Student Cooperative• Craigslist – craigslist.org

Things to consider• Safety• Lease length• Security deposit• Communicating with the leasing office

Campus Resources

Academic Resources for undergraduates students

College Advisor

• Planning your semester

• Course selection and recommendations

• University & college policies

• Academic difficulty

Professors

• Developing research interests

• Discussing course content & questions

• Understanding faculty expectations

Department Advisor

• Major or minor requirements

• Earning credit for internships

• Getting advice about working with faculty

Academic Resources for graduate students

• A faculty member in the department

• Usually assigned to all new grad students

• Course selection

Graduate Advisor

• Developing research interests

• Direct thesis or dissertation

Primary Advisor • Graduate Student

Affairs Officer• Enrolling in classes• GSI/GSR

appointments• Department policies

GSAO

• Academic Services Unit• Graduate & University

Policies• Forms for Degree Progress

& Completion• 3rd floor Sproul Hall• Grad.berkeley.edu

Graduate Division

UC Berkeley Student Systems

CalNet ID• Go to

https://calnet.berkeley.edu/• Create CalNet ID

– Follow instructions using Student ID and PIN that you will receive in a separate email

Campus E-mail (bMail)• bmail.berkeley.edu• Need student ID and passphrase• Required for all students• Used by staff and professors to contact

students

Bearfacts• http://bearfacts.berkeley.edu• Used to update local address, phone number, email• Contains personal information and academic

records• Also used for paying campus fees• “Warn Me” service

Tuition and Fee Payment• CARS (Campus Accounts Receivable System)• Online statements:

– E-mailed– Records at bearfacts.berkeley.edu

• Pay:– Fees due January 15 or enroll in deferred payment– Online at: bearfacts.berkeley.edu

Packing Instructions

Packing for your trip• Check the U.S. Customs and Border Protection

website www.cbp.gov• Check in advance with your airline the weight and

maximum dimensions allowed for baggage• Consider Berkeley’s weather

– Winter temperatures   6°C to 14°C– Summer temperatures 12°C to 24°C

Packing for your trip• Food items (help.cbp.gov)• Prescription medications

– In original containers– Up to 30 days

• Plug adaptor / converter

Travel Documents• Valid passport• Valid visa• I-20 or DS-2019 from UC Berkeley• SEVIS fee receipt• Financial documentation

Passport

• Renew if it will expire in the next 6 months

• Photocopy important pages (biographic, visa) to carry with you after arrival

• Keep original in a safe place

Visa

Check your visa for accuracy!

Visa type: J-1 or F-1Expiration date

Number of entries allowed (M-multiple)

* The visa is used only for entering the U.S. If it expires while you are here, there is no need to renew it. However, if you leave the U.S., you visa must be valid for reentry.

DS-2019Check your DS-2019 for accuracy!

Your program start and end dates• You may enter up to 30

days before your program start date.

• You must depart the U.S. within 30 days after your program end date.

I-20Check your I-20 for accuracy!

• Personal information• Program information

SEVIS Fee Receipt

• Pay online at www.fmjfee.com/ – $200 (F-1)– $180 (J-1)

• Print Receipt• 3 days prior to Consulate/Embassy

appointment

Arrival in the U.S.

Spring 2014 International Student OrientationWednesday, January 158:00AM – 5:00PMDwinelle Hall

For more information, visit:http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/students/new/orientation_spring

Spring 2014 International Student OrientationMeet current Cal students through student-led social activities!• Campus tours• Hike to the Big C• Shopping trip• San Francisco tour• Hike to the Botanical Gardens

Document CheckWednesday, January 15 • 8am-9am at Dwinelle

Hall

Thursday, January 23• 4-5pm at International

House

Document Check is required for all new international students and take approximately 15 minutes.

Please bring the following: Passport Admission stamp or paper I-94

(you will receive it upon entry to U.S.)

Form DS-2019 or I-20 Arrival confirmation form

Document CheckArrival Confirmation Form• http://

internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/students/new/orientation_spring

• Document checks take about 15 min

• Drop in any time during the designated time slots

Arrival in the U.S.• All passengers arriving on the international

flights must complete U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry procedures at the International Terminal Arrivals Hall. For details please visit cbp.gov for information.

Arrival in the U.S.• US Customs and

Immigration• Present your travel

documents to a CBP officer

Getting to Berkeley• From San Francisco Airport

(SFO)– 45 minutes

• From Oakland Airport (OAK)– 30 minutes

• Public Transportation– BART (Bay Area Public Transit)– www.bart.gov – Destination: Downtown Berkeley

Getting to Berkeley• Shuttle Service

– www.supershuttle.com– www.bayporter.com

• Taxis and Rental cars– www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation– www.avis.com/car-rental/avisHome

Meet Current Cal StudentsPupe Pemika Thiravanitkul• EAP student from Thailand

Kaitlin Podbielski• Transfer student from the U.S.

Contact Us!Berkeley International OfficeAddress: 2299 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94720-2321Email: internationaloffice@berkeley.eduPhone: (510) 642-2818Website: internationaloffice.berkeley.edu

Holiday Season Office ClosureBerkeley International Office will be closed from December 24, 2013 – January 1, 2014

See you at Orientation on Wednesday, January 15, 2014!Register online at http://tinyurl.com/BerkeleySpringOrientation

Thank you!We look forward to welcoming you on January 15, 2014!