Welcome International Gauchos!

OISS provides services and advising to international students and scholars, as well as the departments that support them. Please take a look at our digital brochure below to learn about international Gauchos at UCSB, OISS services, and to meet the team! Click on the "Download Our Guide!" button below to view and download the guide.

Download Our Guide!

Remote Operations

OISS staff are currently working remotely. Advisors are available by email, phone, or zoom.

Please visit our Contact Us page to find out how to contact our advisors, schedule appointments, and submit requests. You can also find individual advisor contact information (be sure to check out their bio pages!) through our People Directory.

Contact Us

New! Virtual Front Desk Drop-Ins

The student advising team is excited to announce Virtual Front Desk Drop-In Advising for international students! Even though we are operating remotely, we wanted to still be able to answer your general questions, provide immediate support, and get to know you better through casual interaction. With Virtual Front Desk, you can now receive drop-in advising for your quick, general questions without having to schedule an individual advising appointment in advance. Find out more by clicking on the button below:

Virtual Front Desk Drop-In Advising

Public Health & Safety

CALIFORNIA COVID NOTIFY

Together, we CAN help slow the spread of COVID-19. Add California COVID Notify to join the fight with your phone today. View instructions here.

COVID-19 FAQ & Resources

OISS Is Here To Support You, Virtually!

The impacts of COVID-19 have greatly affected all of us. Having hoped to maintain some level of normalcy for the 2020-2021 school year, OISS shares in the disappointment that many of you are feeling. We want to assure you that campus does not make decisions lightly; protecting your health and safety is the ultimate priority above all else.

Please know that OISS staff and other campus departments are hard at work to deliver your virtual UCSB experience to you in the best way possible. We encourage you to sign up for UCSB Shoreline, where you can sign up for campus virtual events or workshops, as well as access department resources. (Be sure to join the OISS Shoreline group!) In addition, be sure to sign up for Nectir (UCSB's chat platform) and join the #international-students channel where you can chat with other international Gauchos.

We also recognize the combination of political conflicts and COVID-19 are extremely stressful. Please practice self-care, support one another, and reach out to OISS or other campus resources such as CAPS. Other resources can be found here: https://wellbeing.ucsb.edu/.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus in person, as soon as it is safe for all of us to do so. Until then, we are excited to work with you and support you virtually!

In solidarity with our international campus community,
OISS Staff

We're Here To Serve

OISS serves UCSB's international community as well as campus departments, faculty, and staff that work with international students and scholars.

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive environment which supports international students academically, professionally and personally by providing holistic advising on immigration, employment and cultural matters.

Bias Incident Response

We at OISS condemn any instances of bias. Any member of our community who believes they experienced or witnessed a hate incident or crime is encouraged to report the incident through the UC Systemwide reporting form.

Bias Incident Reporting Form

Traditional Land and Custodians Acknowledgement

OISS wishes to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this place and all land upon which the University is located, and pay our respects to the Chumash Elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, and the culture of this area, which has become a place of learning for people from all over the world.