During your time at UCSB (and beyond), you will work with the OISS office to manage your immigration status and record. At times, this means that you'll need to submit a request to our office. This page serves as a quick overview of the various types of requests international students make.
What Is A Request?
Requests can range from anywhere between asking for a travel signature, to obtaining approval to reduce your course load, to requesting authorization to work. (Requests = anything that must be processed and/or approved by an OISS advisor.)
How Do I Submit A Request?
All OISS requests are submitted through UCSBGlobal, an online platform. International Gauchos and UCSB departments use it to submit, review, and track any OISS requests. (Click here to learn more about UCSBGlobal.)
You will log onto UCSBGlobal using your UCSB Net ID and password. You will then submit the e-form that corresponds with your request, and fill out the required information. Sometimes, you'll be required to upload some documents. Once everything is submitted, an OISS advisor will review your request. Once approved, you will receive an email notification, along with any other instructions as necessary.
How To Use This Guide
Below, you will see charts that outline common student requests in the following categories:
- All international students
- F-1 specific requests
- J-1 specific requests
All students should review the first chart, and then review the second or third chart, depending on what type of visa you hold.
In these charts, you'll find different requests that students make, along with a description, and the name of the request. OISS uses the same names used by federal immigration policy for consistency, and it'll also be the name of the corresponding e-form when you go to submit your request in the UCSBGlobal platform.
You should also make note of the "Request Processing Time." This is how many business days it will take an OISS advisor to review and approve the request. The processing time begins the day after you submit the request in UCSBGlobal (*if your e-form requires a second approver, such as an academic advisor, the processing time begins the day after the second approver submits their approval). Some requests are time-sensitive, so make sure to give yourself enough time when submitting requests to OISS.
*The times listed below are standard processing times. Depending on your advisor's workload or availability, processing times may vary.
Requests For All Students
Here are the various requests made by both F-1 and J-1 students.
|
I Want To... |
Request Name |
Description |
Request Processing Time |
| Travel outside of the U.S. | Travel Signature | Once you begin your studies at UCSB, there may come times when you need to travel internationally. In order to do so, you have to obtain a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 from OISS. Make sure to review the travel policy when planning your travel. F-1 students click here. J-1 students click here. | 5 Business Days |
|
Take a class at another school while staying enrolled at UCSB |
Concurrent Enrollment |
Concurrent enrollment means that you are taking courses at two SEVIS-approved schools. In order to be eligible to participate in concurrent enrollment, you must be enrolled in full-time studies and in good academic standing at UCSB. You must receive authorization from OISS before participating in concurrent enrollment. Authorization during summer session is not required. Read the full policy here. |
3 Business Days |
|
Help a family member obtain a tourist visa to visit me |
UCSB Invitation Letter |
If you would like to provide an invitation letter to your visitor(s) to present with their visa application, we suggest that you, yourself write a letter for the visitor(s). Get the letter template here. |
N/A |
|
Take a quarter or more off from UCSB (and go back to my home country) |
Leave of Absence |
A Leave of Absence is the process of voluntarily withdrawing from UCSB for one or more quarters, so that you can take a temporary leave. International students must be outside of the U.S. for the entirety of their Leave of Absence. Read the full policy here. |
5 business days |
| Extend the program end date on my I-20/DS-2019 because I need more time to study at UCSB | Program Extension | Never let your I-20 or DS-2019 expire if you are still studying at UCSB! As an international student, you are permitted to continue studying at UCSB until you graduate, or until your I-20 or DS-2019 expires - whichever option comes first. Find out how to extend your program end date so that you can stay at UCSB longer. | 5 business days |
| Take less than my full course load (units) for academic reasons | Academic Reduced Course Load (RCL) | F-1 and J-1 students must enroll as full-time students during every quarter of their program of study at UCSB. In order to drop below full-time enrollment, international students must receive prior authorization from OISS. This is done through requesting a reduced course load. Authorization is not automatic and not every student is eligible for a reduced course load. Make sure you understand your Academic Requirements in order to protect your status. | 3 business days |
| Take less than my full course load (units) for medical reasons (and stay in the U.S.) | Medical Reduced Course Load (RCL) | Students who are requesting a Medical Reduced Course Load (RCL) are currently receiving treatment for a medical issue that prohibits them from attending a full course of study. If you are approved for a Medical Reduced Course Load, your F-1 or J-1 student status will remain active, and you are eligible to remain in the U.S. If you have a medical circumstance that requires you to go outside of the U.S. (such as surgery with a medical doctor in your home country), then you may want to take a Leave of Absence. | 3 business days |
| Transfer to a different school in the U.S. | Transfer Out |
Accepted to another school in the U.S.? Congratulations! Click here to find out how to request a Transfer Out. |
5 business days |
| Report to OISS that I no longer need OISS to manage my immigration record | Student Completion | Graduating? Leaving UCSB for good? Changing out of student visa status? Done or withdrawing from OPT? Let OISS know so that we can properly close out your record! | 5 business days |
F-1 Student Requests
The below requests can only be made by students holding an F-1 visa. If you hold a J-1 student visa, then scroll down to the J-1 Student Requests section of this page.
|
I Want To... |
Request Name |
Description |
Request Processing Time |
|
Obtain a Social Security Number |
On-Campus Employment Request | If you have never applied for or been issued a Social Security Number (SSN) you will need to do so within a month of starting employment. Visit the F-1 Employment page and read the Social Security section. | 3 business days |
| Work on campus | N/A | F-1 students do not need authorization from OISS to work on campus. Visit the F-1 Employment page for more information. | N/A |
| Work off-campus (internship to gain industry experience related to my major) | Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is off-campus employment or an internship related to your major that is a requirement of a course. Authorization for CPT is granted by OISS. Read the CPT policy here. | 10 business days |
| Work in the U.S. after graduation | Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment or training which provides an opportunity for you to obtain actual work experience in the U.S. that is directly related to your field of study. Read the OPT policy here. | 10 business days |
| Work in the U.S. after initial OPT (for STEM students) | STEM OPT Extension | STEM OPT Extension allows students who graduated with STEM degrees to continue their OPT for 24 additional months. More information about STEM OPT is on the STEM page. | 10 business days |
J-1 Student Requests
The below requests can only be made by students holding an J-1 visa. If you hold a F-1 student visa, then scroll up to the F-1 Student Requests section of this page.
|
I Want To... |
Request Name |
Description |
Request Processing Time |
|
Work on campus |
On-Campus Work Authorization | SEVIS regulations regarding on-campus employment for J-1 students require your J-1 sponsor (UCSB) to authorize all on-campus employment in writing before your employment start date. You must have written authorization from OISS to work on campus. Find out everything you need to know about working on-campus, including how to obtain a Social Security Number, here. | 5 business days |
| Work off-campus while I am an enrolled student | Pre-Completion Academic Training | Academic Training (AT) is a type of work authorization for J-1 students and it is issued by the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS). The purpose of Academic Training is to provide J-1 exchange students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study, as well as continue their cultural exchange. | 10 business days |
| Work off-campus after I complete my program | Post-Completion Academic Training | Academic Training (AT) is a type of work authorization for J-1 students and it is issued by the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS). The purpose of Academic Training is to provide J-1 exchange students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study, as well as continue their cultural exchange. | 10 business days |