New Admitted Student FAQ
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New Initial Students:
New students coming on an Initial Attendance I-20 may arrive up to 30 days from your Program Start Date. This date is listed on your I-20.
New Transfer Students:
New students transferring from another institution may arrive - or stay - in the U.S. at any time before their program start date. Please note that if you have travelled outside of the U.S. prior to the beginning of the semester, you will need your I-20 for travel by our DSO. In addition you will need to have valid F-1 visa for re-entry, unless you are a Canadian citizen or if you travelled to a border country and applies.
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Once you arrive to the U.S., or complete your transfer in process, please check in with our DSO about the next steps. You should have received an email about enrollment, our upcoming orientation, and other information about beginning your academic program with us. Please reach out if you have any questions by emailing cie@csueastbay.edu.
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We're excited to meet you! Please visit our Orientation Page for details.
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We understand that there continue to be many hurdles for students in obtaining F-1 student visas due to challenges beyond anyone’s control. Students are expected to arrive in the United States prior to January 15, 2026. Arrival beyond that date is at the discretion of the U.S. Custom and Border Protection.
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If you are not able to attend for the semester in which you originally applied, you must reapply to another term.
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F-1 international students currently in the U.S. at another SEVP certified institution can request to transfer their current I-20 to Cal State East Bay. Please check with your current DSO about the steps to transfer your I-20. You may also visit Study in the States for a more detailed explanation.
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To transfer your SEVIS Record to Cal State East Bay, F-1 international students would need to provide our admissions letter to your current DSO and complete their internal process. Your DSO may need our current school code (SFR214F00137000).
For more information, please see our SEVIS Record Transfer page.
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Submit official documents to the International Admissions Office as follows:
- By Mail/Courier: Send to the International Admissions Office, Cal State East Bay, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., SF102, Hayward, CA 94542.
- Electronic Transcripts/Mark Sheets and Degree Certificates: Cal State East Bay accepts electronic transcripts from schools/colleges that partner with , , , and for some California Community Colleges, .
If your school is using a different electronic transcript platform, please request for the electronic transcript to be sent to IAOoffdocuments@csueastbay.edu. - In Person Drop Off: Hand-delivered in a sealed envelope from the institution to Cal State East Bay’s International Admissions Office located in the Student and Faculty Support building on the Hayward Campus in SF102.
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Yes! Students who will be taking classes from inside the U.S. must maintain adequate health insurance coverage during their period of enrollment in the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ System. For international students who are enrolled online and are verifiably out of the country, this provision may be waived.
Please see our Health Insurance webpage to enroll in Health Insurance or to request a waiver.
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After you have accepted your offer of admission and cleared all registration holds and to-do list items:
- Undergraduate first-year (freshman) students seeking bachelor degrees can email advising@csueastbay.edu for advising and class selection.
- Transfer Students please contact your major department for major advising. For GE advising you can contact advising@csueastbay.edu.
- Graduate students seeking master's degrees: Contact your graduate department coordinator for assistance selecting your classes if needed.
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F-1 international students may count one class or 3 units towards their full course load. Hybrid classes count as an in person course.
If you have any concerns about online enrollment and class availability, please reach out to our F-1 advisors.
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F-1 international students who are maintaining F-1 status may be employed via:
- On Campus Employment
- As early as their first semester! Check in with your advisor about where students can work on campus
- Curricular Practical Information (CPT) Information
- Please review the information about CPT by clicking the link above
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information
- Please review the information about OPT by clicking the link above
- On Campus Employment
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Tuition and Fees for ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, East Bay are set by the Board of Trustees of the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ on an annual basis. Information about tuition and fees can be found /student-financial-services/index.html If you have any questions about tuition and fees, please address them to studentfinance@csueastbay.edu