Exchange Students
- Step 1 - Request Immigration Documents
- Step 2 - Prepare for Arrival
- Step 3 - Upon Arrival
UC San Diego is committed to the use of technology for communication and student services. You will be able to complete university business and access many of your student records with the same PID number throughout your enrollment at UC San Diego.
NOTE: Follow the Step 1 instructions exactly in the order given to set up all of your accounts. There is no “accept your offer” for EAP Reciprocity or Global Exchange students.
Please note the difference between your Personal Identification Number (PID) and your Active Directory username.
Using Active Directory Username for Single Sign-On (SSO): Your Active Directory username is used as your email address and as your username to log into any UC San Diego site that requires Single Sign On. Your PID will not work as a log on username unless it is explicitly stated to enter username or PID.
The TritonLink page provides further information regarding the Active Directory account lookup tool (under Set Up an Account), which allows students to look up their Active Directory username by inputting their PID and last name. From there, students can go to password.ucsd.edu to set the password for their Active Directory account.
DUO is required for all UC San Diego affiliates, including new students. DUO Two-step login is a security feature that requires verification of identity when logging into UC San Diego protected systems. After setting up your Active Directory credentials, you must register for Duo before you can access any UC San Diego Single-Sign On (SSO) based site or application, such as iPortal.
The DUO app is accessible through the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. For further support, please reference the primary DUO information page and the Service Desk provides full support for DUO if needed.
International students requiring a non-immigrant J-1 visa to study in the USA must request and receive a Form DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Visitor) to begin their program of study at UC San Diego. The Form DS-2019 is required to apply for the J-1 visa.
The deadline for Spring Global Exchange students to apply for a Form I-20 or DS-2019 in the iPortal is February 9, 2024.
The processing time for your Form DS-2019 document is 15 business days from the date of a complete submission; incomplete requests will cause a delay in processing. Please keep in mind processing times affected by office closures and holidays. If your application is incomplete or invalid, you will be contacted via email directly after an advisor has thoroughly reviewed your request. Remember, you can check the status of your request by logging in to the iPortal at any time!
IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR A J-1 Student Visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside of the United States, please check Travel.state.gov for Visa Appointment Wait Times. You will need the original Form DS-2019 at your visa interview. For this reason, ensure you apply for your documents in iPortal as soon as possible!
The first date of the quarter will be the program start date listed on your DS-2019.
Students who wish to partake in campus activities such as orientation, research, or other events in the 30 days PRIOR to the program start date listed on their DS-2019 may do so without adjusting the program start date.
J-1 Students who receive a new Form DS-2019 from UC San Diego with a new SEVIS ID Number may enter the U.S. 30 days prior to the Program Start Date listed on the Form DS-2019.
J-1 students may use their Form DS-2019to enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the start date listed on their Form DS-2019, but no later than Friday of Week 2 of your admit term, which is the final day to add courses.
If your date of entry to the U.S. is after the Friday of Week 2 of your admit term, your must submit a NEW ADMIT: DS-2019 Amendment/Reprint request within the iPortal to receive an updated DS-2019 with a future program start date reflecting the next available term.
*Note that students must consult with their home university, exchange program coordinators (UCEAP or Global Exchange) for permission to arrive in a later term.
Note that J-1 Exchange Visitors must obtain work authorization for any type of employment under their program dates in the United States.
After receiving your DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Visitors), you must pay your SEVIS fee to activate your document. This fee is paid each time you receive a new SEVIS ID Number.
Students transferring their SEVIS record to UC San Diego are NOT required to pay the SEVIS fee again since their SEVIS ID Number remains the same.