New International Students Pre-Arrival Checklist

Embarking on a U.S. college journey in the vibrant Bay Area comes with its share of expenses. Having sufficient financial resources to support your studies is key to a successful and stress-free experience in the U.S.

Financial Aid

New international and exchange students should understand that when studying in the U.S., they are responsible for covering all their expenses. It's important to realize that SFSU does not provide financial assistance or cover the expected cost of attendance for international students. In addition, there is no U.S. financial aid or international student scholarships available to cover international students' studies at SFSU. We advise all international students to seek and secure financial resources in their home countries before arriving in the U.S.

Expected Expenses v.s. Actual Expenses

Finally, while F-1 and J-1 students may have demonstrated financial readiness for tuition and living costs to receive the I-20 and DS-2019, it's crucial to recognize that unforeseen expenses can arise upon arrival. The true cost of studying at SFSU varies for each student. It's essential to be financially prepared to handle these circumstances independently.

Budget

It's essential to plan and budget accordingly, ensuring you have the necessary funds to cover tuition and fees, health insurance, housing/food/living expenses, books, and school supplies, technology for school, travel/transportation/commuting expenses, and any other expenses while attending SFSU.

International and exchange students must have funds available to pay for the following expenses to study at SFSU:

• Tuition and fees (each semester)
• Housing, food, living expenses (each month)
• International student health insurance (each semester)
• Books and school supplies (each semester)
• Technology for school (as needed)
• Travel/transportation/commuting expenses (as needed)

Budgeting for International Students

Budgeting is important for international students because it allows them to keep track of their money. All international students should create budgeting plans before coming to the U.S. to prepare for any possible future expenses or obstacles they might encounter.

Visit the "Plan a Budget" section on the Life in San Francisco page for more information.

Housing Scams

A common way that scammers attempt to trick international students is through housing scams.

Before moving to the United States, international students often search for housing while abroad. Searching for long-term housing before arriving in San Francisco can be risky. For example, scammers may post fake apartment photos online and ask students to make deposit payments before they arrive in the United States or sign a rental contract.

Keep in Mind

• Students should never pay a security deposit, fee, or first month’s rent before they’ve signed a rental contract. 
• Don’t rent an apartment that is unavailable to see in-person before signing the contract.  
• Do not provide a photocopy of a passport to the "landlord".

Further Reading

• How to spot a Craigslist housing scam (medium.com)
• Most Common Rental Scams and How to Avoid Them (zumper.com)

Read more about Scams and Fraud:

Phishing Email Scams 

Unfortunately, phishing email scams do happen frequently. New international students must be careful with emails that offer discounted deals or job offers that sound too good to be true. See How much money different age groups lose to online scammers (cnbc.com).

General Advice

• A real person will never email you about a GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR WORK FROM HOME. Even actual, real-life recruiters will come from some legitimate source and will have emails formatted in somewhat sane English.
• Always double-check who is sending the email. An email about a technology or account problem will never come from a random student email account.
  • For example, Judy with an @mail.sfsu.edu asking you to type in your password is 100% a fake email
• Nobody would ask you to log in to your account from within an email, and nobody would ever ask you for your password as a reply to an email.

Report a phishing email

• If you use the Outlook app, report the email with the "Report phishing" button. See Reporting Spam and Phishing (service-now.com) for instructions.
• Contact information technology services (ITS) at service@sfsu.edu if you have doubts about the legitimacy of an email

NEW!

Watch the Recognizing Job Scams recording (Link to YouTube. Length: 4 minutes). In this video, we discussed what job scam emails look like and what students need to do if they fall for a job scam.

Apply for on-campus housing for Fall 2025 at https://housing.sfsu.edu/apply as soon as possible and secure your spot in a vibrant and supportive living community. 

NEW! On-Campus Housing for Freshmen

All international first-time Freshmen will get priority to secure housing, ensuring you have a comfortable and convenient place to call home while you focus on your studies. 

Transfer students and graduate students are also encouraged to apply!

While assignments are based on availability, we are pleased to announce that housing options are available. Don't miss out on the chance to live in the heart of campus.

Finding safe and secure housing is a crucial step to preparing for a successful experience at SFSU. The average rent in San Francisco is currently $2,000 or more per month for a studio apartment and $3,000 or more for one-bedroom apartments. 

See current San Francisco rent research at Average Rent in San Francisco, CA, and Cost Information - Zumper.

Though San Francisco's rental prices are high, there are many lower-budget options available to students. The Division of International Education recommends all incoming students visit Housing in San Francisco to understand what to expect while looking for temporary and permanent housing. 

The Division of International Education does not arrange housing for incoming new students. 

Tuition and Fees Information

• Current tuition information will be posted under the "Students" tab at Bursar's Office's website. 
• Tuition and fees are subject to change without advance notice. 

When to Pay Tuition and Fees

• Payment Timing: Students should pay tuition after course enrollment, not before. The Bursar's Office advises all students to make payments once the tuition charges appear on their account. SFSU can only accept the exact amount owed for tuition and fees.
• Tuition Payment Deadline: Refer to the Bursar's Office for the most up-to-date payment deadlines.
• Fall 2025 tuition payment deadline is Monday, September 22, 2025

Calculate Tuition and Fees

International students pay Undergraduate/Graduate Tuition Fees and Non-Resident Tuition Fees per unit. The Non-Resident Tuition Fee is currently $420 per semester unit.

How to Pay Tuition and Fees

• Tuition is paid one semester at a time to the Bursar's Office.
• The amount of the tuition should cover full-time enrollment (12 units for undergraduate students, and 8 units for graduate students). International undergraduate students who will enter the U.S. with an F-1 Student visa should prepare to pay for at least 12 units, and graduate students should pay for at least 8 units.
• See payment methods on the Bursar's Office website. The WeChat Pay payment option is available.

Flywire

SFSU has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our international students. SFSU collects international payments via Flywire using local accounts around the world. We highly recommend all international students use Flywire for tuition payment.

International students should be aware of non-refundable and refundable fees while planning to attend SFSU.

Non-refundable Fees

• New Student Orientation fee: $50 - $70. See New Student Orientation
• Housing application fee: $30. See Cancel a Housing Application | University Housing (sfsu.edu)

Refundable Fees 

• International student health insurance: Student who are unable to attend SFSU must request a refund by Friday, August 30.
• Tuition and fees (F-1 students only): $8,000 - $12,000. See tuition and fees.
• Housing application initial payment: Restrictions apply. See refund deadline at Student Housing Application - FAQs page

All fees are subject to change without notice.

Before Applying for a Visa

• Review the immigration documents (DS-2019 or I-20) when received. 
• Verify that all the information is correct (name spelled correctly, birth date, program dates, etc.).  
• Create a folder for all important documents – make extra copies of all immigration documents.  
• Pay SEVIS fee: http://www.fmjfee.com   
• Locate a local U.S. consulate; schedule an appointment for a visa interview: http://www.usembassy.gov
• Canadian citizens do not need visas to enter and study in the U.S.
• Canadian students must obtain an I-20 or DS-2019 from SFSU and pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at https://www.fmjfee.com/
• Canadian students should enter the U.S. with valid passports, I-20 or DS-2019 issued by SFSU, and other supporting documentation.  

Visa Interview Requirement

See Important Update on Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants (state.gov).

Useful Resources

• 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Student Process Steps: How to Navigate the U.S. Immigration System
• List of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions
• Education U.S.A: Prepare for the Student Visa
• Visa Wait Times - for Interview Appointments and Processing
• Check visa application status

To learn what a visa is and how it works, read the "Understand F-1 and J-1 Visa" section at Visa and Immigration.

Transfer I-20 

International students who are transferring to SFSU from another school in the U.S. should review the "I-20 Transfer Procedures" for step-by-step instructions.

Changing Status to F-1

B-1 and B-2 visitors who are in the United States for business and pleasure purposes are prohibited from enrolling in a course of study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. B-1 or B-2 visitors must change to F-1 Student status to pursue study in the U.S. 

H-4 visa holders who are in the United States as H-1B dependents are allowed to enroll in courses in H-4 status.

Where to See Registration Holds

Log into SF State Gateway, navigate to LaunchPad, and select the Student Center tile. 

Follow the instructions on the Registrar's Holds website.

"International Health Insurance" Hold (F-1 Students Only)

To clear this hold, students must purchase SFSU pre-approved international student health insurance through Academic Health Plan at https://sfsu.mycare26.com/.

Visit the Health Insurance information page for "how to purchase insurance"

Attention

New F-1 undergraduate students may not see international health insurance hold until a few days before their New Student Orientation date.

To avoid receiving an international health insurance registration hold on the orientation date, undergraduate students are advised to purchase insurance as soon as they sign up for the New Student Orientation.

Why is Health Insurance Mandatory?

The cost of medical care is high in the U.S. 

Unlike many countries, the United States does not provide “universal access” or “national health care”.  International students are also not eligible for any U.S. federal welfare assistance. When international students receive medical care in the U.S., doctors and hospitals will look to international students and their insurance companies to get paid for their services.  

According to HealthCare.gov, fixing a broken leg can cost up to $7,500, and the average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is around $30,000.

Without insurance, international students might face financial ruin resulting from serious accidents or illness. This could prevent them from completing studies in the U.S.

When to Purchase Insurance

New international students must purchase SFSU pre-approved international health insurance prior arriving to in the U.S. Travel insurance or other insurance plans are not acceptable.

Students are eligible for a full refund if unable to obtain visas. 

See the Health Insurance information page to learn how to purchase SFSU pre-approved health insurance plan.

CSU Enrollment Requirement

F-1 International Students

The Board of Trustees of California State University (CSU) requires F-1 international students to have health insurance as a condition of class registration at SFSU. An "International Health Insure Hold" registration hold will be placed on the student center.  F-1 students must clear this registration to register.

J-1 Exchange Students 

As per J-1 immigration regulations and the above-mentioned CSU policy, all exchange students on J-1 visas and J-2 dependents must maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of their program as indicated on Form DS-2019.

F-1 Mandatory Online Workshop

This is an online asynchronous workshop on SFSU’s learning management platform, Canvas. This workshop covers important U.S. regulations that apply to F-1 students. All international students who will enter the U.S. in F-1 visa status should complete this workshop before arriving in the U.S.

Students who have accepted the admissions offer will receive an invitation from Canvas to their SFSU email accounts. Students who did not receive the email invitation should email f1@sfsu.edu. 

Students should complete the workshop before entering the United States.

J-1 Exchange Student Pre-Arrival Orientation 

This mandatory online orientation provides J-1 exchange students with essential information about the Exchange Visitor Program, immigration requirements, program activities, SFSU academics, and advice about housing, employment, and other topics. Students must complete the Pre-Arrival Orientation prior to entering the United States.

J-1 exchange students receive a Priority Registration Period that allows them to register for up to 16 units of coursework before most other students. Priority Registration takes place several months before students arrive at SFSU and ends a few weeks before the beginning of the semester. Please visit Academic Calendar for the exact Priority Registration dates.

Please note that while the Division of International Education tries to give J-1 exchange students the best access to classes possible, we cannot guarantee access to all SFSU classes due to availability, academic restrictions, and other factors. For this reason, the Division of International Education requires all participants to have backup classes in mind when building their schedule and recommends that students register for classes promptly when their registration period opens to ensure the best selection of classes possible.

Students register for courses through the online Student Center (also called the Student Gateway), which they may access after activating their SFSU student accounts. After logging into their Student Center, students may view their priority registration dates under the “Enrollment Dates”. They will also be able to view their class schedule, contact information, and other essential information.

When they are ready to register for classes, students can find detailed registration instructions here. They may also browse available courses by semester on the Class Schedule webpage.

To meet J-1 immigration requirements, J-1 exchange students must register for and maintain full-time enrollment status (see Exceptions to the Full-Time Requirement for exceptions to this rule). At SFSU, full-time enrollment is defined as a minimum of 12 coursework units.

Undergraduate Students

• Undergraduate Next Steps to Becoming a Gator (Link to Undergraduate Admissions website)

Graduate Students

• Graduate Students Next Steps (Link to Division of Graduate Studies' website)

Important Registration Dates

• Class registration dates and deadlines (Link to Registrar's Office website)

💲Undergraduate Students 

• Undergraduate students MUST attend New Student Orientation to receive academic advising and register for classes.
• Visit the New Student Orientation website to sign up for the orientation and pay a non-refundable orientation fee.

Graduate Students

• See new graduate students' class registration time at Dates & Deadlines | Registrar's Office
• Visit Graduate Students Next Steps to connect with the Graduate Coordinator for academic advising.
• Attend free New Graduate Student Orientation. See Graduate Students Next Steps for orientation information.

Full-Time Enrollment Requirement

• To Meet the Full-Time Requirement:

  Undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 units to be considered full-time, of which at least 9 units must be in-person/hybrid.

  Graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 8 units to be considered full-time, of which at least 5 units must be in-person/hybrid.

• Read Maintaining Status for other full-time requirements information, such as online classes vs.. in-person/hybrid classes.

Enter the United States NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS before the Program Start Date

Students should enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before and no later than the beginning date indicated on their I-20/DS-2019. While students may want to arrive sooner to find an apartment and prepare for school, U.S. law prohibits them from doing so. The only exception is for F-1 students who have transferred their SEVIS record from another school to SFSU.

No Late Arrival

No late arrival is allowed.  The Division of International Education does not grant permission nor issue any letters to support late arrivals.

Research Airport Transportation in Advance

The San Francisco Bay Area offers many public transportation options that students may use to travel to the ampus or their temporary housing. Please visit their websites for further details and make a few plans in advance:

• Muni (San Francisco’s bus and light rail service)
• Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) (Bay Area rail system)
• Taxi (available curbside in designated airport locations)
• Rideshare services (Uber and Lyft are available in the Bay Area)

Airport Wi-Fi

Both San Francisco and Oakland airports offer free Wi-Fi. Students can use it to look up directions or book transportation from their phones on arrival. For more information about Wi-Fi and other airport services, please see below.

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Carry the Required U.S. Entry Documents

When entering the United States, international students must present the following documents at the port of entry:

• Valid passport with valid F-1 or J-1 visa. 
• Valid I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document.

Additional supporting documentation:

• F-1 students: Copies of admission letter and proof of finance for the first year of study
• I-901 SEVIS fee receipt

The Division of International Education recommends that students keep their passports and immigration documents with them in their carry-on luggage when traveling. Students’ family members should also have copies of these documents in case of emergency.

Temporary Housing

It is not feasible to attempt to find permanent housing immediately after getting off a plane, with luggage, and no knowledge of the city. 

The Division of International Education does not arrange temporary housing for incoming new students. We recommend that students reserve temporary accommodations before they arrive in San Francisco. First, students should have a specific destination when they arrive. If they do not have a friend or relative in the area to stay with, booking a hostel or hotel in advance is the best option.

Permanent Housing 

Be aware of housing scams. Students should never pay deposits without seeing the actual apartment themselves.

Visit "Recognizing Scams and Fraud" to understand how to avoid being scammed.

💲Undergraduate Students 

• Undergraduate students MUST attend New Student Orientation to receive academic advising and register for classes.
• Visit the New Student Orientation website to sign up for the orientation and pay a non-refundable orientation fee.

Graduate Students

• See new graduate students' class registration time at Dates & Deadlines | Registrar's Office
• Visit Graduate Students Next Steps to connect with the Graduate Coordinator for academic advising.
• Attend free New Graduate Student Orientation. See Graduate Students Next Steps for orientation information.

Fall 2025 Tuition Deadline

Monday, September 22, 2025

See Bursar's Office's important dates at Academic Year 2024 - 2025 | Bursar's Office (sfsu.edu).

Questions About Tuition and Fees

Visit the Bursar's Office website and submit an inquiry under "Service Ticket". Typical response time from the Bursar's Office is 1 - 2 business days (not including weekends and national holidays)

It is important to understand why it was denied. See the U.S. Department of State's information on Visa Denials.

Reapply for Admissions/No Admissions Deferral

Students may reapply for the next available semester and apply for F-1 visa again. There is no admission deferral.

• Undergraduate applicants

Contact International Undergraduate Admissions at ugintl@sfsu.edu

• Graduate applicants

Contact Division of Graduate Studies at gradstudies@sfsu.edu

Please include your full name and student ID number while contacting the admissions offices.

Students Who Have Purchased Insurance

Students may contact f1@sfsu.edu for insurance refund.

Students Who Have Enrolled in Classes

Students must drop all the classes if they no longer plan to attend SFSU. University will not drop the students.

Students Who Have Enrolled in Classes and Paid Tuition

Students must drop the classes (university will not drop the classes for students) and request tuition and fees refund before the first day of semester.

Orientations help new students transition to SFSU and connect with current students. Most orientations are mandatory, as they communicate essential information to new students about the SFSU experience.

See the international and exchange orientation page.

Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC)

Students are encouraged to contact the Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) if they anticipate needing accommodation during their studies at SFSU. Students can register with the DPRC and document their disability to help them fully access student life at SFSU.

Email: dprc@sfsu.edu  
Phone: (415) 338-2472

Wellness and Academic Success

Resources for Wellness & Academic Success at SFSU

All Student Resources

Student Resources at SFSU

SFSU students are occasionally required to complete mandatory training regarding several topics related to academics and campus life. Notifications for mandatory training will be communicated via SFSU student email.

For example, all incoming students must complete a mandatory sexual violence prevention education training online during their first semester (more details available at Sexual Violence Prevention Education Online Training). Academic departments and other offices may also require that students complete training before coming to campus, using the school laboratories and equipment, etc.

Please pay attention to these training requirements and complete them in a timely manner by the deadlines provided.