New Admitted Student FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for New International Students Spring 2025

We understand that you may have many questions about starting your program at Cal State East Bay.

If you have questions about the mode of instruction for the courses you are interested in, the class schedule page provides tips for reading the class schedule format.

International Programs staff will hold virtual pre-departure orientations to prepare students admitted for the latest intake. 

Please also see our Admitted Student Checklist, as well as the orientation page and mandatory immigration check-in information for those who will be in the U.S. at the start of term.

 

Updated November 5, 2024

New F-1 Initial I-20 Students and Travel to the United States

No. Currently, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) does NOT allow international students to enter the U.S. to pursue fully remote programs. You are permitted to begin your program online overseas.

In order to enter the US in F-1 status, you must enroll primarily in in-person/hybrid classes. 

Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 units and at least 9 units must be in-person/hybrid classes.

Graduate students must enroll in at least 8 units and at least 5 units must be in-person/hybrid classes.

For more information on enrollment requirements, please see our Enrollment Requirements page.

Option 1: Start your program in Spring 2025 taking online classes remotely from outside the U.S.

This means you can start your program online while you are in your home country. You should check the class schedule to determine the times and dates of classes.  Some classes may be offered asynchronously, meaning that there are no certain times or dates that you must meet, this is noted in the schedule. There is no minimum unit requirement so you can decide how many classes you want to take. If you decide to begin your program online, please email csueb.i20@csueastbay.edu regarding your I-20 options.

Option 2: Reapply for a future term

You may submit another application via CalStateApply for a future term, such as Fall 2025.  

See the International Admissions website for International Application periods.

Your submitted documents for Spring 2025 may be used to support your Fall 2025 application. After submitting your new Cal State Apply application, please email iao@csueastbay.edu to request that your previously submitted documents be used for evaluation for the new term you have applied for.

You do not need to do anything with your F-1 visa. You can enter the U.S. with that F-1 visa if you are readmitted and defer your I-20 start date.

If you begin your program from your home country for Spring 2025, please be sure to contact csueb.I20@csueastbay.edu to request an updated I-20 for your the semester when you plan to attend in person.

If you reapply for a future term, your new I-20 will be processed upon admission.

ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ students may print out their own enrollment verification letter through MyÂÌñ»»ÆÞ:

/registrar/records/degree-and-enrollment.html

We recommend that you print out an enrollment verification letter through MyÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, and also print out a copy of your class schedule (which shows when & where the classes are meeting).

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 21, 2025.  Arrival beyond that date is at the discretion of the U.S. Custom and Border Protection. 
No, the date listed on your I-20 is the date that ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ has reported as the official start date of our semester. You are expected to be enrolled, inside the USA and attending in-person components of enrolled classes by that date. 

Current U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance no longer requires COVID testing before departure and travelers seeking to enter the United States by air are no longer required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country

The Student Health and Counseling Services webpage lists currently required immunizations here.  

While no longer required for students, COVID vaccines/boosters are readily available throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.  If you would like to get a COVID vaccine, go to to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment or find a walk-in site near you.

Deferral of Admission

No, we are unable to defer applications. You will need to reapply for a future term if you are unable to enroll for Spring 2025.  

Transferring to Cal State East Bay from an institution in the United States

Please see our SEVIS Record Transfer page for information on the Transfer In process.

Prepare for class registration

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. 
Your provisional admission will not be cleared until you meet all university requirements.  

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.

If you plan to pursue study in the U.S. you will need to purchase insurance.  If you will be taking online classes from outside the U.S. in Spring 2025 you may request a waiver of the insurance requirement.

Please see our Health Insurance webpage to either enroll in insurance or request a waiver for Spring 2025.

A ‘hold’ for international student health insurance is automatically placed in MyÂÌñ»»ÆÞ for all F-1 students.  The international health insurance hold will prevent you from registering for classes in Spring 2025.    

Please review the following page to access both the link to purchase, as well as the waiver request process:

/cie/f-1-students/new-students/insurance.html

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 Sam.Tran@csueastbay.edu for advising and class selection.

Transfer Students please contact your major department for major advising. For GE advising you can contact Sam.Tran@csueastbay.edu

Graduate students seeking master's degrees: Contact your graduate department coordinator for assistance selecting your classes if needed.

First Time Freshman have a minimum unit requirement. Please contact sam.tran@csueastbay.edu for more information.

There is no required minimum number of units for graduate students or upper division transfers.

Cal State East Bay Registrar’s Office allows both undergraduate and graduate students to register up to 18 units. Special permission is required, if you want to register for more than 18 units. Some graduate departments have limits during the open enrollment period, please contact your graduate department for more information.

Employment Eligibility

No.

You have to complete 2 consecutive semesters as a full time student in F-1 status (inside the USA) to be eligible for any off campus employment opportunities such as CPT or OPT.

CPT Information

OPT Information 

Cal State East Bay Tuition and Fees

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