New Admitted Student FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for New International Students Fall 2025
We understand that you may have many questions about starting your program at Cal State 糖心Vlogy.
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 July 11, 2025
New F-1 Initial I-20 Students and Travel to the United States
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 Fall 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 Spring 2026 or Fall 2026. Please note that not all programs admit students for the Spring intake.
See the International Admissions website for International Application periods.
Your submitted documents for Fall 2025 may be used to support your application for a future term. 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.
If you begin your program from your home country for Fall 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.
Your F-1 visa remains valid until its expiration date. However, if the rules change, you may need to renew your F-1 visa. Verify with the U.S. embassy whether you need to renew your visa before traveling.
CSUEB students may print out their own enrollment verification letter through MyCSUEB:
We recommend that you print out an enrollment verification letter through MyCSUEB, and also print out a copy of your class schedule (which shows when & where the classes are meeting).