University of California, Santa Barbara

Office of International Students & Scholars - Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7150 Telephone (805) 893-2929 Fax (805) 893-7132


Checking In with OISS


Once the J-1 exchange visitor has arrived at the University of California, Santa Barbara, he/she is required to report in person with the following documentation to the Office of International Students and Scholars in Room 3130 of the Student Resource Building (SRB):

  • Passport*
  • DS-2019*
  • I-94 card*
  • Proof of Health Insurance*
  • Local Living Address+
  • J-1 Exchange Visitor’s Acknowledgement Letter

*If the J-1 exchange visitor is traveling with J-2 Dependents, documents for all dependents will be required. +A Local Living Address must be recorded in SEVIS within 10 days of the exchange visitor’s check-in with OISS.

OISS will validate the J-1 exchange visitor’s arrival in SEVIS. If the J-1 exchange visitor does not report in person to OISS within 30 days of the program start date on their DS-2019 form, their J-1 program will automatically become void in SEVIS and will terminate the exchange visitor’s program.

If the exchange visitor cannot report to OISS within 30 days of the program start date, they should notify OISS so we can try to amend the program start date to accommodate a later arrival date.

When the exchange visitor checks in with OISS, they will be provided with a brief orientation about how to maintain their immigration status throughout their academic program at UCSB. OISS will also answer questions and provide information to help our J-1 exchange visitors get acclimated to Santa Barbara and surrounding regions.