F-1 Visa Guide for University of California Los Angeles

This page gives UCLA admits the exact F-1 visa steps, document list and SEVIS timeline they need before their 2026 intake.

UCLA is a public research university in Los Angeles, California. It enrolls more than 12,000 international students and scholars, making it one of the largest international communities in the United States. To study there on an F-1 visa, you must first gain admission, then show that you can cover the school's published cost of attendance.

Once admitted, the designated school official at the Dashew Center issues your Form I-20. You then pay the current SEVIS I-901 fee at fmjfee.com, complete the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application, and attend a visa interview at a US embassy or consulate. The US Department of State processes the visa; approval is not guaranteed.

Your I-20 and the international student office

The Dashew Center serves as the central office for international students and scholars at UCLA. Staff there issue visa documents, run the mandatory iSTART orientation, advise on F-1 maintenance, and authorize Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training requests. You should contact the Dashew Center directly for case-specific questions about your I-20, travel signatures, or employment authorization.

Financial documentation for your I-20

UCLA requires admitted students to demonstrate funding that meets the school's published cost of attendance before the Dashew Center will issue a Form I-20. You must submit official financial documents in your own name or from a sponsor. The amount and acceptable document types are set by UCLA, not by a third party, so check the current Dashew Center financial-evidence checklist before you apply.

Arriving in Los Angeles

UCLA sits in Westwood, a dense, walkable neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles. Housing costs in Westwood and nearby areas run high, so many students share apartments or live in university housing. Public transit includes the Big Blue Bus and LA Metro, but many students still use a car for errands and internships spread across the sprawling metro area.

Common challenges for University of California Los Angeles applicants

• Finding affordable off-campus housing near Westwood within commuting distance of campus.
• Understanding the difference between CPT, which the Dashew Center authorizes for degree-related work before graduation, and OPT, which requires a USCIS application after graduation.
• Keeping a valid travel signature on the Form I-20 before leaving the United States for holidays or family visits.
• Proving financial capacity with documents that meet UCLA's exact format and currency requirements.
• Adjusting to LA's spread-out geography without a personal vehicle, especially when traveling to internship sites or airports.
• Maintaining full-time enrollment each quarter to keep lawful F-1 status, since reduced course loads need Dashew Center approval.

Working during and after your program

F-1 students may work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during academic terms and full time during official breaks, according to SEVP rules. Off-campus work before graduation requires CPT authorization from the Dashew Center tied to your academic program. After graduation, you can apply for post-completion OPT through USCIS; the Dashew Center recommends the OPT workshop and will issue a new I-20 with the recommendation, but USCIS alone grants the employment authorization document. Neither on-campus work, CPT, nor OPT is a path to a permanent visa or green card.

Frequently asked questions