International Students

• Welcome
• New International Student Information & Welcome Manual (Download PDF)
• Pre-Arrival Information
• Housing Assistance
• Mandatory CIE Check-In Sessions
• CIE Check-In Sessions - Location
• CIE Check-In Sessions - Dates and Times
• CIE Check-In Sessions - Required Documents
• New International Student Orientation
• Academic Advising/Classes
• Placement Exams
• International Student Arrival Assistance Program
• Health Insurance Requirements
• General Immigration Information
• Internships & Employment (CPT/OPT) Information & Workshops
• EXCHANGE STUDENTS
• Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) & WPE Information
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Confirm Your Intent to Enroll

The Office of International Admissions congratulates you on your admission to California State University, Long Beach.  You will be joining some 1,300 other international students as well as over 36,000 U.S. students who are already studying at this exciting university.

Before you can continue with your preparations to attend CSULB, you MUST login to my.csulb.edu to confirm your intent to enroll.  You will not be able to register for classes until you have:

1) Confirmed your intent to enroll
2) Attended a CIE Check-In Session
3) Transfer students are also required to attend a SOAR session

The Office of International Student Services, located in the Center for International Education, is available to assist international students and scholars during their stay at CSULB.  We invite you to browse through the various sections of this web site in order to be fully informed and well-prepared before your arrival on campus.  Here you will find useful information on transportation to the campus, housing options, advising, class registration, and more.  We also want to stress to you the importance of carefully reading the International Student Information & Welcome Manual that we sent you with your admission letter.

Please read through this page to learn more about CIE Check-in, Orientation, and other important pre-arrival information.

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Pre-Arrival Information

Plan to arrive in Long Beach at least two weeks before classes start. Even though classes do not begin until later, you will have many things to do during your first few weeks in Long Beach. Since flights from overseas destinations can be difficult to obtain during this time, it's best to make travel arrangements as soon as possible.

If you arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you can take an airport shuttle van (e.g. Super Shuttle, L. A. Express, etc.) from LAX to Long Beach. You do not need advance reservations and the trip will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. You can find these shuttle vans in designated ground transportation areas just outside the baggage claim area. Each van will have a sign on it indicating its destination. Make sure your van is going to Long Beach. You can ask where and when to board a shuttle van by using the courtesy phones available in the baggage claim area. The cost is approximately $30 - $35 with an optional $2 tip recommended for driver. The shuttle will take you to the destination you specify. You may also take a taxi, which will cost much more. Be sure to watch your baggage, money, and important papers carefully after you exit the airplane to ensure that you do not forget your items.

If you are driving from LAX, take the 405 freeway south to the Bellflower Boulevard exit. Go south on Bellflower Boulevard (about 2 miles) until you see the CSULB campus on your left. Turn left onto Beach Drive. On the right side of the road is the Visitors' Information Center (VIC). Identify yourself as a new international student who needs to visit the CIE Office and you will receive instructions from the attendant on where to park and pay for parking. You may ask for further directions about the location of the Center for International Education from the attendant. During International Student Orientation, you will receive a free parking permit for the day.

Click here for a link to the CSULB Campus Map System.

It is likely that you may need to stay in a hotel or other temporary housing upon your arrival in Long Beach. Please see Housing Needs for assistance.

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Mandatory CIE Check-In Sessions

• CIE Check-In Sessions are organized by the Center for International Education (CIE) for the following purposes:
• To review your immigration status and process immigration documents
• To ensure that you have proper health insurance & immunizations
• To answer general questions about the University

CIE Check-In Sessions are MANDATORY for all incoming international students and exchange students. You only need to attend ONE of the scheduled sessions. PLEASE NOTE: Students will NOT be permitted to register for classes until all immigration documents are reviewed, evidence of approved health insurance coverage has been provided to CIE, and immunizations verified.  Additional requirements, including SOAR attendance applies to some students.

During CIE Check-In, academic advising is not available and students are not able to register for classes, but staff and student assistants will be available to answer general questions and offer advice. CIE Check-In can take up to one hour depending on the number of students at a given session. Students are encouraged to arrive ontime and with all required documents to allow prompt and efficient service.  CIE Check-In sessions are busiest around the start of the semester.

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CIE Check-In Sessions - Location

The CIE Check-In Sessions are in Room #118 of the Student Health Center Building on Beach Drive. You can park in Lot #17 or Lot #18 nearby and enter from the back of the building. There are ticket machines on the lot for day parking passes or meter parking.

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Check-in dates and times:

Students should arrive at the designated time.  CIE Check-In Sessions last approximately one hour.

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What to Bring to a CIE Check-In Session (Required Documents)

• A photocopy of your admission letter from CSULB
• Your passport (with photocopy of the ID page, the page showing expiration date, and your visa page)
• Original (and photocopy of) CSULB I-20, if available, or DS-2019 form.  Students transferring F-1 status from another U.S. school must also bring a copy of their current I-20
• Original I-94 card (with a photo copy of the front & back). This is part of the card you filled out on the airplane and was stapled in your passport when you landed
• Receipt or proof of approved health insurance
• Your medical records (in English) showing your immunization history

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION

FALL Semester 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sign in begins at 8:00 a.m.

Located at the Center for International Education (CIE)

Center for International Education (CIE)
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd., BH-201
Long Beach, CA  90840-0109 USA
Phone: (562) 985-4106
Fax: (562) 985-1725
http://www.csulb.edu/cie

The Center for International Education holds an informative and entertaining Orientation program for all new and transferring international and exchange students at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semester.

The program consists of small group activities led by staff and student leaders, various workshops, campus and community tours, as well as other activities throughout the week.   In the past, the Orientation Program has included optional activities such as trips to Los Angeles to see the filming of a television show, a visit the Long Beach Aquarium, and cookouts and pizza parties.   The International Student Orientation Program is a great way to meet other new students and get to know the CIE staff.

During orientation, students are given helpful information including how to pay student fees and tuition, how to maintain proper immigration status while studying in the U.S., and how to adapt to American culture and University expectations. Students will also learn how to find housing, register for classes, and become involved with campus organizations such as the International Student Association.

The CIE Orientation program includes free on-campus parking for the first day of Orientation (parking passes available at the Visitor Information Center (VIC) located on Beach Drive upon arrival at the University).

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Academic Advising

The Center for International Education can assist students with general questions about how and when to register and pay fees and tuition.   However, transfer students are REQUIRED to attend SOAR, the CSULB Student Orientation, Advising and Registration.   SOAR is a comprehensive Student Orientation, Advising and Registration program designed to assist new CSULB undergraduate degree-seeking students.  Click here to go to the SOAR web site to learn more!  

New Freshman students receive specialized advising from the Center for International Education. Freshman students should identify themselves at their CIE Check-In and be prepared to spend 2-3 hours after Check-In to receive academic advising and register for classes for their first semester. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to attend an early CIE Check-In session.   Courses in written English, mathematics, and other general education subjects have been reserved for the first semester. Please contact the CIE or slolson@csulb.edu for information or click here for a link to the Freshman Information website.

In order to learn what courses are required for your major, you need to read and understand your program's section in the CSULB Catalog.  

Once enrolled, undergraduate students receive academic advising for General Education requirements from the Academic Advising Center.  

Students admitted to a Masters or Credential degree programs do not attend SOAR or obtain academic advising from the Academic Advising Center. Rather, graduate students should contact the faculty advisor from their particular academic department for all academic advising and course planning.

My.csulb.edu provides students with a personalized web page where you can update your personal information, check the schedule of classes, register, view your schedule, and much more.

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Placement Tests

Some new students are required to take certain placement tests.   Students who are required to take EPT (English Placement Test), ELM (Entry Level Mathematics), or EESL (Examination of English as a Second Language) will not be able to register for classes.   Your admission letter will indicate if a placement test is required.

For information about the EPT or ELM, please see Testing and Evaluation Services.  This site includes information on how to arrange to take these test even if you are still in your home country.

Students who cannot take the required EPT or ELM tests before the beginning of the semester should consider postponing their admission to the next semester.

EESL (Examination of English as a Second Language), is mandatory for graduate students who were required to submit TOEFL as a condition for admission to CSULB.   Registration for the EESL is done after you arrive on campus.   Please contact the CSULB American Language Institute at (562) 985-8424 or aliuces@csulb.edu for registration information.   Students who have received a waiver of the CSULB Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) because of an appropriate score on GRE or GMAT should contact the Director of International Students Services for information on the EESL requirement.   For information on WPE waivers, please contact the Testing Office.

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International Student Arrival Assistance Program

The CIE has a limited number of volunteers who are available to assist new international students upon their arrival.   If you are interested, we will try to arrange to have someone meet you at the airport upon your arrival and provide you with temporary housing for up to 3 nights.   Volunteers might be other CSULB students, CSULB faculty or staff, or other members of the Long Beach community who are interested in helping international students.  

Since temporary lodging arrangements can be made for a maximum of only 3 nights, we encourage you to investigate permanent housing options (or affordable hotel/motel options) as soon as possible.   For assistance in finding permanent housing, please see housing assistance.   Arrangements with host volunteers may or may not include meals, so you might need to have enough money upon your arrival for food.  

If you are interested in seeing if we can make arrangements for someone to meet you and/or provide temporary housing, please take the following step:

1. Complete the International Student Arrival Assistance Application and return it by email to cie-housing@csulb.edu, or by fax to 562-985-1725 at least 2 weeks prior to your scheduled arrival.

Please remember that there is no guarantee that we will be able to find a volunteer to assist you. However, if we are able to find someone to assist you upon your arrival, we will give you their contact email so that you can communicate with them directly to make specific arrangements.

If you have any questions, please contact us at cie-housing@csulb.edu.

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