You were admitted to SF State International Year One, based on unofficial academic documents. These copies/scan copies and academic documents not on a sealed envelope from your school are considered unofficial.

You will be required to submit official transcripts and graduation certificates from all institutions you have attended as part of your admission process to SF State.  An official academic document is a verification of your complete academic record issued directly from your school. Your final secondary academic record (transcript) and graduation certificate must be issued in a sealed/unopened envelope with a school stamp or signature on the envelope flap. 

Please request that your school prepare a set of official documents to be handed into our office during your arrival.  Failure to provide original academic documents will prohibit you from being fully accepted into Year 2 at SF State.

What if I attended college or university?

If you have attended university/college, you must also submit a transcript which must include grades up to the semester/term prior to starting your studies at SF State. You might have to request your institution to mail them to you or directly to the our office if grades are not available before you come to the U.S.

What if I only have one original transcript or graduation certificate?

If your school issued only one original transcript, and graduation certificate, you should send photocopies of your original academic documents to your school and ask that they attest or verify the copies to be true copies of the original. Ask your school to place these attested copies in a sealed envelope with a school stamp across the envelope flap. We will only consider academic documents to be official that have been attested by the school you attended.

What if my original academic documents are not in English?

If your former institution does not issue transcripts in English, we will require an English translation to be submitted along with your official academic record. English translations should be literal word for word translations and mirror the original document done by a certified English translation company/institution.  Official English Translations must be placed in an envelope sealed by the translator.  When a translator opens your official academic documents, they should place all the documents into their original envelope and seal these within a second envelope with the official English translations.

Our pre-arrival webinar series for international students is designed to prepare you for your upcoming journey to San Francisco State University. You can find out some of what we discuss in these webinars below and how to join them.

In these live sessions, your Campus Team will provide you with guidance and advice as a newly-admitted international student.

Do you have questions?

All our webinars have a LIVE question and answer session at the end! You will have the opportunity to ask our speakers questions during the meeting and get fast answers!

Webinar #1- FAQ and Accommodation: Your Options
In this webinar, you’ll get to meet your Campus Team who will be on hand to help you as soon as you arrive in the US.  The webinar will cover a host of topics designed to help answer all your questions and learn about university accommodation, the advantages, and disadvantages of living in privately-owned housing and things to consider before booking.  Topics will include

• Information and updates about applying for your visa
• Accommodation Options:  On Campus, Off Campus, Home Stay
  • Where should you live?
  • Why is it important to be close to campus?
  • Scam and Fraud Awareness
• Booking Accommodation Process
  • Deadlines
  • The Importance of Booking Early
  • Deposits and Payments
•  The Cost of Living in the US

This webinar will be recorded if you are accepted after the date listed below.

Date                                       Time                                                      Link

March 17, 2025                    8:00AM (US – Pacific)                      Click here to register

Webinar #2- Pre-Arrival Webinar
This webinar will cover very specific topics about your arrival to campus.  You may also hear from current international students who joined the program within he last year!  Please refer to your SF State acceptance email, welcome email from the campus team, or Oxford International offer letter if you don’t know which IYO Program webinar to register for.

Topics will include

• Fast facts and curriculum
• Immigration reminders
• Health services/insurance
• Student life: what to expect and bring
• Notable dates
• Your journey from the airport to the university
• Welcome activities

This webinar will be recorded if you are accepted after the date listed below.

International Year One – University Pathway Program

Students enrolled in the International Year One University Pathway Program should register for one of the options below:

• Summer 2025

Date                                       Time                                                      Link

April 7, 2025                    8:00 AM (US – Pacific)                      Click here to register

April 7, 2025                     6:00 PM (US – Pacific)                   Click here to register

• Fall 2025

Date                                       Time                                                      Link

June 23, 2025                   7:00 AM (US – Pacific)                      Click here to register

June 23, 2025                    5:00 PM (US – Pacific)                   Click here to register

International Year One – Academic Program

Students enrolled in the International Year One Academic Program should register for one of the options below:

• Summer 2025

Date            Time                      Link

April 7, 2025       8:00 AM (US – Pacific)        Click here to register

April 7, 2025         6:00 PM (US – Pacific)        Click here to register

• Fall 2025

Date                                       Time                                                      Link

June 16, 2025                   7:00 AM (US – Pacific)                      Click here to register

June 16, 2025                    5:00 PM (US – Pacific)                   Click here to register

In order to avoid delays in getting your visa, it is very important to apply for your F-1 student visa at your nearest US embassy or consulate as soon as you have received your Admission Letter and I-20. You can locate a nearby embassy at this link: https://www.usa.gov/find-embassy. Any delays in receiving your visa will impact your ability to register for your classes and may delay your start term.

Our team can support you through this process. You can reach out by using this form.

Admissions Contact Form 

We will request updates on your visa application status. We’d like to know when you applied, when your interview is scheduled and, most importantly, if you were successful!  Once you’ve received your visa, please email your campus team at: csmith@oxfordinternational.com.

You must book your accommodation before your arrival to the US. It is advisable to move into your private accommodation a day or two before your program start date or into your on-campus accommodation on your assigned move-in date so that you are fully rested and ready to attend!

While we understand everyone’s circumstances may be different, we highly encourage students to choose to live on campus during their first two semesters in IYO.  Students who live on campus have convenient access to all campus services, the dining hall, and do not need to worry about additional expenses (such as utilities, internet, furniture, etc.). Students living on campus also perform better academically and have an easier time getting involved with campus activities.

Students who choose to live off campus should carefully consider the distance they will be commuting. Classes tend to be scheduled every day from Monday to Friday. We highly encourage students living off-campus to live at a maximum 30-minute commute for the best personal and academic experience in IYO.

1. Check your accommodation options by reading through our comprehensive Accommodation Guide.
2. Choose the type of accommodation you would prefer: On-Campus, Homestay, or Private.
3. On-Campus: Once you have obtained your student ID number from your admission email and set up your student account, you can start the accommodation booking process with On-Campus housing via this link.  On-campus housing has many advantages including:
   – A safe and supportive staff of Resident Advisors (RAs) to help with housing and roommate issues, as well as secured entry for student safety.
   – Close and convenient location that allows you to be on time for class with no commute and has easy access to other university facilities and services.
   – Roommates are often local students who are great resources to expand your English and learn more about living in the USA.
4. Homestay: We have partnered with StudentRoomStay to provide homestay options for students.  This is a great way to experience local culture further by living with a local host family.
5. Private Accommodation:  Resources can be found in the accommodation guide.  Options will vary and neither OIEG nor SF State vet private accommodation.  Students should do their due diligence when choosing their options and consider commute time to the university campus.

We will request updates on your accommodation arrangements so we can promptly assist you.  If you have registered for on-campus accommodation, please also check your personal and SF State email regularly for updates and booking confirmation.

Immediately after you’ve received your visa, book your flight. When booking your flight, please make sure you schedule to arrive on or before the Arrival / Move-in Date, so you have enough time to check-in to your accommodation and join your classes on time.

We will need to request information about your travel details, so please email us at csmith@oxfordinternational.com once you’ve booked your flight.

Your course registration will be assisted by our Campus Team.  Please refer to any instructions provided via email or during the pre-arrival webinar.   As we register you for courses, you will see some class fees appear in your SF State Student Center.  You should NOT pay for these fees, and the university will remove them at a later date in the semester.

STAGE 1 – Student Systems Access
This step is important for creating your Student ID card, purchasing insurance, booking on-campus housing, and setting up your university email address and enabling your other IT services (such as email, authenticator, etc.).

Along with your I-20, you will receive an instruction checklist as well as your university ID number in your admissions pack.  Please refer to the instructions provided with your admission pack to set up your university account.  Before arrival, we will also ask for your preferences for your first term math course.

If you have not received any of these emails to your personal account, please contact Carl Smith at csmith@oxfordinternational.com and provide us with your correct personal email address.  Please remember that activating your university account is not a class registration.

STAGE 2 – Arrival Check-In
Once the online registration is complete, you will need to come to the campus office for face-to-face check-in, usually during the arrival orientation.

You will need to bring: any remaining payment due, current, valid and in-date passport and relevant immigration documents (e.g. stamped entry visa, current visa, I-94 arrival record).

You must check-in on arrival.  If you don’t, you will be classed as non-arrival, reported to SEVIS, and dropped from your classes.

During the document check, you will also receive instructions about where/how to pick up your Student ID card and your class schedule.

We strongly advise that you pay your remaining tuition from your home country as soon as you receive your visa and before you travel to the US. Settling all due payments prior to arrival will allow you to focus on your studies and to enjoy your student life. Without paying your tuition fees, you may not receive your schedule and may have restrictions applied to your university facilities.

You can easily pay your tuition and fees online via Flywire, our preferred payment partner. Flywire provides a secure global payment network that simplifies paying your fees from your home country and countries around the world. Payment options can include bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more, typically in your home currency for most countries. Click here to make your payment https://intrinsiq.oxfordinternational.com/Flywire/Index

Be sure to use your Oxford International Student ID# (found in your offer letter) and NOT your university ID#.

If you want to discuss your tuition payment, you can contact Carl Smith, the University Pathway Program Director, at: csmith@oxfordinternational.com.

We want you to have the best possible student experience: an arrival that answers your questions as well as events and activities that help you settle into your studies and make friends. We strongly advise that you attend lectures from day one in order to have the best possible academic outcome. To enjoy the full student experience, you need to arrive at the university no later than the program start date as stated in your offer letter and I-20.

If you believe you are going to enter the US beyond the program start date, you must request permission to arrive late via this Late Arrival Request Form. These requests will be reviewed carefully and approval is only granted on a case-by-case basis to ensure you are fully registered once you arrive. You may be contacted by your Campus Team for additional information.

As the program start date approaches, we will be in regular contact with a lot of useful information which will fully prepare you to have the best start. Please check your personal email regularly so you don’t miss out. It is important to update us on any changes to your contact details (phone number and email address) so that we can continue to keep in touch with you and give you the support that you need.

• Visa: Pathways@oxfordinternational.com
• Accommodation: +1 (415) 338-1067  / Email: housing@sfsu.edu
• Class registration: Erika Navarrete – enavarrete@oxfordinternational.com
• Tuition fee payments: Carl Smith – csmith@oxfordinternational.com.
• Forgotten password / technical issues (university systems): +1 (415) 338-1420 / service@sfsu.edu
• Campus Team: Carl Smith – +1 (619) 642-7285 csmith@oxfordinternational.com and Erika Navarrete – enavarrete@oxfordinternational.com

US Visa Application

If you have any questions about the US visa application, we’d encourage you to talk to a professional immigration expert.

Oxford International has partnered with the Argo Visa Forge Dynamic. The company provides visa applicants with a one-to-one analysis of their case and then guides them with personalized visa interview strategies. If you need help preparing your visa interview, you can book a consultation with an Argo Visa Expert today.

Airport Pickup

At Oxford, we want you to feel welcome and supported from the moment you arrive. Let us arrange an Airport Pickup Service to take the stress out of your travel so you can focus on your studies and new adventures. If you’d like to reserve our convenient airport pickup service, simply complete this form, then send an email with your flight itinerary to our student support coordinator at enavarrete@oxfordinternational.com.

The airport pickup service pricing varies by time of pickup:

 Adro Banking

We know that you’re excited to come and study in San Francisco and to make your transition to studying abroad as smooth as possible, we’ve partnered with Adro Bank to offer international students a simple, reliable, and convenient banking solution.  Adro Bank provides easy account setup from the US and abroad, a service tailored for international students, multilingual support, and easy access to your money. To learn more and open an account, simply visit Adro’s website through this link.

For more information about Adro accounts and sign up, feel free to explore the following links:

Adro Sign Up Walkthrough

Adro Account Comparison

Adro Help Center