Financial support evidence is not needed for newly admitted students who enroll in online courses from outside of the U.S. for fall 2021. Financial support evidence will be required, however, to issue an I-20 and obtain an F-1 visa for on-campus, in-person instruction for fall 2021. If you are transferring from a U.S. institution, please contact the international office at your college for guidance about financial support evidence, a transfer I-20 and maintaining F-1 status.

Your I-20 must have a program start date of 08/23/2021. If your I-20 program start date is different, you will need an updated I-20. Please email iso@dvc.edu from your DVC InSite email with your full name and DVC ID number to request an updated I-20.

No. You will not need to pay the fee again if your I-20 needs to be updated with a new program start date.

Yes. 

Yes, an updated I-20 will be issued with a new program start date. Please email the international student office at iso@dvc.edu to request an updated I-20.

You do not need a new visa if your current visa is valid past the date of your (future) entry into the U.S. Please check the visa expiration date on your visa. However, you will need an updated I-20 with a new program start date. Please email iso@dvc.edu for additional questions.

If you have already been issued an I-20 for fall 2021 yet have not obtained a visa, it is strongly recommended that you prepare updated financial support documentation for the visa appointment. 

The answer depends on your I-20 as follows:

Students with Active I-20s:  Please contact the international student office at iso@dvc.edu for more information. College staff will review your record to make sure your documents are up to date and that you have the appropriate signatures for travel.

Students with Initial I-20s: No. Students with initial I-20s are not permitted to begin in summer. Your I-20 has been updated with a program start date of 08/23/2021. You are not permitted to arrive in the U.S more than 30 days before this date.

Travel to the U.S is dependent upon your ability to obtain an F-1 visa.  Please click here to view visa appointment wait times in your country/region. It is also recommended that you confirm this information with your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy. 

Yes. 

Yes, travelers to the U.S. must present a negative Covid-19 test before boarding any flight. Upon arrival in the U.S., you may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. This depends on U.S. immigration regulations in effect at that time. Official information can be found at the U.S. Department of State website. It is also recommended that you contact your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy as well as the airline you will be flying with.

Students have stayed at either a local hotel or rented rooms through Airbnb for their quarantines. The need to do so depends on U.S. immigration regulations in effect at that time.

Mostly, though each course section will have its own schedule. Students should carefully check the scheduling notes for each course section to determine if a given section of a course includes synchronous instruction. Here is a link to the course schedule search (searchable by college and semester).

Asynchronous courses (no set class meetings) will have “ONLINE” included in the meeting days/times column, and no days or times will be listed. Also, the comments section will not include references to any required orientations or synchronous class sessions. 

Synchronous courses (online courses that have set class meetings on specific days using Zoom software and on California/Pacific Standard Time) will list the days and times of instruction OR there will be specific synchronous meeting sessions listed in the comments section.

 Students can use any operating system (PC, Mac, Android, iOS) for taking online courses. 

It is recommended that students have access to a desktop or laptop with audio and video capability and reliable Internet access. Students may use mobile phones, though they will be expected to do extensive typing.

Yes, most online courses require the purchase of textbooks. Textbooks can be purchased online from the college’s bookstore or through other vendors such as Amazon, etc.  Some courses require the purchase of an online ‘course pack,’ which includes access to reading, exercises and quiz materials. Students can purchase online textbooks or course packs using a credit card. However, many courses use open online resources and do not require purchase of course materials. Those courses are designated as Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC).  Below is a link to the DVC Book Center:

DVC Book Center

Registration can be done online through InSite from your home country. Priority registration dates and times are listed in InSite under the Registration menu. Students may register for courses until midnight on the first day of classes: August 23, 2021. 

The answer depends on your I-20 status as follows:

Continuing students with an active I-20: Yes. To maintain your F-1 immigration status, you are required to take 12 units. 

Students outside the U.S with an initial I-20: No. You are not required to maintain 12 units if you plan to study outside the U.S for fall 2021. 

We strongly encourage full-time enrollment due to the temporary provisions of U.S. immigration policy guidance during COVID-19. For additional questions, please contact the international student office at iso@dvc.edu.

Students should pay the tuition for their online courses as soon as possible. However, if they need to pay in installments or wait to pay, they will not be charged late payment fees. Students should note that, if they have a balance on their account, a registration hold will be placed on their account. This hold will block them from being able to register for the following semester. Once the tuition has been paid, this hold will be automatically removed from their account.

 Students can expect to spend 6 to 9 hours per week (on and offline) per every 3-unit course. 

Students should be prepared to actively participate in online courses through frequent interactions with instructors and classmates. This includes contributing to online discussions.

Yes. We will update students (admitted for fall 2021) once orientation details are confirmed.  

Yes, students who are arriving in the U.S. will be required to attend an orientation check-in session. 

Yes, you may still join a student club(s) as some have online meetings. The colleges have a variety of clubs that have been active in the remote learning environment. Please inquire with the club(s) you are interested in for more information. Below are links to Student Life at: DVC: https://www.dvc.edu/student-services/student-life/

If you are inside the United States, health insurance is mandatory for all F-1 students.

The cost of health insurance is $1,524 for 2021-2022. This cost is divided into two payments:

Fall 2021: $635.   Students must pay this before classes begin in August 2021.

Spring 2022: $889   Students must pay this before classes begin in January 2022.

Health insurance coverage for international students begins August 9, 2021. 

No. 

No, however, the vaccinations do not cost anything. Students need to show a photo I.D. and proof of international student health insurance to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Yes.  Please visit the Contra Costa County Health Services site for information.

No, DVC will not require proof of vaccination.

While it is recommended that students staying with families be vaccinated against COVID-19, the minimum requirement required by Diablo Valley Homestay is proof of a negative Covid test before arrival into the U.S. Students should email the results to info@diablovalleyhomestay.com 1-2 days before departure.

Yes, please review the Student Safety Checklist for our colleges.