International Student Services

Check Your Travel Signature Expiration Date

Before requesting a new I-20 with an updated travel signature, make sure you have your most recent I-20 and check the travel signature on page 2:

• Continuing students: you need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than one year (12 months) old on the date of your return to the U.S.
• Alumni on OPT: you need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than six months old on the date of your return to the U.S.

How to Request an I-20 Travel Signature

Complete the I-20 Travel Signature Request form below. Once your request is approved, ISS will scan and email your new, signed I-20 to your Berklee email address within 10 business days. You must print out the I-20, sign it, and use the physical copy to enter the U.S.—a digital copy on your phone or other device is not acceptable for travel purposes. We will email you if we need more information before we can approve your request.

Request an I-20 travel signature (login required)

For College and Conservatory Students

F-1 regulations limit the number of remote courses that both full- and part-time F-1 students can take each semester. Before you finalize your course registration, find out how many remote courses you may take.

For Berklee College of Music Students

During the summer or fall semesters, you may qualify for part-time status based on one of the following reasons:

• It is your final semester with fewer than 12 credits remaining (with no prerequisite sequences) to complete your graduation requirements.
• You are eligible for a vacation semester. During the fall, you must also have fewer than 24 credits remaining (including a prerequisite sequence).
• For a documented illness or medical/psychological condition.

Deadline: The deadline to request part-time status will be posted on the Important Dates and Deadlines page.

How to request part-time status: complete the Part-Time Status Request Form for International Students (login required).

About your degree audit: sometimes a student's degree audit does not accurately reflect their completed coursework. You must get your degree audit updated if these inaccuracies affect your eligibility for part-time enrollment.

• How to fix a previously completed grade of Incomplete: contact the specific course department to have your instructor or chair submit your grade to the Registrar’s Office.
• If you have transfer credits to submit: review the Transfer Credit Process on the Registrar’s Office website.
• Missing/incorrect major-specific courses or approved specified electives: contact the chair of your major department.
• Any other missing or incorrect courses: contact the Graduation Specialist.

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students

How to request part-time status: complete the Conservatory Part-Time Request form. 

For Berklee College of Music Students

You are eligible for a vacation semester in spring 2025 if you were enrolled full time in fall 2024 and either spring 2024 or summer 2024. If you take spring 2025 as your vacation semester, you must enroll full time in summer 2025 and fall 2025 in order to maintain your F-1 status. Read more about vacation semester (login required).

• How to request a spring vacation semester: complete the Request to be Evaluated for a Fall/Spring Vacation Semester (login required).

You are eligible for a vacation semester in summer 2025 if you were enrolled full time in spring 2025 and intend to enroll full-time in fall 2025. If you take summer 2025 as your vacation semester, you must enroll full time in spring and fall 2025 in order to maintain your F-1 status. Read more about vacation semester (login required).

• Deadline: The deadline to declare fall as your vacation semester is the last day of check-in. The date will be posted on the Important Dates and Deadlines page.
• How to request a summer vacation semester: there is no paperwork required if you are taking the summer off as your annual vacation.

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students

Contact the registrar if you have questions about vacation semester options. Undergraduate and graduate programs typically allow for a summer vacation. Conservatory students will need to follow their academic program enrollment requirements.

Online Check-In

All entering, returning, and continuing College and Conservatory students must check in online by the deadline, posted on the Spring: 2025 Important Dates and Deadlines page

• For Berklee College of Music students: log in to my.berklee.edu to view any restrictions and check in online. Find out how to resolve each check-in restriction here.
• For Boston Conservatory at Berklee students: complete the Check-In Form and log in to Self Service.

Additional Check-In Requirements for Entering and Returning Students

Entering and returning College/Conservatory students must submit additional information via the forms on the Entering and Returning International Student Check-In Requirements page (login required).

You can submit the F-1 Student Regulations Agreement and F-1 Visa Information forms before you arrive to the U.S. However, you must wait until you have arrived to the U.S. before submitting the Port of Entry Information Form.

International Student Orientation

Information about orientation will be provided to students by New Student and Family Programs. Please check their page for information and updates.