International Student Services

Adjusting to life in the U.S. can be difficult. It is normal for international students to have feelings of confusion, fear, frustration, or homesickness. The international advisors in International Student Advising and personal counselors in Health and Wellness are available to discuss any concerns or problems that you may have as you adjust to life in Boston and at Berklee. In addition, the following documents may be helpful:

• Cultural Differences
• Culture Shock
• Adjustment Calendar

When you travel into the U.S., you will need to present the following documents at the U.S. port of entry:

1. Valid passport
2. Valid F-1 Visa (except for passport holders from Canada and Bermuda)
3. Valid I-20
4. Proof of I-901 (SEVIS) fee payment

Your I-20 is the certificate of eligibility issued by Berklee and consists of three pages: the student information page, the endorsement page, and the instructions page. The student information page includes information about Berklee and the program you have been admitted to. Your SEVIS ID number (which begins with N) is printed at the top of the page. 

If you are entering the U.S. to attend school for the first time, the Custom and Border Control (CBP) official at the U.S. port of entry will review your I-20 and place an entry stamp in your passport. This stamp indicates that you have been inspected for admission into the U.S. and have been authorized to attend the school whose name appears on your I-20. You must attend the school that issued you the I-20.

The signature on page 2 of your I-20 is valid for 12 months (or six months if you are on USCIS-approved Post-Completion Optional Practical Training). While travel signatures are valid for 12 months, if you intend to apply for a new F-1 visa, we recommend that your signature be less than six months old. 

It takes one week to process a travel signature request. If you intend to travel outside the U.S., you may request a revalidation (travel) signature at the Counseling and Advising Center. You will be required to complete a Travel Signature Request form and leave your I-20 for up to one week. You may use that signature for unlimited entries to the U.S. during the specified time period.

The I-20 must be accurate and valid throughout your enrollment and you are responsible for the accuracy of this document. Check the I-20 to make sure that all the dates and enrollment information are correct. Be sure that you do not allow your I-20 to expire prior to completion of your academic program. Speak with your international student advisor if you see any incorrect information on your I-20 or if you need to request an extension of the document.

Note: each dependent who accompanies you to the U.S. must have an individual I-20 (indicated by the class "F-2" on page one of the form).

Entry visas are issued by the Department of State at U.S embassies or consulates throughout the world. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States must obtain an F-1 student visa in order to attend Berklee College of Music. Non-U.S. citizens entering the country with a visitor visa (B-1, B-2) or under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are not permitted to engage in full-time study.

The visa stamp on your passport is your permission to enter the U.S. It indicates the number of times you may enter the U.S. and the time period for which this permission is valid. You cannot apply for a new visa while you are in the U.S. If you leave the U.S. and want to re-enter, you must have a valid visa.

Entering students who have questions about their F-1 visa should visit the Visa Information page. Continuing and returning students can find visa information on the ISS page.

As an international student, you are required to be enrolled full-time at Berklee for at least two semesters per calendar year. This means you must register for and earn grades for at least 12 required credits each semester in order to maintain your F-1 status unless you are authorized for part-time enrollment by International Student Services. To be authorized for part-time enrollment, you must meet with an international advisor in International Student Services. 

Course withdrawals, credit by exam, and transfer credit do not count as part of your 12 enrolled credits. If you have questions about part-time enrollment, course withdrawals, or credit by exam, come to International Student Services for more information.

In your final semester, you must be registered for at least one required course.

You must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet Berklee's published Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines. If you are having difficulty doing so, please speak with an academic advisor.

Students register for internships through the Career Center. Staff work closely with international advisors to verify eligibility for participation in Berklee-sponsored internships. If you want to register for an internship, speak with a Career Center advisor and an international advisor in International Student Services.

Internship enrollment must be reported to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and authorized on page 3 of a student's I-20. It is your responsibility to inform the Career Center and you international advisor as early as possible of any internship plans you may have. Failure to do so could result in a denial of the internship or violation of your F-1 status.

You may work on campus through the student employment program. During non-vacation semesters, students may not work more than 20 hours per week on campus. Contact the Student Employment Office for more information concerning on-campus student employment.

International students may not work off-campus without permission from the U.S. government. If you have had a valid F-1 status for two consecutive semesters and you are interested in working off-campus, come to International Student Services and request the "Employment Options" handout. This handout explains the various types of work permission you may be eligible for, and how to apply. Off-campus employment is extremely limited and must be directly related to your studies at Berklee.

Use your OnePass login to access additional information about work authorization, part-time enrollment, taxes, and more. 

Students can visit us in the Center for Student Advising and Success (921 Boylston Street, third floor) or contact us at iss@berklee.edu or 617-747-6600.