International Student Services

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 for summer and/or fall, find out how many remote courses you may take.

For Berklee College of Music Students

During the fall semester, you may qualify for part time 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 and you 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 for the fall will be posted on the Important Dates and Deadlines page.
• How to request part-time: complete the Part-Time Status Request Form for International Students (login required).

NOTE: ISS will not process fall 2022 part-time requests for students who are enrolled during summer until July 18, 2022 (after the course withdrawal deadline has passed).

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students

Contact the registrar if you have questions about part-time enrollment.

For Berklee College of Music Students

You are eligible for a vacation semester in fall 2022 if you were enrolled full time in both spring 2022 and summer 2022. If you take fall as your vacation semester, you must enroll full time in spring 2023. 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 fall vacation semester: complete the Vacation Semester Request Form (login required). This form will be made available beginning on July 18, 2022.

For Boston Conservatory at Berklee Students

Contact the registrar if you have questions about vacation semester options.

Online Check-In

All entering, returning, and continuing College and Conservatory students must check in online by the deadline, posted on the 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.

Who Needs a New I-20 Travel Signature

Continuing students: You need a new travel signature if you are traveling outside the U.S. and the date you are returning to the U.S. is more than 12 months after the travel signature issue date. View an example here.

Students with pending or USCIS-approved OPT: You need a new travel signature if you are traveling outside the U.S. and the date you are returning to the U.S. is more than six months after the travel signature issue date. View an example here.

You do not need an I-20 travel signature if you do not plan to travel outside the U.S.

How to Request an I-20 Travel Signature

Before you request a new travel signature, check the travel signature expiration date in the Travel Endorsement section on page 2 of your most recently issued I-20.

ISS will issue a new I-20 with an updated travel signature when you submit the online I-20 travel signature request form. 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 any more information before we can approve your request.

Request an I-20 travel signature (login required)