How to Get Your "Foreign" Registration Hold Lifted: Continuing Student

All international students have will have a "Foreign" registration hold which will require them to submit required information, have the hold lifted and then enroll in classes. The International and Exchange Student Center (IESC) is responsible for monitoring and lifting the "Foreign" registration hold.

Continuing international students who will be enrolling in classes after successfully completing their first or more semesters at CSUN are strongly advised to follow the steps below in the order listed.

During Fall 2009, the University undertook extraordinary efforts to ensure the placement of international students in classes. Continuing international students are advised that these efforts will not be undertaken this Spring in cases where students do not take full advantage of their priority registration date.

  • Review the web portal for information on all registration holds.
  • Remember that IESC is responsible for the "Foreign" hold. Other departments are responsible for other holds. For example, the Academic department is responsible for the "advisement" hold the Student Health Center is responsible for the "Measles" hold, etc.
  • Review important announcements posted under the link for Continuing Students on the IESC website for important information and reminders on renewing their documents. http://www.csun.edu/international/
  • Students must renew their health insurance coverage.
    • If all you need is a renewal of health insurance coverage and you purchase insurance through www.csuhealthlink.com the IESC staff will verify this directly from the insurance provider’s website beginning October 15th and will lift your "Foreign" hold.

    If you need to renew other documents, you must submit proof at the IESC front desk or email the proof to your foreign student advisor prior to your registration date.


    • If you purchase other insurance plans, you may either email proof of renewed insurance coverage to the foreign student advisor responsible for your major, or drop off a copy at the IESC front desk prior to your registration date so that the "Foreign" hold can be lifted and you can register for classes. Remember that you must be covered for health USD 100,000 plus repatriation and evacuation USD 30,000.
  • Check your passport for the expiration date. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. The "Foreign" registration hold will be lifted after you show proof of passport extension or at least a receipt from your home country’s Embassy/Consulate to prove that you have applied for a passport extension. The receipt is only acceptable for getting the "foreign" hold lifted and nothing else.
  • Check your I-20 for the expiration date. If your I-20 will expire prior to the start of the following semester, and you have not graduated, you must apply for an "Extension of Stay" before your "Foreign" registration hold can be lifted. A detailed handout regarding the "Extension of Stay" is available on the IESC website.
  • Prior to enrollment, you must contact your academic advisor and find out what classes you must enroll in for the upcoming semester. Your academic advisor is part of your academic department/major.
  • Register in a full course of study (minimum 12 units for undergraduates and 8 units for graduate students) for the upcoming semester and pay your fees in full by the published deadline. Visit the web page for University Cash Services http://www-admn.csun.edu/ucs/ for more information.
  • Remember that it is your responsibility to enroll full time on the first available date (your registration appointment) and to pay the fees in full by the deadline, and to submit all copies of documents to IESC as quickly as possible.
  • This is all required in order to report information about your arrival and enrollment at CSUN to the Department of Homeland Security.