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

All international students have will have a "Foreign" registration hold which will require them to submit necessary information and appropriate copies of documents in order to have the hold lifted before they can enroll in classes. The International and Exchange Student Center (IESC) is responsible for monitoring and lifting the "Foreign" registration hold.

Newly admitted international students who will be enrolling in classes for their first semester at CSUN are strongly advised to follow the following steps in the order listed:

  • Review the Welcome letter posted under the link for New Students on the IESC website for important information. http://www.csun.edu/international/new/
  • Students who are outside of the United States or California, or unable to attend group advisement for any reason prior to their assigned registration appointment may email proof of health insurance to their responsible foreign student advisor so that their "Foreign" hold can be lifted and can register for classes. Details of insurance requirements are available in the Welcome letter at the IESC website.
    • If you purchase insurance through www.csuhealthlink.com you must email proof of insurance coverage to the foreign student advisor responsible for your major and request them to lift your "Foreign" hold prior to your registration date.
    • If you purchase other insurance plans, you must email proof of insurance coverage to the foreign student advisor responsible for your major and request them to lift your "Foreign" hold prior to your registration date. Remember that you must be covered for health USD 100,000 plus repatriation and evacuation USD 30,000.
  • Students transferring to CSUN from another U.S. school (in addition to the above instructions) must also arrange to have their SEVIS record transferred to CSUN before the "Foreign" hold can be lifted. You can request your current school to enter a "future release date" in SEVIS if you are required to continue attendance at that school and need to enroll at CSUN in preparation for the upcoming semester.
  • Prior to enrollment, you must contact your academic advisor and find out what classes you must enroll in. 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.
  • You must make an appointment to attend a group advisement meeting as soon as possible. You are required to submit all required copies of documents as soon as you arrive in the U.S. Detailed information is available in the Welcome letter.
  • 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.
  • Transfer students must submit proof of full time enrollment and pick up their new CSUN I-20 no later than the 15th day of classes or the Add/Drop deadline.
  • This is all required in order to report information about your arrival and enrollment at CSUN to the Department of Homeland Security.