If you are studying in the U.S. for Summer 2025 only, only one online course can be counted towards your full-time enrollment and you need to be enrolled in at least one course with in-person instructional mode during the first session you will be entering the U.S. to attend. If you are enrolled in only online units in your first session, that enrollment will not count towards your full-time requirements, and your I-20 start date will begin from your session with in-person enrollment. See below for examples.
UC Berkeley’s instructional model is primarily in-person, but it includes hybrid and remote instruction in the summer as well. If you enter the U.S. with an I-20/DS-2019 for Summer 2025, you must primarily be enrolled in in-person courses for Summer 20245.
Example 1
The student is enrolled in Session A only. The full-time enrollment requirement is 5 units. The student is taking 1 online course (3 units) and one in-person course (3 units). 3 online + 3 in-person = 6 units. The student meets the full-time requirement and the in-person requirement.
Example 2
The student is enrolled in Session A and C. The full-time enrollment requirement is 10 units. The student is taking 1 in-person course (4 units) in Session A. In Session C, they are taking 1 in-person course (3 units) as well as 1 online course (3 units). 7 in-person + 3 online = 10. The student meets the full-time requirement and the in-person requirement because their session with online enrollment is in their second session and they are only counting 1 online course towards their full-time requirement.
Example 3
The student is enrolled in Session A and C. The full-time enrollment requirement would normally be 10 units. However, the student is taking 1 online course (4 units) in Session A and 2 in-person course (6 units) in Session C. Even though they are enrolled in Session A, because it is fully online enrollment, it does not count for immigration purposes. The student's I-20 and their full-time requirements will be based on their Session C enrollment only. Their I-20 will be issued with a Session C start date and their full-time enrollment requirement is 6 units. Since they are enrolled in 6 units in Session C with a maximum of one online course, they meet the full-time requirement and the in-person requirement for Session C (and Session C only).