• How can I get my Cal Photo ID?

  When you attend the Orientation meeting, you will sign and date your VSPA application form and the Patent Agreement. Once that is completed, you will then take those forms, along with a $200 payment in Check or Money Order (No Cash) to the VSPA office (336 Sproul Hall). Once payment has been made, they will give you a receipt with a date stamp to indicate that you have paid the fees and are eligible for services. Show this receipt to Mara Cheng who will enter your information, and two days later, you will be able to go get your Cal Photo ID card.

• How do I get my CalNet ID?

  Once you have paid your Visiting Scholar Fee, return to Mara Cheng and show the receipt. She will then enter you into the system. If you wish, you can either come back 2 working days after that, or provide an email address you will check, and I will email you the activation token when it is available.

• Can we get the Class Pass sticker for our ID cards?

  
  No. Only officially registered students get the sticker. They get that privilege as part of the registrations fees that they pay. Officially registered students also go through the regular admissions process in order to attend UC Berkeley. You are a Visiting Student Researcher and not a registered student.

• Where can we get a BEAR Transit card or pre-paid BART tickets?

  You can buy them at the Parking and Transportation office. They are located at 2150 Kittredge, near Oxford Ave. As Visiting Student Researchers, you are eligible for the BEAR Transit Card which costs $20 per month, and is good for all AC Transit bus rides. For more information, contact their office at (510) 643-5790.

• How do I register for classes?

  
  You are NOT and officially registered student, therefore you will NOT be officially registering for classes. You will be auditing courses with the consent of the instructor. You will also need to let the instructor know ahead of time whether you will need a grade for the course at the end of the semester.

• Can I get a social security number?

  The Scholars Information Meeting you are required to attend will have this information for you. You can also go to the Social Security Office in order to apply for one, but this may take longer to process.

• But I need/want to open a bank account…

  Many of the banks in the area will now allow visiting scholars to open up bank accounts without a social security number if you let them know of your status and that you will not be here that long, and/or show them your Visiting Student Researcher card.

• Can I get a job and work while I am at Berkeley?

  No. Under the terms of the VSPA program which you are coming in under (as a Visiting Student Researcher), you are NOT allowed to be employed by the campus. Due to the terms of the J-1 visa, you are also, NOT allowed to work off campus. If a professor wishes to pay you for something, it is best for them to use the Visiting Scholar Payment Form, which can be found on the main Disbursements website.

• I am trying to look for housing off-campus. Where can I go for help?

  You can try the Cal Rentals office. They can provide you with listings of rentals in the area for a small fee.
  Their office is located at 2610 Channing Way, 2nd Floor.

  You can also try to get into the Berkeley Co-op Association. More information can be found at http://www.usca.org/

  Another good resource is the internet. One of the best places to look (for free) is http://www.craigslist.org

July 2005mc