Arrival information

How To Reach UCSB | Checking in at OISS | Temporary Accommodations | Temporary Mailing Address

How To Reach UCSB
The most convenient way to travel to Santa Barbara is to fly. If you are arriving from outside the US, you will have to go through passport control and customs at the airport where your flight first lands. Then you can take a connecting flight to Santa Barbara. There are direct flights to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, and Seattle. If your international flight terminates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, or New York, you will have to take two more connecting flights before you arrive in Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Airport is located adjacent to the UCSB campus, just a five minute drive away.  To get to UCSB, you can ride the public bus (MTD) that stops at the Santa Barbara Airport and it will take you directly to the UCSB campus for $1.75 (you must have the correct change). You can also take a taxi, especially if you have lots of luggage, but taxis are much more expensive. Even a five minute ride from the airport to campus can cost you at least $15.00. If you have made a reservation in a local hotel, some hotels have a free shuttle service. There are free phones for hotel shuttle buses in the baggage claim area of the airport.

If your end destination is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), there are no direct public bus or train connections to Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Airbus makes stops outside on the arrival level of each terminal at LAX and goes to Goleta (near UCSB) for about $50 one-way. The Airbus runs from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM. RESERVATIONS can be made AFTER your arrival by calling their toll free number: 1-800-423-1618 between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM. The Airbus makes 3 stops: Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. The Goleta stop is not served by public transportation. If no one is meeting you, ask the bus driver to have the Airbus office call a taxi to pick you up when the bus arrives in Goleta.

Sometimes international travelers can wait a long time at passport control and customs at the airport where they arrive due to heavy volume or bad weather. It is not uncommon to miss your connecting flight to LAX or Santa Barbara. If this happens to you, ask the airline service representative to rebook your flight and help you find a hotel if you have to stay overnight. Usually the airline will NOT pay for your hotel if you are delayed by customs and immigration officials. Be sure to have at least $200 with you in case of an unexpected delay and stay over.

Checking In At OISS [Back to Top]
You are REQUIRED to report in person to the Office of International Students and Scholars upon your arrival at UCSB.  We are located on the third floor of the Student Resource Building, and we are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 12 noon and from 1pm to 4pm. When you check in you must have the following documents with you:

• Passport
• I-20 Form (F-1 Students)
  or
  
• DS-2019 Form and Acknowledgement Letter (J-1 Students)
• I-94 Card (usually stapled to your passport by immigration when you enter the U.S.)

During your check-in you will also receive an Orientation Program schedule and other informational materials along with a checklist to help you make sure that you are all set to begin your studies at UCSB.

Temporary Accommodations [Back to Top]
If you do not have accommodations prearranged, it may take you some time to find a place to live. We encourage you to arrive in Santa Barbara before the quarter begins.

UCSB opens a residence hall for students arriving early to find a place to live:

Santa Rosa Residence Hall
Available: Saturday, August 29 to Saturday, September 19 (9 AM Checkout)
$54 per person per night, double occupancy
No reservations necessary
(Check-in hours: 7 AM-1AM)

Prior to August 29, 2009 or after September 19, 2009, you will need to make your own arrangements for a place to stay. Hotel prices in the Santa Barbara area are very expensive. Below are a list of hotels near campus and the approximate price for a single room. These hotels are not necessarily recommended, but are listed in order to give you an idea of the price range for accommodations. Prices are likely to go up -- especially in the month before school starts.

Temporary Mailing Address [Back to Top]
You can use our office to temporarily receive first class mail when you first arrive. We will not accept packages or parcels – only letters or documents. Mail should be addressed as follows: