Newly Admitted International Students

• Set-up MyCoast for Access to Registration, Your School Gmail Account, and More.

  Gain access to your account and set a password by going to https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/and follow the prompts. You will need your school email address which has been sent along with these instructions 

  What are the password requirements?

  Your Coast password should contain at least 15 characters and contain characters from three of the following categories: 

  • Uppercase letters (A through Z) 
  • Lowercase letters (a through z) 
  • Base 10 digits (0 through 9) 
  • Non-alphanumeric characters (special characters): (~!@#$%^&*_-+=`|\(){}[ ]:;"'><,.?/)

  The password should not contain: 

  • Any part of your name or email. 
  • Common words (i.e., school, campus, spring, summer, fall, 2024, 2025) that are often found in passwords. 
  • Any password you have used before.

  * Passwords can only be changed once every 24 hours.

  2. Log in to MyCoast, your online student portal. This is where you will register for classes, pay your fees, view your grades, and update your personal information.

  3. Activate your Student Gmail account. Once you log in to MyCoast, visit the Student Email card. Click on“Sign In” to activate your student Gmail account. This email address is used for official email communications from Orange Coast College and should be checked regularly.

   

   

• Applying for a Visa

  New students and continuing/transfer students who are traveling outside of the U.S. without an F-1 student visa or with one that is expired will need to obtain a visa to travel to the U.S. Learn more about visas at travel.state.gov. Students with Canadian or Bermudian Passport do not need a visa to study in the U.S.

  PLAN AHEAD:  Obtaining a visa requires that you attend an in-person interview at a U.S. consular office and may take several weeks to process.  The earliest you can obtain a visa is 120 days before the start date on your I-20. Give yourself plenty of time and plan accordingly. 

  Schedule your Visa Appointment

  1. Find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate near you.
  2. Fill out the DS-160 non-immigrant visa application and upload your visa photo. Print out the confirmation page.
  3. Pay the visa appointment fee.
  4. Schedule an interview appointment.

  You will need the following to schedule your appointment:

  • Orange Coast College's school code: LOS214F01186000
  • Pay the mandatory I-901 SEVIS fee

  Review the U.S. Department of State's DS-160 Frequently Asked Questions.

  It is recommended that you, the applicant, do this process yourself. Help from an agent may be good, but the consular officer may have a negative opinion of applicants that rely on an agent.

  Documents Required of Everyone

  Review the requirements for the U.S. embassy/consulate that you will visit before your interview and come prepared.
  

  • Passport – must be valid for at least 6 months from the program start date on your I-20. Verify that there are no errors in your name, birth date, etc.
  • I-20 Form - receive your Form I-20 from your chosen school and sign page 1.
  • SEVIS Fee Receipt  - pay your I-901 fee at www.fmjfee.com. Print out the confirmation of payment (receipt).
  • Plan to Return Home - Documents proving intent to return to the home country after completion of study
  • Evidence of Financial Support - Check Embassy of Consulate site for requirements.
  • U.S. Embassy/Consulate Forms/Documents - All U.S. Department of State forms and documents listed on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate website (non-refundable visa application fee and photographs)

  Documents for New Students (initial)

  • Proof of admission to Orange Coast College

  Documents for Continuing or Transfer Students

  • Travel signature on I-20, signed by OCC international student adviser
  • Transcripts from all U.S. institutions
  • All previously issued I-20s

  OPT Students

  • Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
  • Job offer letter from employer/proof of employment
  • Travel signature on I-20, signed by OCC international student adviser
  • Transcripts from all U.S. institutions
  • All previously issued I-20s
• Register for Classes Spring 2027
  • Spring 2027 registration begins on October 27. Log into your MyCoast account to choose classes as soon as possible. You should be registered in 12 units BEFORE you arrive in the US and BEFORE the semester begins. 

  • Important Reminders:
    • We recommend you pick mostly general education courses for your first term. Use the Course Selection Guide (PDF)to help you choose your classes.  You may adjust your schedule after meeting with a counselor if needed.
    • Watch the Course Registration Video for step-by-step instructions for registering for classes on MyCoast.

  • Enrollment Requirements for F-1 status:
    • F-1 Students MUST complete a minimum 12 units during Fall and Spring to maintain status.  
    • No more than 3 units out of the total 12 may be online.
    • If you are also taking classes at GWC or CCC, 9 of your 12 units must be at OCC.
    • Waitlisted classes do NOT count as enrollment.  
    • Please be aware of Important Dates
    • If you decide not to attend OCC or if you must defer to the next semester, you are responsible for dropping ALL courses for which you have enrolled. There will be no exceptions made for courses dropped after the refund deadline or the drop without a "W" deadline.  View all important dates on the Important Datespage or on your Student Class Program (Web Schedule Bill).

  • Classes fill up quickly, so register RIGHT AWAY (even if you don't have an F1 visa yet)!  
• Counseling Spring 2027

  STUDENTS COMING FROM HIGH SCHOOL (FIRST-TIME COLLEGE STUDENTS)

  Attend New International Student Group Counseling.  Choose one.

  schedule for online group counseling for new international students

  Date	Time	Zoom Registration Link
  Wednesday, October 28, 2026	4 to 7 PM	Click HERE to register
  Wednesday, November 25, 2026	8 to 11 AM	Click HERE to register
  Wednesday, December 9, 2026	4 to 7 PM	Click HERE to register
  Wednesday, January 13, 2027	8 to 11 AM	Click HERE to register
  Thursday, January 21, 2027	4 to 7 PM	Click HERE to register
  Thursday, January 28, 2027	8 to 11 AM	Click HERE to register

  *All times are in California Pacific Time (PT). If you are abroad, remember to convert the time to your local time

  STUDENTS WITH PRIOR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

  If you have taken any college courses in the U.S. or outside the U.S., you must schedule a 1-hour appointment with an academic counselor:

  1. Make sure you have set up your MyCoast account FIRST 
  2. Visit the counseling pageand click "schedule appointment" for any counselor.  If no appointments are available, please try again on Thursday.  New appointments are posted every Thursday.
  3. Select a "Newly Admitted Student - 60 minutes" appointment

  follow the on-screen instructions to finalize your appointment

• Purchase Mandatory Insurance

  Medical insurance is a necessary part of living in the United States and is required of international students who attend OCC. This requirement is waived for U.S. based insurance provided by your parent or spouses employment and fully government sponsored students.

  Purchase the Insurance Here: https://www.studentinsuranceplan.info/occ.html

  If you are applying for a visa, please purchase insurance after your visa is approved.

  Continuing students and transfer students are required to purchase insurance before registration for the term the insurance covers.

• Pay Tuition and Fees

  Once you register for classes, it is important to pay for tuition and fees on MyCoast to ensure you are not dropped or have holds placed on your record. Fully sponsored students who have submitted the Financial Guarantee for the semester will have their fees paid by their home country.

• Connect with us and other new international students!

  Recieve updates on events on Insta and Facebook.

  Table with link to Global Engagement Center Instagram and Facebook.

  #OCCGEC

  #orangecoastcollegeinternational

• How to Update Your Personal Information on MyCoast

  All F-1 International Students at Orange Coast College (OCC) are required by federal regulation to update OCC within 10 days of changing their U.S. or foreign address, phone number, email, or name.

  New international students must update this information within 10 days of arriving in the U.S. Please follow the instructions below to update your information on MyCoast.

  To keep your MyCoast account accurate and ensure you receive important communications, you can update your personal details online.

  1. Log in to your MyCoast account.
  2. Go to the “Banner Self Service” tab.
  3. Select "Update Personal Contact Information"
  4. Enter your current U.S. address and phone number in the correct format:
     • Building number, street name, apartment number
     • City, state
     • Postal code (zip code) 
  5. If you’ve just arrived in the U.S., enter your current temporary address (hotel, friend’s home, etc.).
  6. Click Submit to save.
  7. To update emergency contacts, go to “Update Emergency Contacts” under the same section, add your contact details, and submit.

  
  Tips

  • Always check your student email (@student.cccd.edu) and MyCoast for official updates Orange Coast College.
  • Keep your phone number current so you can receive text alerts about registration, holds, and deadlines.
  • If you have trouble logging in, contact IT Service Desk at (714) 438-8111 or use the Microsoft Password Reset to change your password.

  
  By updating your information regularly, you ensure you stay connected to OCC’s official communications and can access your services without delays.

• Helpful Resources for All New Students
  1. Find and download Form I-94 after you arrive in the USA
  2. Housing & Homestay webpage
  3. Enrollment Services
     • Class Registration Guide to help you register for your classes on MyCoast
     • How to Register Video 
     • How to Use the Course Schedule Video
     • How to Read the Course schedule Video
  4. Tuition
     • PayMyTuition online payments
     • Deadlines to pay tuition: Non-payment Drop Policy
  5. Login Issues
     
     • Use the Microsoft Password Reset to change your password.
     • Canvas and MyCoast Support | Orange Coast College 
     • Visit Coast Information Services for more information.
     • Watch MyCoast Dashboard: First Time Login Experience 
     • Need help with your MyCoast account? Call us at (714) 438-8111.
  6. Current Students Guides

Let's Stay in Touch

Find us on social media

#OCCGEC

#orangecoastcollegeinternational

#OrangeCoastCollege

 

 

 

Contact Us

(714) 432-5940

occinternational@cccd.edu

Global Engagement Center

Office Hours

Visit us at the GEC during:

Mon - Thu, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fri, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

 

Just Before the Semester Begins

• Check-in to OCC

  New OCC International Students Need to check-in using the link below after arriving from overseas or after transferring your SEVIS record if you are transferring from another school.

  Find and download Form I-94.

  Check-in here:

   

• Housing and Homestay
  Housing & Homestay webpage