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Contact & Hours

Office Location

Kolligian Library, Room 101 

Please note that our entrance is located at the exterior door of KL 101, next to the CARE Office and near Social Justice Plaza.

Mailing Address & General Contact Information

Office of International Affairs
5200 N. Lake Rd., KL-101
Merced, CA 95343

email: international@ucmerced.edu
tele: (+1) 209-228-4722
fax: (+1) 209-228-4708


Office Summer Hours (May 19th - August 11th)*

  • Monday-Thursday:
    • ​Open 10:00AM - 12:00PM
    • Closed 12:00PM - 1:00PM
    • Open 1:00PM - 3:00PM
  • Friday: Closed

*Except on the holiday closure dates noted on this page


If you have a non-emergency question, please email: international@ucmerced.edu

For International Student & Scholar related emergencies, please contact Becky Mirza: (209) 355-0913

For Study Abroad related emergencies, please contact Craig Harmelin: (209) 756-4665

For all other urgent concerns, please contact Garett Gietzen: (209) 285-9870


The Office of International Affairs will observe closures on the following dates

University-Wide Holiday Closure Dates 2025

Holiday Date
New Year Holiday Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 20
President's Day Monday, February 17
Cesar Chavez Holiday Friday, March 28
Memorial Day Monday, May 26
Juneteenth Day Thursday, June 19
Independence Day Friday, July 4
Labor Day Monday, September 1
Veteran's Day Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Thursday, November 27
Friday, November 28
Winter Holiday Wednesday, December 24
Thursday, December 25
Winter Curtailment TBD
New Year Holiday Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Thursday, January 1, 2026

Office of International Affairs Services

Study Abroad

International Students & Scholars

  • Are you a new international student who has questions on how to obtain your UC Merced I-20 or DS-2019? Are you a current student who needs information on CPT,OPT, Academic Training or any other questions regarding your F-1 or J-1 student visa? For all current student matters, you can email Kassity Veloz, our International Student Visa Specialist.
  • Are you a J-1 Exchange Visitor teaching or researching at UC Merced? You can email our J Scholar Visa Specialist Rico Johnson. His direct cell phone number is (209) 355-1018.
  • Do you have questions about employment-based visas (H, O, E-3, TN or Permanent Residency)? If so, you can email Becky Mirza. Her direct cell phone is (209) 355-0913.
  • For International Student & Scholars general inquiries, please contact iss@ucmerced.edu


Category Email
New or Current International Students (Including I-20, DS-2019, CPT, OPT, Academic Training, F-1, J-1 Questions) Kassity Veloz (kveloz@ucmerced.edu)
J-1 Exchange Visitors (Teaching or Researching) Rico Johnson (rjohnson26@ucmerced.edu)
Employment-Based Visas (H, O, E-3, TN, Permanent Residency) Becky Mirza (bmirza@ucmerced.edu)