How To Apply
CLIC welcomes visitors and affiliates working at the intersection of language, interaction, and culture. We believe in intellectual exchange across disciplinary and national boundaries, with mutual benefit for our students and faculty as well as for our visiting colleagues. At the heart of our enterprise is the collaborative analysis of recordings of naturally occurring interaction, and we encourage visitors to bring such data when visiting.
Visitors are designated “Visiting Graduate Researchers” (VGRs) if they are graduate students currently enrolled in a PhD program. For information regarding UCLA Graduate Division’s eligibility requirements for VGRs, please see:
https://grad.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/vgrdeftn.htm
https://grad.ucla.edu/visiting.html
Visitors are designated “Visiting Researchers” (VRs) or “Visiting Project Scientists” (VPSs) if they hold a PhD and a faculty position, post-doctoral position, or research position at their home institution. For information regarding UCLA Academic Personnel Office’s eligibility requirements for VRs and VPSs, please contact our CLIC Coordinator at: kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu
CLIC visitors must be supported by their own funds (e.g., from their own home institution or a grant agency). Note that applicants who need to secure a Visa to the U.S. must demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to support their visit. For more information regarding UCLA International Center’s J-1 Visa eligibility requirements, please see:
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/J1Visa/74/75/Overview
CLIC accepts a limited number of visitors per quarter. Applications are reviewed after the application deadline and acceptance decisions will be sent by email within two weeks. If you have unusual funding circumstances that will affect your application, please let us know ahead of sending your application at: kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu
Applications for visits beginning during the:
Fall Quarter are due by February 15
Winter Quarter are due by May 15
Spring Quarter are due by August 15
Summer are due by November 15
Before preparing your application materials, we ask that you first secure endorsement from a CLIC Faculty Sponsor. Any member of the CLIC Executive Board may serve as your faculty sponsor (http://clic.ss.ucla.edu/faculty/). We suggest that you contact your potential faculty sponsor over email at least one month before the application deadline. However, please note that securing endorsement from a faculty sponsor does not guarantee acceptance to the program.
(1) Letter of recommendation. We require one letter of recommendation from an advisor/colleague who is able to provide an evaluation of your academic background and ongoing research. This document should be on official letterhead.
(2) Research plan. Please provide a project description that outlines the original research project you plan to pursue while at UCLA. The project description should be 1-2 pages and should include a project title. Please also indicate the courses that you plan to audit and the names of the CLIC faculty with whom you intend to interact. Please see our list of CLIC-affiliated labs & courses offered in the coming year.
(3) Curriculum vitae. Please prepare an up-to-date curriculum vitae.
(4) Statement of commitment. We require a signed and scanned statement of commitment to come to UCLA for at least one full quarter. Please list your arrival and departure dates, as well as the title of the position which you’re applying (e.g., Visiting Graduate Researcher, Visiting Researcher, Visiting Project Scientist). This document should be on official letterhead.
Applications may be sent electronically via email to our CLIC Coordinator Kristella Montiegel (kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu) or in paper form to:
Center for Language, Interaction and Culture
UCLA Department of Sociology
264 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza,
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1551
Visa Information
If you have been accepted as a CLIC Visitor from the United States or Canada, please email the CLIC Coordinator
Once you receive an acceptance letter, you will have four weeks to prepare the documents necessary for our staff to file your DS-2019 Packet. A summary of the documents required for the DS-2019 packet is provided here, but please read specific instructions (provided below) for each required document.
You will need to provide:
(1) Your finalized appointment dates
(2) Copy of the picture page of your passport, including expiration date.
(3) DS-2019 Request Form.
(4) Documentary evidence of financial support, in English.
(5) Certification of English Language Proficiency.
CLIC will prepare the following for you:
(1) Support Letter from the Faculty Sponsor
(2) Applicant’s CV (from the program admissions process)
(3) Visiting Researcher or Visiting Project Scientist Appointment Form (as applicable)
(4) Visiting Researcher or Visiting Project Scientist Chair Offer Letter (as applicable)
(5) History Record
(6) UC Search Report
(7) Graduate Division Graduate Student Researcher Appointment Form (as applicable)
If you plan to travel to the United States with dependents (defined as a legal spouse or legal minor unmarried children under the age of 21), please be sure fill out Section G of the DS-2019 Request Form in full, as well as provide our staff with the picture pages of your dependents’ passports. Be sure that your dependents’ passports are valid for their full expected stay in the United States. This will allow you to apply for J-2 Visas for your dependents simultaneously with your J-1 Visa. Your dependents may accompany you upon arrival to the US, or join you at a later date.
With questions, please email the CLIC Coordinator Kristella Montiegel: kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu
Please note:
Changing official appointment dates is very challenging and sometimes impossible after the DS-2019 form has been submitted, so please consider carefully the dates you choose.
You will be required to sign important paperwork at the UCLA campus on your appointment start date. Therefore, please choose an appointment start date about which you are (a) fully confident that you will be in Los Angeles; and (b) certain that our staff will be available to meet with you (i.e., do not choose holidays or weekends). At the same time, it is best for you to choose a date as near as is reasonable to your expected flight date. Often, visitors choose to set their start date for the official start date of the quarter.
By laws set forth by the US Department of State, you are allowed a maximum of 30 days after your appointment end date to exit the United States, however it is preferred that visitors choose an end date as near as is reasonable to their expected flight date. Ultimately, the length of your appointment should be only slightly less than the length of your expected stay in the United States.
So that our staff may confirm the appropriateness of your start and end dates, please also send us your expected dates of entry to and exit from the United States (i.e., your flight dates) prior to booking the flight.
Ideally, your appointment dates will span three months or more; if your appointment is less than three months, you may not qualify for some campus services (https://grad.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/vgrpriv.htm).
Your appointment dates should not span longer than one calendar year, if you plan to stay in the United States for longer than one year, please contact the CLIC Coordinator at kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu for special instructions.
You will be required to provide a copy of the picture page of your passport, including expiration date, as part of the DS-2019 Packet. If dependents are accompanying, also provide copies of the picture pages of their passports, as this will allow you to apply for simultaneous J-2 Visas for your dependents. J-2 Dependents are defined as a legal spouse and legal minor unmarried children under the age of 21.
Please be sure that all passports are valid for the full expected period of travel to the United States.
The DS-2019 Request Form can be found here:
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/Content/files/j1/DS2019.pdf
Please be sure to also read the UCLA International Center’s DS-2019 Instructions, found here:
Below, we have provided CLIC-specific instructions for filling out the DS-2019 Request Form.
- Under “Section B: US Address” please write: 264 Haines Hall, 375 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, California, 90095-1551
- Under “Section C: UCLA Department Name” please write: Sociology
- Under “Section C: Primary Activity” please tick: “Research Scholar” if you hold a PhD and a faculty, post-doctorate, or research position at your home institution; or “Non-Degree Student” if you do not hold a PhD (however, you may hold an MA/MS or equivalent) and are currently enrolled in a PhD program in your home university.
- Under “Section C: Appointment Title” please tick: “Other” if you ticked “Research Scholar” above; or “Visiting Graduate Researcher” if you ticked “Non-Degree Student” above.
- Under “Section C: Medical Insurance” please tick: “VSISP (enroll/waive)”. This is a confirmation that you will either enroll in or waive the VSISP Insurance Plan before you arrive to the United States (outlined in more detail below). CLIC Visitors are not eligible for the other insurance plan options.
- Under “Section C: UCLA Funds” please tick: “No”. However, please also note that CLIC will pay the $300 co-payment mentioned here.
- Under “Section F: UCLA Department” please write: “None”. This is because you will not be on payroll at UCLA.
- Under “Section F: Exchange Visitor’s Government” please write the dollar amount that you plan to receive from any government-sponsored grant that may be used to pay for your travel and living expenses. If you are not traveling under a government-sponsored grant, write “None.”
- Under “Section F: Other Organizations” please write the dollar amount that you plan to receive from any government-external grant or funding source (e.g., home university fellowship or sabbatical pay) that may be directly used to pay your travel and living expenses.
- Under “Section F: Personal Funds” please write the dollar amount you have access to in personal funds for the duration of your stay, if you plan to rely in part or whole on personal funds. Please note that for VGRs, 51% of required funds must come from non-personal sources (e.g., scholarships, grants). For all visitors, please be sure to read the UCLA International Center’s DS-2019 Instructions regarding minimum necessary funds.
- Under “Section G: Dependent Information” note that dependents are defined as a legal spouse and legal minor unmarried children under the age of 21. If you plan to travel with dependents, please fill this section out in full, as it will allow you to apply for J-2 Visas for your dependents simultaneously with your J-1 Visa.
- Please leave Sections H-J blank. The CLIC Coordinator will secure these required original signatures once your DS-2019 Request Form has been received.
- For more information regarding the English Language Certification by the Sponsoring Professor (Page 4), please see the tab “(5) DS-2019 Certification of English Language Proficiency”.
You are asked to provide documentary evidence of financial support, in English. Please note: 51% of required funds must come from non-personal sources (e.g. scholarships, grants) for Visiting Graduate Researchers. See DS-2019 Request Form: Instructions Form for funds chart. Acceptable financial documents include:
Personal Funds: A recent bank statement no older than 3 months verifying the required amount of money. ATM receipts are not acceptable documents.
Family Funds from Abroad: Bank statements, sponsorship letter, and/or bankletters verifying that the exchange visitor will receive the required amount of money from their family during the term.
Government or Other Sponsoring Agency: A signed copy of the scholarship or award letter in official letterhead which states the amount and duration of the award, and confirms that the award will be distributed while the researcher is abroad and participating in a visiting program.
Home Country Institution/Employer: Copy of signed letter from employer on official letterhead indicating the amount and duration of salary payment, and confirms that payments will continue while the researcher is abroad and participating in a visiting program.
See Page 4 of the DS-2019 Request Form for a list of acceptable certification documents.
If you choose Box 5, “Certification by the Sponsoring Professor”, you will need to contact your sponsor to request a 20-minute videoconference meeting within four weeks of receiving your admission letter. Your DS-2019 Request Form cannot be processed until you have completed the videoconference with your sponsor. This requirement holds regardless of whether you have previously met and interacted with your sponsor. The videoconference can be a good opportunity to ask your sponsor questions regarding your upcoming visit, as well as discuss your research plans. Upon sending our staff the completed DS-2019 Request Form, please tick the box “Certification by Sponsoring Professor” but leave the rest of Page 4 blank. Once we receive your completed DS-2019 Request Form, the CLIC Coordinator will meet with your sponsor to secure the signature and interviewer notes required on Page 4.
For Visiting Graduate Researchers (VGRs), please expect a notice of fees due within one week of submitting your DS-2019 & J-1 Visa Packet. Please pay these fees promptly using the online payment system outlined in the notice. Your paperwork cannot be processed further until fees have been paid.
Expected processing time for the DS-2019 at UCLA DCISS is three weeks. You will be notified of completion via email, and then the finished DS-2019 will be sent via Fed-Ex to your address. CLIC will pay this postage. Please be sure to email your preferred shipping address to cbergen [at] ucla.edu
Unfortunately, we cannot legally send you a digital copy of the DS-2019. However, we can email you the SEVIS number as soon as the DS-2019 has been finalized (your local US Embassy will require a SEVIS number for you to schedule a J-1 Visa Appointment). You will also find the SEVIS number printed on your finalized DS-2019, when you receive it in the mail.
Please schedule a J-1 Visa Interview appointment with your local US Embassy as soon your DS-2019 is processed and finished. If you are simultaneously applying for J-2 Visas for dependents, please be sure to inform the embassy representative, and ask what additional documentation you will need to bring to your appointment. Ideally, your visa appointment will be made for the nearest available date after the (expected) arrival of your finalized DS-2019 in the mail. You must bring the original signed copy of your DS-2019 to the J-1 Visa Interview.
At least three days prior to the visa appointment, Exchange Visitors are required to pay a mandatory one-time SEVIS Fee online (https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/desktop/index.jsp?view= desktop) to the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You must print out and retain a copy of your SEVIS Fee payment receipt and present proof of payment at the J-1 Visa Interview. Please inquire with your local embassy regarding additional documentation needed for your interview.
Please email the CLIC Coordinator at
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/Content/files/j1/ExchangeVisitor-J-1-RegulationsHandbook.pdf
Once you are ready to book your flight, please send us your tentative flight dates, so that we can confirm that they are in compliance with your visa requirements.
The US Federal Government and UCLA have strict regulations surrounding health insurance coverage for Exchange Visitors. All J-1 visitors at UCLA are required to enroll or waive the health insurance through Garnett-Powers & Associates (GPA). All J-2 dependents must also either enroll or waive of the GPA Plan. If you choose to waive the GPA Plan, you must enroll in an equivalent travel insurance and complete the GPA waiver process. For information about your GPA medical insurance plan options, as well as enrollment information, please see the Garnett-Powers website: https://clients.garnett-powers.com/vs/ucla/ For information about waiving the GPA Plan for an equivalent travel insurance, please see the following: https://clients.garnett-powers.com/vs/ucla/waiver/
Please note that GPA Health Insurance is billed for full month periods and cannot be pro-rated. This means that you are billed on the first of the month for the full month, regardless of whether you will be in the United States for the full month.
As you plan for your travel to the United States, you have three options:
(1) Enroll in UCLA GPA for the full duration of your stay. If you choose this option, you should plan to enroll yourself and all J-2 dependents in a UCLA GPA plan about one month prior to your flight date. You will need to purchase coverage for the full duration of your stay in the United States (from when your flight touches down in the United States to when your flight takes off to return home). If your flight dates are within the same month as your appointment start and end dates (e.g., flight date of January 1 and appointment start date of January 4) you will automatically be enrolled in GPA for the full duration of your stay in the United States. This is because VSISP enrollment always begins on the first day of the month of your appointment start date and ends on the last day of the month of your appointment end date, and these months cannot be pro-rated. If your flight dates are not within the same month as your appointment start and end dates (e.g., flight date of December 25 and appointment start date of January 4) you will need to purchase a one-month extension of the GPA plan after filling out the initial enrollment form. In the example provided above, you would request an extension to be covered for the month of December. Due to issues previous visitors have had in securing basic medical care with Plan B and Plan C of GPA, the CLIC Coordinator cannot recommend these plans at this time. The premium rates and benefits are outlined here: https://clients.garnett-powers.com/vs/ucla/downloads/2018-2019_Plan_Overview_vs.pdf
(2) Enroll in UCLA GPA for the duration of your UCLA appointment, and purchase an additional short-term travel insurance to cover the period between the flight dates and appointment dates. Returning to the previous example, a visitor may choose a flight date of December 25 and an appointment start date of January 4. If this is the case, the visitor may not want to purchase a full additional month of GPA Insurance for December due to cost. This visitor would have the option to purchase GPA Insurance only for their appointment dates, and supplement this with a short-term travel insurance purchased for the final six days of December. Then, the visitor could enroll in the GPA Insurance beginning January 1st. If you plan to purchase supplemental short-term travel insurance, UCLA requires that you enroll in the GPA within 30 days of your appointment start date. Your supplemental travel insurance will need to provide the following minimum benefits in the United States:
Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Double check the current J-1 Visa requirements online here, by clicking on the “Insurance” tab: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/how-to-administer-a-program/
(3) Waive the GPA and enroll in another equivalent insurance plan for the full duration of your stay. If you hope to opt out of GPA, we suggest submitting your waiver application as soon as possible, because some visitors are denied a waver and must research options for purchasing supplemental health insurance or enroll in GPA insurance. If your waiver application is denied, this means that UCLA does not deem your current health insurance sufficient coverage for your travel to the United States. In order to waive the GPA and enroll in another health insurance plan, UCLA requires that you and your J-2 dependents are insured by a plan with the following minimum coverage:
• $100,000 per accident & illness in medical coverage
• Deductible cannot exceed $500 per accident or illness
• Coinsurance cannot exceed 25%
• Medical evacuation coverage must be at least $50,000
• Repatriation coverage must be at least $25,000
• Pre-existing conditions must be covered with a waiting period no longer than 12 months
• Carrier must be at least A- rated or backed by the full faith and credit of the Exchange Visitor’s government.
Double check the current UCLA minimum coverage requirements here: https://clients.garnett-powers.com/vs/ucla/waiver/
Please be sure to provide as much information as possible regarding your requested insurance plan when applying for the GPA Waiver. Many previous CLIC Visitors have successfully waived GPA insurance after discussing long-term travel insurance options with an insurance broker in their home country. With questions, please feel free to email the CLIC Coordinator at kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu.
While we cover the fees associated with the processing of your materials with UCLA’s International Center, the visitor must cover other university and embassy fees. These fees will depend on the visitor’s status.
If you are accepted into the program as a Visiting Graduate Researcher (VGR), the following Graduate Division fees will apply, which you will be prompted to pay by email: https://grad.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/vgrfees.htm
Regardless of your designation as VR, VPS or VGR, you should be aware that UCLA and the US Department of State have strict regulations regarding health insurance coverage for International Exchange Visitors (EVs) and their dependents. Often, visitors’ existing health insurance is deemed insufficient by UCLA, and visitors must either purchase UCLA’s Garnett Powers Health Insurance Policy or a comparable plan. The Garnett Powers Insurance Policy and options for waving that policy are explained in further detail above (see “Visa Information: Health Insurance Requirement”). Garnett Powers Insurance Policy 2018-19 premium rates are listed here:
https://clients.garnett-powers.com/vs/ucla/downloads/2018-2019_Plan_Rates.pdf
Again, regardless of your designation as VR, VPS or VGR, EVs will encounter visa-processing fees. This includes the SEVIS Fee, a one-time $180 fee. The SEVIS Fee is outlined in detail below, under “J-1 Visa Appointment.”
Arrival Information
U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have recently increased security measures at all U.S. ports of entry. Please anticipate delays passing through U.S. Customs and plan accordingly if you will have any domestic connecting flights before reaching your final U.S. destination. Please make sure to have the following documents ready when entering the U.S. to facilitate your admission to the U.S.:
(1) Valid UCLA DS-2019
(2) Valid J-1 Visa (except Canadian Citizens)
(3) Valid Passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future)
You will need to make an appointment with the CLIC Coordinator Kristella Montiegel for your appointment start date, as listed on the DS-2019. At this appointment, you will be provided with important arrival and campus information. The coordinator will also help you prepare for the Validation of Arrival process at DCISS, as outlined below. For this reason, please bring all applicable documents necessary for the Validation of Arrival process to your appointment with Kristella, so that she may check your forms to ensure that the Validation of Arrival appointment goes smoothly.
Most importantly, you will be asked to fill out entrance paperwork at this appointment. If you are a VPS or VR, you will be brought to meet our Academic Personnel Coordinator to fill out I-9 Employment Forms. Though these forms are technically labeled “employment forms”, they are simply meant to give you official registration as a Visiting Project Scientist or Visiting Researcher, and should not affect your appointment or sabbatical at your home university in any way as you will not be placed on UCLA payroll. If you are a VGR, you will be brought to meet Alma Zavala, and fill out necessary entrance paperwork for Graduate Division. You will also be brought to UCLA Academic Services to submit your original translated proof of registration from your home university, so please bring this document to the entrance appointment.
You will receive further information regarding Validation of Arrival at your entrance appointment with Kristella Montiegel. However, please be sure to read the information below PRIOR to your arrival, to be sure that you have access to the following documents upon your arrival, and that you bring the correct documentation to your entrance appointment.
As a newly admitted UCLA J-1 scholar/student, your arrival must be updated in SEVIS. This process is called ‘validation’ and must be completed within 30 days after the appointment date stated on Box #3 on the DS-2019 form. In order to do this, you are required to check-in with the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS) upon arrival to UCLA. You are required to bring the following documents to DCISS:
(1) Copy of DS-2019 (Page 1)
(2) Copy of I-94 Admission Record (access at www.cbp.gov/i94) *
(3) Copy of J-1 Visa (except Canadian citizens)
(4) Copy of Passport Photo Page
(5) Copy of Proof of Medical Insurance **
(6) Original Passport and DS-2019
* Print your I-94 Admission Record only after arrival to the U.S. If you receive a paper I-94 card instead, make a copy of both front and back sides of the card.
** VSISP enrollment confirmation will be sent to you by email. Print and bring for check-in. For those approved for the waiver, bring waiver confirmation email and proof of medical insurance used to waive. J-1 visitors exempt from the VSISP plan must provide proof of medical insurance.
Please note: Copies of documents listed above must be made AFTER arrival to the United States but before arrival at DCISS (no copy machine is available there). You may choose to make copies at a local print shop, or the CLIC Coordinator can make copies in the CLIC Office.
DCISS address and phone number can be found here: http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/about/17/24/contact
To better accommodate all J-1 scholars/students the following time slots have been designated for the visa check-in:
Monday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am-10:00 am; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am-12:00 pm; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Life in Los Angeles
Securing housing can be very difficult in Los Angeles, and rental prices are fairly steep. The average going rate for a private bedroom in a shared home in Santa Monica is over $1,000/month, and a short-term sublet of a studio apartment may range from $1,500 to $2,200/month depending on location. You can find information about LA neighborhood profiles through the UCLA Community Housing Office. CLIC can also provide you with a short list of independent rental spaces recommended to us by previous visitors. To view this list, please email the CLIC Coordinator at kmontiegel [at] ucla [dot] edu.
Many previous visitors have also secured housing through rental listing websites such as sabbaticalhomes.com, airbnb.com, and westsiderentals.com. However, if you choose to search these websites for housing, please be aware that Los Angeles plays host to many very professional rental scam organizations. We recommend that you do not place a deposit on a rental before viewing the apartment in person and signing a lease – it is very rare for legitimate Los Angeles landlords to request down payment before a tenant views an apartment. Before scanning any rental listing websites, we ask that you please read the following rental scam overview by the US Federal Trade Commission (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0079-rental-listing-scams). Please also see our tab below regarding housing scams in Los Angeles.
When searching for housing in Los Angeles, it is very important to be aware of rental scams. Rental scams are prevalent in Los Angeles, particularly on websites such as www.craigslist.org. Scammers will pose as landlords and provide very realistic listings of apartments, sometimes involving rental websites, photos, phone numbers, and real addresses. In many countries, it is common to be asked to provide a down payment or application fee prior to viewing the apartment; this is not the case in Los Angeles. Renters in Los Angeles almost always view the apartment prior to submitting any payments.
As such, we recommend that you do not provide down payment on an apartment (in the form of security deposit; first month’s rent; application fee; or any other payment) prior to viewing the apartment in person.
There is always risk when renting an apartment, but taking some of the following steps may decrease your risk:
(1) Renting an apartment recommended to you by someone you know in Los Angeles or a CLIC-affiliated student or faculty member.
(2) Planning to rent a hotel room for your first two weeks in Los Angeles while you view apartments and meet landlords in person.
(3) Rent through an established property management firm. You can learn whether a property management firm is accredited at the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau’s website.
(4) Not giving any personal information to individuals contacted via craigslist or similar public listings websites over the internet (e.g., bank information, prior address, etc).
It is common for scammers to request your bank information or request for you to wire funds (e.g., “MoneyGram” or “Western Union”) prior to viewing the apartment. Legitimate landlords will almost never ask this of you, so this is a big sign that you may be communicating with a scammer. Also, it is common for scammers to state that they cannot show you the apartment in person because there is another tenant currently living in the apartment – legitimate landlords will be able to show you the apartment regardless of whether the current tenant has moved out.
Below, we have provided one real example of email communications that a previous CLIC visitor had with scammers on a public listing website, and one real example of email communications that one of our staff had with a legitimate landlord in Los Angeles. We hope that these real life examples may help you recognize signs that you may be faced with a rental scam. Always remember, if a public listing sounds too good to be true, it is probably a fake!
Rental Scam:
Landlord: Hi XXXX, About the rental: The 1 bedroom apartment you are interested in is located at XXXX, 750 sq ft and it is a month to month rental at $1100 per month. Please note: You are to make an advance DEPOSIT which is one full month rental fee plus a refundable Security Deposit of $900 which enable you reserve and secure the apartment for your choosing date. The advance payment is required before check-in day. Also note: The security fee will be refunded back to you, hence, the security fee is not applied toward rental fee however it is fully refundable on the day of your departure, provided all the amenities in the unit are met.Amenities: Central air conditioning, WiFi internet access, Parking space available for two cars, high quality towels, linens and dishes, flat screen TV with cable and DVD player, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, Refrigerator, microwave, Ice Maker, Patio with Breakfast table, Washer and Dryer.
No cleaning fee and Pets are allowed. Here is the rate quotation for 1 month at a glance, after which you make extension at your arrival.
1 MONTH = $1100
SECURITY FEE= $900
TOTAL AMOUNT= $2000
Kindly get back to me if you are interested so I can send you the Rental Reservation Agreement Booking form to fill for reservation and the Bank info you will be sending the deposit payment via Bank Deposit / Money Transfer(Moneygram) to the private property owner. I’ll look forward to your swift response as there’s lots of interest are coming in for the apartment. Regards, XXXX
Legitimate Rental:
Renter: Hello, My name is XXXX and I’m contacting you regarding the availability of the advertised apartment at XXXX Avenue. I’m a UCLA student looking to rent a studio apartment for a year lease beginning in September, and the advertised unit is in my price range. Could I come by and take a look at the apartment sometime this week? Let me know if there is a time that would work for you. Sincerely, XXXX
Landlord: Are you going to be in the area today? And when do you need the unit?
Renter: I’ll be free any time today after 4:00 pm. I’ll check my email, but if you’d like to get ahold of me by phone my number is XXXX. I would ideally begin renting September 1st and continue for one year lease.
Landlord: I’ll see you at 4:00PM.
The UCLA Academic Calendar can be found at: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Calendars/Annual-Academic-Calendar
Fall Quarter 2018: September 24 to December 14
Winter Quarter 2019: January 2 to March 22
Spring Quarter 2019: March 27 to June 14
Fall Quarter 2019: September 23 to December 13
Winter Quarter 2020: January 2 to March 20
Spring Quarter 2020: March 25 to June 12
Participation in regular graduate-level courses is both expected and welcome. However, CLIC visitors must contact the instructor offering each course they would like to attend to request permission and to learn individual instructor’s pre-requisites and expectations for visitors. Not all requests to audit courses can be accommodated. Also, while CLIC visitors are welcome to audit courses, they cannot receive an official grade for these courses. For a list of CLIC affiliated courses and labs, please see:
For a list of all UCLA course offerings, please see:
Once accepted as a CLIC visiting scholar or affiliate, visitors are welcome to participate in all CLIC-sponsored activities, including seminars, workshops, and conferences (http://clic.ss.ucla.edu/speakers/). CLIC visitors often also participate in activities sponsored by the UCLA Departments of Anthropology and Sociology, as well as the following organizations.
UCLA CLIC Graduate Student Association Annual Conference:
https://clic.ss.ucla.edu/clicgsa/
UCLA Anthropology Discourse Lab:
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/discourse/
UCLA Conversation Analysis Working Group:
http://www.sociology.ucla.edu/content/conversation-analysis
UCLA Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture:
UC Santa Barbara Language, Interaction and Social Organization Research Group:
The UCLA Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars (DCISS) is a great place to access language resources at UCLA. Popular programs include Conversation Partners (http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/ConversationPartners/47/47/intro) and Language Circles (http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/LanguageCircles/43/43/intro).
For additional language learning options and further information, please see: http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/handbook/181/200/languages
BruinCard is the official UCLA Identification Card (UID) for students, faculty, and visitors with an appointment of three months or more. Once you complete your Validation of Arrival at the Dashew Center, you are eligible to apply for a BruinCard at 123 Kerckhoff Hall (https://secure.bruincard.ucla.edu/bcw/web/Contactus/contactus.aspx). Generally, upon collecting a BruinCard, CLIC Visitors will receive access to a number of campus services (https://grad.ucla.edu/gss/postdoc/vgrpriv.htm).
Print, copy, and scanning services (for a fee):
http://www.library.ucla.edu/use/access-privileges/print-copy-scan
Library borrowing services (with the exception of inter-library loan):
http://www.library.ucla.edu/search
http://www.library.ucla.edu/use
Access to quiet study rooms and after-hours reading rooms:
http://www.library.ucla.edu/yrl/research-commons
http://www.library.ucla.edu/destination/night-powell
Transportation services (for a fee):
https://main.transportation.ucla.edu/getting-to-ucla/public-transit/bruingo-transit
UCLA Recreation facilities:
http://www.recreation.ucla.edu
http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/scrc
For more information regarding BruinCard, please see:
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/handbook/181/186/bruin
CLIC cannot provide office space to visitors. There are, however, reading rooms and other spaces on campus that are open to everyone (e.g., desks and facilities in some of the UCLA libraries offer unrestricted use). There are also computer rooms and digital laboratories in various departments affiliated with CLIC.
Visiting scholars and affiliates who are planning to carry out research that involves the collection of data involving human subjects while they are affiliated with CLIC must complete an online training course and submit the appropriate application(s) to the UCLA Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS). All research activities must comply with university procedures and regulations. In order to submit an application for permission to conduct research involving human subjects, any visitors who are students need a UCLA faculty sponsor (the CLIC Director or another CLIC faculty member should be consulted for guidance in this matter).
The Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars hosts frequent “Discover L.A.” day trips (http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/Trips/44/101/la). These events have been recommended by past CLIC Visitors. UCLA Recreation also hosts “Wilderness Outings” events; including hiking, whale watching, and rock climbing trips (http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/oatrips). UCLA Marina Aquatic Center also offers classes in surfing and sailing, as well as equipment rentals (http://www.recreation.ucla.edu/mac). Please also see the UCLA International Institute’s Calendar of Events (http://www.international.ucla.edu/institute/events) and the UCLA Happenings Calendar of Events for film screenings, museum exhibitions, and live music (http://happenings.ucla.edu).
You should always feel free to contact the CLIC Coordinator at
http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/home/handbook/181/182/overview
The CLIC Coordinator will be offering weekly office hours, open for CLIC Visitors as a problem-solving resource. If you have questions or concerns regarding any aspect of your stay, please feel free to stop by. You will receive further information regarding the times and locations of these office hours upon your arrival to UCLA.
