Community College and International Students

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Students from abroad come to pursue degrees, take intensive English language training, or a combination of the two. Although regulations about the entry of international students into U.S. institutions of higher education have tightened since 9/11, foreign-born students are still very much welcomed. In fact, the American Association of Community Colleges has an annual trip where it invites community college representatives to travel with them overseas to promote their institutions.

FAST FACT: To serve international students, U.S. institutions of higher education have to be approved by the School Certification Branch of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). You can check the list of approved schools at www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/pdf/ApprovedSchools/pdf at the U.S. Immigration andCustom Enforcement Web site.

Each community college has its own admissions requirements. You'll get the best specific information about a community college by going to its Web site first.

Most community colleges that accept overseas students spell out the requirements very clearly. They offer information about tuition (international students pay a higher tuition), available housing options (not every campus has dormitories), realistic costs of living, and suggestions about what to bring and what to expect in terms of adjusting to life in the United States.

Check to see if there is a special application for international students, which should be available online. If you have trouble finding the application, understanding admissions requirements, or completing the application, email the international student program or admissions office for assistance. It is very important to fill out the application completely and correctly; otherwise, your application and admission may be delayed.

TIP: The American Association of Community Colleges and Community Colleges-USA have a special Web site, www.cc-usa.org, for international students, with information about community colleges, entry requirements, virtual college fairs, and a search mechanism to find a specific college.

In most cases, you'll need documentation such as

• An application form from the community college you wish to attend.
• An I-20 Application form, available from the college. The I-20 form is a certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant student status.
• An official or certified copy of one of the following:
  • Your secondary school diploma or certificate equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. (Or, if you have not completed your secondary studies, an official letter from the institution stating when you will complete your studies.)
  • Documentation of your attendance at a post-secondary college or university.
• Your most recent score on a language test, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), usually not more than two years old. If you are applying to the college only for intensive English Language studies, or if English is your native language, you will not need this test.
• Your Statement of Financial Support written in English and shown in U.S. dollars.
• A photocopy of your passport identification page

All academic documents must be translated into English.