INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION (For More Information, Click Here)
A student who is not a citizen of the United States may be eligible to attend Lake City Community College as an international student. An international student is a nonimmigrant who is issued an Immigration and Naturalization Services Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20).
For an International Student to be considered for admission the student must:
- submit a Foreign Student application for admission with a $50 nonrefundable application fee
- provide a confidential Financial Statement showing official evidence of adequate financial resources for the period of enrollment at the College;
- submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) English proficiency. Minimum TOEFL score for admission to the College is 500 or written version of 173 on the computerized version
- submit evidence of all previous education to a by a Foreign Credential Evaluation and Translation Service.
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- official secondary records with course work completed and graduation information.
- official college or university records. Evaluation of previous course work is obtained through private organizations specializing in credentials evaluation and is the responsibility of the admitted student.
Any Questions? E-Mail us at admissions@lakecitycc.edu
or write to The Admissions Office, Lake City
Community College, 149 SE College
Place, Lake City Florida 32025
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
F-1 Students
All countries have laws regulating the activities of foreign nationals within their borders; the United States is no exception. International students must obey these laws, since failure to do so could lead to deportation and failure to complete college programs. In order to maintain your legal status, it is important to understand how immigration regulations affect you. The International Student Admissions Specialist is available to assist you with understanding the many regulations which apply to the F-1 student visa category. You may email, admissions@lakecitycc.edu, if you have questions regarding immigration regulations.
An F-1 student is a nonimmigrant who is pursuing a "full course of study" to achieve a specific educational or professional objective, at an institution in the United States. The institution must be designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer courses of study to students enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
A student acquires F-1 status using Form I-20, issued by the approved school through SEVIS. There are two ways to acquired status. The student may enter the United States with the I-20 and an F-1 visa or if the student in already in the U.S., the student can send the Form I-20 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with an application for change of nonimmigrant status. You will find valuable information at www.uscis.gov.
It is recommended that you keep your passport, Form I-20, Form I-94, identification, and other important documents together so you can present them if requested. Also please make photocopies of these documents in case the original documents are lost. Should you lose your passport, you must contact your home country's embassy or consulate in the United States. Telephone numbers are available at the consulate website, www.state.gove/www/travel/consular_offices/fco_index.html.
The Form I-20
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The Form I-20
When a school issues a Form I-20, it is giving the student the core document he/she needs to apply for an F-1 visa at an embassy or consulate, and to enter the U.S. in nonimmigrant F-1 status or classification. This form will be issued to you by the institution accepting you as a student. At the port of entry, you will present your passport, F-1 visa, and the Form I-20. The immigration officer will review the documents, admit you in the proper nonimmigrant status by stamping your Form I-94, and enter a notice in SEVIS that you have entered the United States.
Your Form I-20 will be used for many immigration purposes and should be kept with your passport and Form I-94. The Form I-20 will reflect the school you are currently attending, your major, and your degree program. The program end date refers to the length of time the school has given you to complete an academic program. If you need more time to finish, you must apply for a Program Extension at least 30 days before the completion date expires. Report any changes on your Form I-20 to the International Student Admission Specialist so an updated Form I-20 can be issued to you.
To obtain a Form I-20 from Lake City Community College, an international student must do the following:
Complete the International Student Application Down load our International Student Application.
Mail Application Mail the application to our Admission's Office with all the required documents and application fee. Once all the requirements are met, a Form I-20 is mailed to the prospective student. The Form I-20 DOES NOT guarantee the student will receive an F-1 student visa; it is merely a form guaranteeing that the student has met all requirements for admission at Lake City Community College and will be enrolled upon entry into the United States.
Visa, Visa Stamp, Entry Visa
These three terms, used interchangeable, refer to the stamp that a U.S. embassy or consulate affixes to a page in your passport. It indicates the kind of nonimmigrant status or classification you are seeking in the United States. Students seeking to enter the U.S and study at Lake City Community College should apply for an F-1 visa stamp in his/her passport. The visa stamp alone does not give a person the right to enter the United States.
Since the visa period has no role in determining the duration of stay, a visa only has to be valid at the time of each entry to the U.S. If the visa expires while the student is in the United States, it does not affect authorization to remain in the U.S. However when the students leaves, he/she must have a valid visa for re-entry to the United States. It is impossible to get a new visa stamp within the U.S. so it is advisable to call in advance to find out how long the visa issuing process will take at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you are planning to visit.
Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
This form is a record of your entries and exits across the U.S. border. It is a small white card that should be stapled in your passport. Students coming to the U.S. are admitted for a specific period of time. The immigration officer at the post of entry puts an entry date on the Form I-94. F-1 students are admitted for duration of status which is abbreviated as "D/S". This notation means the student's permission to remain in the U.S. continues for the duration of time that they maintain F-1 student status.
If you lose or misplace your Form I-94, you must apply for a new one. There is an application fee, and your new Form I-94 will come in the mail within three months from the date of the application.
SEVIS ID Number
This 11 digit number is your permanent identification number with the INS. It is printed on your Form 1-20 and on your visa. This number identifies you in the SEVIS system and anyone with access to this system can retrieve information regarding your current status. Do not confuse your SEVIS admission number with other numbers issued to you. The admission number on your Form I-94 is used for immigration purposes only.
SEVIS Fee
A SEVIS fee must be paid by students who use Form I-20 to gain initial status to begin a program of study in the United States. The consular officer will require the students subject to the SEVIS I-901 fee to present proof of having paid that fee, prior to issuing the visa.
Travel Outside of the United States and Re-entry
If you plan to travel outside the U.S., your passport and visa stamp must be valid beyond the date on which you plan to re-enter the United States. Make sure you get your Form I-20 signed by the International Student Admission Specialist prior to your departure. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that he/she has all the proper documents necessary to re-enter the United States.
Maintaining Your F-1 Student Status
Listed below are the basic immigration regulations that students with F-1 visas are required to follow while in the United States. By following the guidelines below, you should have no problem maintaining your F-1 visa status.
Report to the International Student Admissions Specialist
Upon arrival to your school, report to the International Student Admissions Specialist for SEVIS registration. You will be asked to present all your documents so they can be photocopied and placed in your student file. The Admissions Specialist will also be available to answer your questions and direct you to the appropriate areas for advising, testing, and registration.
Attend the School on the Form I-20
Students are required to attend the educational institution designated on the Form I-20. Students are expected to complete at least one semester at that institution prior to requesting transfer to any other educational institution. Completion of a degree program at the designated educational institution is recommended.
Full-Time Enrollment
Students are required to pursue a full course of study and make normal process towards completing their studies. Full-time enrollment in the fall and spring terms meets the eligibility requirements for non-immigrant students. Only one Internet course will be allowed per semester. Summer enrollment is optional and you may travel during this time. However, before leaving the U.S. contact the International Student Admissions Specialist and obtain a signature on the Form I-20. Without this signature, you will not be able to return to the United States. We encourage you to travel if you choose, however, any absence from the U.S. or any other academic break of more than 5 months terminates F-1 status.
If you are unable to maintain fulltime status, you MUST contact the International Student Admissions Specialist.
Apply for a Program Extension
If you are not going to be able to complete your program of study in the amount of time allotted on your Form I-20, you must contact the International Student Admissions Specialist and request an extension. It is the student's responsibility to make sure the extension has been processed and approved. Failure to do so will result in a "student out of status".
Apply for a Transfer
To transfer, the student must not only have a new school to attend, but must be eligible to transfer based on having maintained status at our school. It is the student's responsibility to apply and be accepted at the new school. Before a new school can issue the international student a Form I-20, the Admissions Specialist must release the student and facilitate a timely transfer.
Changes on the Form I-20
Notify the International Student Admissions Specialist of any changes of address, personal information or program changes.
Do Not Work Off Campus
Do not work, except when specifically authorized under the immigration regulations. See the International Student Admissions Specialist BEFORE working anywhere. Any work outside the authorized parameters is a violation of student status.
Unauthorized work makes a student ineligible for reinstatement!
Failure to Maintain F-1 Status
If you fail to meet the regulations listed above, you will be considered "out of status". To request reinstatement of your F-1 status, you must submit the application to INS. It is important to discuss your situation with the International Student Admission Specialist as soon as you discover you are out of status.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Quick Review of the Visa and Admission Process
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Quick Review of Requirements to Obtain a Form I-20
1. A written and signed application from the prospective student.
Mail the International Student Application with the nonrefundable $50 application processing fee to the Admissions office. The application fee must be paid with U.S. currency, check or money order.
2. Academic records that meet the institution's requirements for admission.
Submit official or certified copies of your records from high school or secondary school to an evaluation company and have the evaluation company send an official report of that evaluation to Lake City Community College. You must have an equivalent of a U.S. standard high school diploma to meet admission requirements.
3. Proof of language proficiency that meets the institution's standards for admission.
If English is not your native language, you must earn a minimum score of 500 on the paper version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 173 on the computer version. The only exception to this rule is a student who is a permanent resident of the United States. For further information on taking the TOEFL, contact: www.toefl.org
4. Financial certification that shows adequate funds for the program of study, housing, and living expenses.
Provide sworn affidavit from the parent or sponsor certificating that funds are available and will be provided as needed to cover all the expenses of the international student. Provide sworn affidavit from the financial institution of the parent or sponsor, stating there is an account for this individual and that there are sufficient funds to meet all the expenses of the international student.
5. The Form I-20 must be issued for a "full course of study".
6. The Form I-20 must be issued by the DSO (Designated School Official).
7. The Form I-20 must be issued in the United States.
Other Helpful Information
International students may enroll in any program of study offered at Lake City Community College. To view a complete listing of programs offered at LCCC, please refer to our web site www.lakecitycc.edu.
International Students will take college placement exams before placement in college credit classes.
International students must make their own arrangements for living accommodations and transportation.
Lake City Community College has three academic terms (fall, spring and summer) called semesters. Students are allowed to enroll full-time in all three terms. Only one Internet course will be allowed per semester.
Summer enrollment is optional and you may travel during this time. However, before leaving the U.S. contact the International Student Admissions Specialist and obtain a signature on the Form I-20. Without this signature, you will not be able to return to the United States. We encourage you to travel if you choose, however, any absence from the U.S. or any other academic break of more than 5 months terminates F-1 status.
International students DO NOT qualify for financial aid. It is very important for an international student to understand s/he is responsible for paying their own tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Only Permanent Residents and U.S. citizens can file for financial aid.
For information about private scholarships and loans for international students, please visit the following websites:
www.iefc.com
www.f1student.com
www.financialaid.com
Students can enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the Form I-20 program start date.
An F-1 student who has completed a course of study will be allowed 60 days to prepare for departure from the U.S. or transfer to another institution. If a F-1 student fails to maintain a full course of study or otherwise fails to maintain status, he/she is NOT eligible for this additional 60 days.
SEVIS requires notification of student's failure to maintain status or complete his/her program; change of student's address; change of program completion date; disciplinary action taken by the school against the student as a result of a conviction of a crime; changes to student's program, major, or visa status.
Students should keep the passport valid for six months into the future
Obey all state and federal laws.
