International Students ABC’s for Admissions and Records staff Eddie West Director, International Programs and Services Ohlone College

Topics Who is an “international student” International Admissions processes International student-related Immigration regulations Special Considerations International student outreach Q & A

Who is (& who is not) an “international student” “International student” is defined as someone possessing, or wishing to obtain, an F-1 Student Visa, to study in the U.S. –Other international learners: H-4 Visa-holders Other non-immigrant Visa-holders Immigration Visa-holders Permanent Residents (i.e. green card-holders)

International Admissions processes Who handles international student admissions –Admissions and Records office? –Dedicated International Student office? In either case, the use of SEVIS is key –Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database SEVIS oversight: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) –PDSO and DSO

International Admissions processes, cont. Special application requirements of international students include: –Demonstration of adequate financial support Done via bank letter and/or Financial Affidavit –English language proficiency proof Done via Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, or other means General categories of international student: 1.Students currently overseas 2.Students currently in the U.S., on an F-1 Student Visa, and who will be transferring to your school from another U.S. school 3.Students currently in the U.S., on a different type of Visa, who want to apply for a Change of Visa status to F-1

International Admissions processes, cont. Once admitted: 1.Students currently overseas are issued and mailed a Form I-20. This is the most important legal document an international student possesses It is what they will use to apply for an F-1 Visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to their home 2.Students who are in the U.S. on an F-1 Visa who wish to transfer to your school, must have their school transfer their I-20 record to you via SEVIS 3.Students in the U.S. on another Visa type, who wish to apply for a Change of Status to F-1, are issued an I-20. They use this to apply for the Change of Status, via mail, to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

International Student-related Immigration regulations These regulations must be followed by international students, so that they remain “in visa Status” –Opposite: “out of status”. This is bad. Immigration = United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Immigration regulations cont. Full-time enrollment –Undergraduate: 12 or more units per term –Exceptions to this requirement can only be granted on case-by-case bases by a PDSO or DSO Only allowed to work part-time, and only on- campus –Some students may qualify for permission to work off- campus in certain circumstances, but this permission must first be granted by USCIS BEFORE the student engages in this work.

Special Considerations Concurrent Enrollment –International students are allowed to enroll concurrently at an institution other than that which issued their I-20. –However, other than in Summers, students must obtain permission from the DSO or PDSO of their main school –Their combined units enrollment must = 12 or more units

Special Considerations Longer, earlier admissions periods –International student applications usually begin working on their applications much earlier than domestic students do. Why? More documentation must be assembled Time needed to apply for and obtain Visa Time needed to make flight reservations Time needed to secure local-area accommodations

Special Considerations Cultural considerations –English ability of many international students is limited. Care needed in communicating with them to ensure understanding –In many countries, the idea of choosing one’s own courses and creating one’s own study plan, with or without the help of an academic advisor, is foreign –Rote, passive learning vs. active learning Travel endorsements

International student outreach Many schools very active in courting international students. Why? –To enhance cultural and ethnic diversity on campus –To expose domestic students, staff and faculty to other cultures –Revenue enhancement

Q & A