Welcome International Students!
President’s Welcome Congratulations on your decision to continue your education in a new country. We understand that the selection of a college in the United States is not easy for international students, and thank you for ultimately choosing Community College of Beaver County. We hope you will find the information in this packet helpful as you make the transition. At CCBC, you will be challenged to grow intellectually and socially, and to develop your potential while making friendships and memories to last a lifetime. The College staff will make sure you get the most out of your time here as an international student. You will receive quality, personalized instruction from our faculty while at the same time have access to the most up-to-date learning technology. Not to mention the classmates you’ll meet from a variety of ages and backgrounds and support services that lead to a rewarding academic experience. Like all of our students, after graduation you will possess the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in your chosen area of study. And by the time you are ready to return home, you will be more than prepared to excel in a highly diverse and competitive job market or pursue advanced studies. Once again, welcome to campus. You may have come from far away, but I am confident you will find that “your road to your future” starts right here at Community College of Beaver County. You’ve come to the right place. . . .
Dr. Christopher M. Reber President
ADMISSIONS INFORMATION CHECKLIST FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS As an International Student at CCBC, you will discover a new world of possibilities; but first please review the information below to help get you started, and welcome to Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Before completing any of the required documentation, all prospective international students must speak with an admissions representative either on campus or over the phone. Please call 724-480-3504 to request an international student information packet and to schedule an appointment. Admissions Requirements: 1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
CCBC Application – apply online today at www.ccbc.edu International Student Information Form Proof of valid passport English language proficiency – As determined by TOEFL scores: a minimum of 500 or higher must be achieved on the paper-based test; 173 or higher on the computer-based test; 61 or higher on the internet-based test. Official copies of secondary and/or post-secondary school transcripts that have been translated into English and the American college credit system (if applicable). Affidavit of Support – This form must be completed by the student’s sponsor, showing that the student has sufficient financial resources to meet all expenses during their period of attendance at CCBC. Only the original notarized form will be accepted. Verification of financial support – Most recent 4 months of bank statements establishing that the student and/or sponsor have funds in the amount of $19,500.00* U.S. Dollars available to pay the first year’s expenses; for each dependent accompanying a student, an additional $2,000.00 must be available. Documentation must be dated within 30 days of application filing date. *This is an estimation of costs for tuition, fees, books, supplies, room & board, insurance, and incidental expenses. Medical insurance – All international students are required to purchase health insurance and must show proof each semester at registration. Heath insurance may be purchased in the student’s home country. Minimum coverage is as follows: • $30,000 minimum hospitalization per year • $250,000 lifetime payment • Identification card or official letter from the insurance company • 6 month coverage (no month to month coverage) For transfer students: Transfer eligibility form, I-94, visa, & I-20AB are required in addition to all items listed above. NOTE: All transfer students must have 24 credits and 2.0 GPA to transfer. All required documentation must be received by the following deadlines: June 15 for the fall semester (starts in August) November 15 for the spring semester (starts in January) March 15 for the summer semester (starts in May)
When all necessary documents have been submitted and requirements are met, CCBC will issue an I20A-B Form 60 to 90 days prior to the semester. The I-20 Student Immigration Form is sent by CCBC
to all student immigrants who meet admission requirements. The form indicates: the student’s field of study, length of course, and date to report to the college. The I-20 Form allows you to apply for a student visa called the F-I, which must be kept with your passport. General Information We urge you to apply as early as possible to avoid complications with mail delivery and arranging appointment with U.S. Consulate. Past experience has shown that those who wait until the deadline to apply are often unable to receive their visas in time to arrive at the college by the required dates. Once accepted to CCBC students must make arrangements to complete our Placement Test and register for appropriate classes prior to the start of the semester. All F-1 visa students are required to enroll in and maintain 12 or more credits per semester, (enrollment in the summer semester is optional) and must maintain an overall grade point average of 2.0. Failure to do so will constitute a violation of visa status. Students wishing to graduate or transfer in a two-year period will need to complete at least 15 credits per semester. International students are required to maintain the same academic standards as do other students and shall be subject to the same rules for probation and disqualification. International students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid from the U.S. Government, nor are they eligible for subsidized tuition or scholarships from the college. There is little possibility for the student to secure employment with the Community College of Beaver County and all other off campus employment is strictly illegal, under the terms of the F-1 Student Visa, for the first year.
STUDENT INFORMATION FORM 1.
Name: (as it appears on your passport)
(First)
(Middle)
(Last)
2. Foreign/Home Country Address: Street: City:
Country:
Zip Code:
*Please note this is the address to which your I-20 will be mailed, unless otherwise indicated* Phone no.:
E-mail address:
Date of birth: (month/day/year) 3.
U.S. Address (If known): This CANNOT be a P.O. Box
Street: City:
State:
Zip Code:
Home phone no: 4.
Cellular phone no:
Additional Information: Sex:
Married: (male) or (female)
Native Language:
Passport no.:
Country of Birth: 5.
Expiration Date:
Country of Citizenship:
Dependents: (Spouse or children who are coming with you and need an I-20)
1) Name:
Relationship:
Country of Birth: 2) Name:
Birth Date: Passport no. (if known):
Relationship:
Country of Birth: 6.
(yes) or (no)
Birth Date: Passport no. (if known):
Sponsor’s Name:
(First) Sponsor’s relationship to student:
(Middle)
(Last)
Street: City: Phone no.:
Country:
Zip Code: E-mail address:
UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOCUMENTS
It is very important for students to know the meaning of their four basic immigration documents: Passport – Your passport is permission from your home country to travel abroad. Visa – The visa is permission to apply at a port of entry for permission to enter the U.S. A visa does not give you permission to enter and must be valid, if required at all, only to the day you enter the U.S. There is no effect on your legal status if your visa expires while you are in the U.S., and F1 visas are neither issued nor extended in the U.S. Do not worry if your visa expires. A valid visa is very important if you wish to leave the U.S. and reenter, however. You should always meet with the Office of the International Student Adviser before engaging in such travel. I-20 – Your I-20 is necessary to obtain an F1 visa or to enter or reenter the U.S. in F1 status. It is also used as proof of continuing studies during brief travel periods, for which you must have a signature from the Office of the International Student Advisor in order to reenter the U.S. and for work authorizations or recommendations and for transfer from one school to another or from one academic level to another (associate to bachelors, bachelors to master, etc.). I-94 – Foreign visitors to the U.S. arriving via air or sea no longer need to complete paper Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 or I-94W; CBP will still issue a paper form I-94 at land border ports of entry. Those who need to prove their legal-visitor status to schools/universities, can access their CBP arrival/departure record information online. If travelers need the information from their Form I-94 admission record to verify immigration status or employment authorization, the record number and other admission information they are encouraged to get their I-94 Number. Upon arrival, a CBP officer stamps the travel document of each arriving non-immigrant traveler with the admission date, the class of admission, and the date that the traveler is admitted until. If a traveler would like a paper Form I-94, one can be requested during the inspection process. All requests will be accommodated in a secondary setting. This information is your permission to enter and remain in the U.S., issued at the port of entry or border crossing. Please note that F1 students are granted permission to remain in the U.S. for “D/S.” This means that you may remain for Duration of Status for as long as you continue to engage in full-time study or in authorized practical training for as long as you continue to obey the basic rules.
For up-to-date information on travel documentation, students should visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR F-1 VISA Once you have been accepted to the Community College of Beaver County, you will be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee ($200.00) to be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and the school will issue an I-20 to you. If your spouse and/or children plan to reside in the USA with you while you study, they will be required to have individual Form I-20s, but they will not need to be enrolled in SEVIS. Complete your F-1 student visa application; this process can vary depending on the U.S. embassy or consulate that you are working with. Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 and print application form confirmation page - take this confirmation page to your interview. While completing the online Form DS-160, you will upload a current passport photo which meets the requirements outlined on the U.S. Department of State’s website. Schedule an appointment and prepare for your F-1 visa interview. You can schedule your F-1 visa interview with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. An F-1 student visa can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date, though you will not be able to enter the US with an F-1 visa earlier than 30 days before your start date. Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if required before your interview. If applicable, you may also be required to pay a visa issuance fee when your visa is approved. The following items are required at the time of your F-1 visa interview: 1. Valid passport - Your passport will be taken so that you can get your visa and you will be informed when you can get it back, either by pick-up or in the mail. 2. Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160) confirmation page 3. Application fee payment receipt, if you were required to pay before your interview 4. A current passport photo, if the upload failed when completing the Form DS-160 online 5. Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20A-B) Additional items that may be requested at the time of your F-1 visa interview: • Original academic documents (transcripts/diplomas) • TOEFL test scores • Original financial documents • Foreign Currency Exchange permit, if required • SEVIS I-901 receipt • Proof of intent to depart the U.S. after completion of your academic program The consular officer will be asking you questions to determine three things: 1. Intent to Return: You will need to satisfy the officer that you will return to your home country upon completion of your studies. 2. Proof that you have adequate funds available to finance your studies. 3. The similarity between your intended program of study and your past or future Career objectives. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken for records as part of your application process (usually, at the time of your interview). This information is subject to change, students should verify the current process at http://www.uscis.gov/.
Helpful Tips: • • • •
Allow yourself no less than six (6) weeks to get your visa before you are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. Answer truthfully the questions asked of you. Only you can convince the U.S. Consulate that you should be issued a student visa. Keep in mind that visa issuance is not guaranteed – Do not make final travel plans or purchase tickets until you have a visa.
SPONSOR’S STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT Prior to issuing an I-20, Community College of Beaver County must have a financial statement on file. This information is to be provided by the person or agency who has agreed to provide financial support for a non-immigrant student at CCBC. This information is a required part of the admissions process. Sponsor's Name:
___________________________________________________________
Student’s Name:
___________________________________________________________
Sponsor’s relationship to the student: _______________________________________________ Sponsor's Occupation: ___________________________________________________________ Sponsor's Address:
(Street)______________________________________________________
(City/State/Zip)
_________________________________________________________________
(Country)
_________________________________________________________________
Sponsor’s Telephone Number: ____________________________________________________ (Indicate country code, city code, and number)
Sponsor’s Fax Number: __________________________________________________________ (Indicate country code, city code, and number)
Sponsor’s E-mail Address: _______________________________________________________ Sponsor's Annual Salary (expressed in U.S. Dollars): ______________________________________ Sponsor's Saving Account (expressed in U.S. Dollars): _____________________________________ The estimated cost of attending CCBC for one (1) academic year*: US$ 19,500.00** * This amount does not include costs for classes taken during the summer or dependents of the student. ** Additional academic enhancement fees may apply, dependent on the program of study.
OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF SPONSOR I hereby affirm that a minimum of $19,500.00 per year will be available for ______________________, who has applied for admission to Community College of Beaver County. This student intends to study _____________________, which is expected to take ____ years. Attached is a certified statement from my bank (or employer) expressed in English and U.S. Dollars ($) at the current rate of exchange, to verify my capability to provide this amount of support. I swear (affirm) that the information supplied on this Financial Support Statement is true and correct. Signature of Sponsor: _____________________________
Date: ___________________
USEFUL LINKS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Academic Links: • College Board Office of International Education and International Services http://international.collegeboard.org/ Provides information and serves as a liaison to overseas educational advisers, counselors at schools located outside the United States, and U.S. College and university staff involved in international student recruitment activities. • Dave’s ESL Café http://www.eslcafe.com/ An Internet meeting place for ESL & EFL students and teachers from around the World. • International Student Inc. http://www.isionline.org/ This site includes all aspects of being an international student in America including: tips on living in America, meeting friends, shopping in America, writing papers for school, good international student links, and answers to cultural questions. • NAFSA: Association of International Educators http://www.nafsa.org/ NAFSA is an association of individual’s worldwide advancing international education and exchange and global workforce development. The original name of the association was National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA). • World Reference http://www.wordreference.com/ The Word Reference Dictionaries are free online translation dictionaries. Immigration Links: • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) http://www.uscis.gov/ • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) http://www.cbp.gov/ Resources for international travelers including updated I-94 information. • U.S. Department of State http://www.travel.state.gov/ General visa and passport information • List of U.S. Embassies Worldwide http://www.usembassy.gov/ Locate the nearest U.S. Embassy with this searchable list that provides links to each office. • American Immigration Lawyers Association http://www.ailalawyer.com/ Local Links: • Beaver County, Pennsylvania http://www.beavercountypa.gov/
HOUSING LIST
Areas near the main campus in Monaca • • • • •
Aliquippa Beaver * Center Township Monaca Rochester
Towns near the Aviation Science Center • • • • • • •
Beaver * Beaver Falls Chippewa College Hill Patterson Township West Mayfield White Township
* Beaver is half way between both campuses
NOTE: Community College of Beaver County does not offer housing for students. Aside from this list, you may consider checking our local newspaper, the Beaver County Times’ classifieds section at www.timesonline.com
Community College Beaver County Office of International Students
Signature of OIS Representative: _________________________
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRANSFER FORM Each International Student (F-1) applying to the Community College Beaver County who has attended another U.S. College, University, or English Language Institute must submit this form. This form is a required part of your application to our college. TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT Please complete the information in the box below and send to the Foreign Student Advisor at the school from which you are transferring or have most recently attended. NAME ____________________________________________________________________________ Last (Family)
First (Given)
Middle
CURRENT ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________ Street
__________________________________________________________________________________ City
PHONE NUMBER
State
Zip
_________________________________________________________________
I grant permission for the information requested below to be forwarded to the Community College of Beaver County.
SIGNATURE _________________________________________ DATE _______________________ TO BE COMPLETED BY THE FOREIGN STUDENT ADVISOR The above named student is applying for admission to the Community College Beaver County. Please complete this form and return it to CCBC at 1 Campus Drive, Monaca, PA 15061. Is the student pursuing a full course of study? (If not, please explain) ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Is the student in good status with USCIS? (If not, please explain) _____________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Has the Student met all financial obligations? (If not, please explain) ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Is the Student currently in SEVIS? _____YES ____NO (If YES, we will request that the student’s record to be transferred to the Community College Beaver County - Monaca Campus) Indicate proposed release date in SEVIS: _______________ Student’s SEVIS I.D.:_______________ ∗∗Please note, if you do not see the handwritten signature of the OIS Representative, at the top of this form, the student has obtained this form without discussing a transfer with CCBC Office of International Students∗∗ Do you recommend this student for transfer? (If not, please explain) ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Name _______________________________________
Title
_____________________________
Address of Institution _________________________________________________________________ Telephone _____________________________________
Fax Number _______________________
Signature ______________________________________ Date
_____________________________
1 Campus Dr. Monaca, PA 15061 PHONE: 724-480-3440 FAX: 724-775-4687
TRANSFER OF CREDITS Students, who have attended colleges or universities outside of the United States and would like to transfer those credits to the Community College of Beaver County, can contact: •
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. PO Box 514070 Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 U.S.A. Phone: (414) 289-3400 E-mail: eval@ece.org Online: https://www.ece.org/
•
World Education Services Bowling Green Station P.O. Box 5087 New York, NY 10274-5087 U.S.A. Phone: 212-966-6311 Fax: 212-739-6100 Online: http://www.wes.org/
WES Courier Address* 64 Beaver St. #146 New York, NY 10004 U.S.A. * this address is only for packages delivered by DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.
Either of these agencies will evaluate your coursework and will determine its equivalence to the U.S. system for a fee. Please request the Course-by-Course evaluation. Evaluations should be sent directly to: Community College of Beaver County 1 Campus Drive Monaca, PA 15061 Below is a list of some local area colleges and universities that you may be interested in transferring to. All of the tuition and housing estimates stated are not exact but will give you some idea of what to expect. If interested in any of the universities listed, simply call the numbers for details and a transfer application. College or University Carlow University Chatham College Duquesne University Geneva College Indiana University of Pennsylvania Point Park University Robert Morris University Slippery Rock University University of Pittsburgh
Website Address http://www.carlow.edu/ http://www.chatham.edu/ http://www.duq.edu/ http://www.geneva.edu/ http://www.iup.edu/ http://www.pointpark.edu/ http://www.rmu.edu/ http://www.sru.edu/ http://www.pitt.edu/
CCBC offers transfer fairs and academic counselors to help with your transfer needs. An Academic Passport for Pennsylvania community college students allows individuals in college parallel majors to maximize the number of credits accepted and applied to a degree at one of the 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education.