INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT

GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS – FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All international students must meet the general admission requirements for their program of study.  In addition to general admission requirements, different categories of international students must submit different types of additional documents.  See below for the different types of international student status and required steps per category.

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORIES AND ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

There are a variety of ways in which international students may apply to Isothermal Community College.  Please determine which category below applies to you and then follow the steps noted there.

F1 Student Visa – For students who reside permanently in another country but wish to come to the USA for the sole purpose of attending college fulltime.  Tuition rates will be out-of-state. In addition to the general admission requirements noted above, you must also submit:

• Notarized Affidavit of Support (I-134) (can be found on the http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm website, under Immigration Forms) and a notarized bank statement showing current U.S. funds available to cover tuition and living costs all years of study applied for. Approximate costs per semester = $4,650. ($2,650 for tuition, $500 for books/supplies, and $1,500 for living costs).
• “Official” TOEFL scores (500 or above for the paper test, or 173 or above for the computerized test) OR SAT Scores (500 or higher for verbal and 500 or higher for math).  If you are from a country whose first language is English, this requirement may be waived upon evaluation.
• Copy of current passport
• High School transcripts must translated into English, evaluated by an international organization, and sent in a sealed envelope to Isothermal Community College’s Admissions Department.

Once all the above admissions information is in our possession and you have been evaluated as an eligible candidate to attend Isothermal Community College, the Director of Enrollment Management will generate an I-20 form for you to use in your application for an F1 Student Visa.   Once you arrive you will need to provide the following immediately to the Director:

·         Copy of F1 Visa

·         Copy of I-94

·         Take ASSET placement test (unless previously waived)

If you wish to take ESL classes before you enroll in any of our degree, diploma, or certificate programs, you can contact the Director of ESL Projects at 828-286-3636 ext. 275.  ESL classes are offered through our Continuing Education Department and are therefore considered separate from degree, diploma, or certificate programs.   None of the steps noted above are required for taking classes in our Continuing Education Department.

Permanent Resident – This is for students who either have an active application for a green card to the USA on file with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), or those who have received their green card. Tuition may be either in or out-of-state, depending on whether the student can meet standard residency requirements applied to all students. In addition to the general admission requirements noted above, you must also submit:

• Copy of the “notice of action” sent to you from DHS regarding your application for residency or a copy of your valid green card
• Copy of valid passport

Permanent Residents who may not be North Carolina residents will also be asked to submit the following:

• *Completed North Carolina residency application (please contact Admissions at x. 251 to have one sent to you)
• *Further documents will be required to prove that you have been a resident of North Carolina for 12 months or more and have been actively been supporting the state’s tax system.  These documents vary from one person to another. To determine which documents can assist with proper evaluation of your circumstance, contact the Director of Enrollment Management at 828-286-3636 ext. 288.

* Please note that these two items will not prevent you from being admitted to college, but can assist in evaluating your eligibility for in-state tuition rates.

Undocumented Immigrants – At this time Isothermal Community College is not accepting undocumented immigrants. Please check back for future updates.

Other – If you feel you are qualified to attend college for a reason not outlined above, please contact the Director of Enrollment Management at 828-286-3636 ext. 288 to discuss your situation and receive some advice about circumstances and application to Isothermal Community College.

WHAT DOES “OFFICIAL” MEAN?

Official documentation refers to transcripts, etc. that are sent directly to the Admissions Office at Isothermal Community College in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution.  Please have all documentation mailed to:

The Admissions Office

Isothermal Community College

PO Box 804

Spindale, NC 28160

If you have any further questions about international admission to Isothermal Community College, please contact the Director of Enrollment Management at 828-286-3636 ext. 288.

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