International F-1 Students

• I-94 Form (Arrival-Departure)
• F-1 Visa (copy)
• All Previous I-20’s (copies)
• Transfer Recommendation Form

• I-94 Form (Arrival-Departure)
• Current Visa (copy)

Admissions Application - Applicants are required to list their name as it appears on their passport. Applicants must include their mailing address (in the U.S.) and legal address (foreign). Complete all sections and attach a non-refundable application fee payable to Suffolk County Community College. When answering questions regarding residency, note that F-1 status does not allow nonimmigrants to establish U.S. residency.

Housing Sponsorship Form - Housing sponsor must complete this form and include proof of residence. The proof of residence must be in the name of the person offering housing. Proof of residence can be one of the following:

1. Copy of Deed
2. Copy of Lease Agreement
3. Copy of a Utility Bill (example: electric, gas, oil, or water bill)

The housing sponsor must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. By completing the Housing Sponsorship Form, the sponsor is swearing to the U.S. government that the applicant will receive free room and board. The applicant cannot be required to provide the sponsor with any service in exchange for room and board.

There are no dormitories or residence halls at Suffolk County Community College. Applicants need to arrange for their housing.

Applicants without a housing sponsor: If you do not have a housing sponsor offering you free room and board, you need to add the cost of housing of $11,000 to the total annual cost. Upon arrival to the U.S., the applicant is required to submit a Housing Sponsorship Form with proof of residence within ten days of arrival. Failure to comply with the housing requirement will prevent the student from being registered in SEVIS. As a result, it will lead to the termination of the F-1 student's status.

Financial Sponsorship Form - Financial sponsor is required to complete this form and include an original bank statement to confirm the availability of funds required for the duration of studies.

Note for Applicants with F-2 dependents - If a dependent is accompanying the applicant, additional funding is required. For a spouse, an additional $6,500 per year; and for each additional child, $4,500 per year must be added to the total annual cost.

The bank statement must be in the name of the person offering the financial support. The bank statement needs to include balances and deposits and cannot be more than two months old at the time of the application submission. Please note: if another person's name appears on the bank statement, that person is required to complete a separate Financial Sponsorship Form permitting those funds to be used for the applicant. The bank statement(s) must indicate the immediate availability of funds to pay for the expenses for the first academic year. If the bank statement only shows enough funds to cover the first year, then proof of income must be submitted.

Proof of income can be one of the following:

1. Original employer's salary statement on company letterhead
2. Original salary estimate from a private accountant or bank If self-employed
3. Copy of most recent income tax return
4. Copies of pay stubs for the last two consecutive months
5. Original documentation of liquid assets

By completing the Financial Sponsorship Form, the individual is swearing to the U.S. government and agrees they will provide the funds indicated on the Financial Sponsorship Form to the applicant from their own financial resources for the purpose of full-time study for the entire length of study.

When applying for an F-1 visa or for a change of status, it is recommended at least part of the applicant's financial support come from a financial sponsor from their country as this demonstrates ties to their country.

Please note: F-1 applicants who provide financial support for themselves must submit proof they have adequate financial funds for each year of the students program of study. Reminder, length of study is two years for an associate degree program or a year and a half for Intensive English Program (IEP) - Language Training.

Suffolk County Community College cannot provide any financial assistance to F-1 students nor are they eligible for federal or state-based financial aid.

It is important to note that F-1 students cannot be expected to work in the U.S. to meet their financial needs. On-campus employment is extremely limited, and off-campus employment is strictly controlled by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. For more information on F-1 students and employment eligibility visit www.uscis.gov.

To assist you with determining your annual cost of tuition and living expenses, complete the Annual Tuition and Living Cost Worksheet.

All foreign education credentials must be evaluated by an accredited agency.

Academic degree evaluations will be accepted from a credential evaluation agency which is a member of either the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Please note, the agency the applicant selects to process their education credential evaluation will specify the required documentation and English translation requirements on their website.

Education Credential Evaluation — International applicants are required to prove their secondary education from their home country is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. Applicants who have been determined by an accredited agency to have earned the equivalent of an associate degree or higher can have the high school requirement waived. Applicants who have attended college and wish to transfer credits to this institution need to have a course-by-course evaluation before determining potential transfer credits.

The Education Credential Evaluation is required to be sent to the International Student Office at the address below in a sealed envelope.

Please visit the websites below for NACES and AICE to select one of the evaluation agencies:

National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE)

1. TOEFL Examination - a minimum score of 61 (internet-based), 173 (computerized-based) or 500 (paper-based)
2. Completion of a recognized English as a Second Language (ESL) program at another American institution
3. SUNY English Proficiency Report - This form is to be completed by a professor or instructor of English at a school or university or director of an English language program

Please note: Applicants who enroll in the Intensive English Program (IEP) are not required to meet the English Proficiency requirement.

• Copy of the applicant's identity page of a valid passport - valid for at least 6 months into the future.
• Copy of the identity page of any dependent's valid passport (if applicable) - valid for at least 6 months into the future.

For students transferring with an F-1 status or applying to change to an F-1 status:

You will need to provide a copy of a valid and active F-1 visa. Do not send the original document.

For students transferring with an F-1 status or applying to change to an F-1 status:

Copy or print out of Form I-94 - Arrival-Departure Record (to print, visit www.cbp.gov/I94).

For Transfer-in students currently in the U.S.:

Copies of all previous SEVIS Form(s) I-20. Be sure to submit all pages of all Form(s) I-20.

For Transfer-in students currently in the U.S.:

Transfer Recommendation Form - Form needs to be completed by your current International Student Advisor/DSO