International Students

An application for admission or must be completed and submitted by the student. International students must enroll in a degree or certificate program and have a stated major on file at the College. F1 and M1 students are required to enroll as full time students and complete a minimum of at least twelve (12) credit hours; of which only 3 credit hours can be internet based during the Fall semester and the Spring semesters. Students are not required to enroll in classes during the summer term.

All fees (including insurance) must be paid prior to the beginning of the semester.

Estimated Annual Expenses for an Associate Degree 2011-2012

F-1 international students are not eligible to receive any state or federal financial aid.

Below are the estimated expenses for a single student, exclusive of holidays, vacations or other travel expenses based on current economic standards. Personal lifestyle choices may increase cost considerably

Financial support requirements can be fulfilled in one of the two categories listed below:

Self-supporting students:
The student must file a statement with the Designated School Official declaring financial self-sufficiency and responsibility for all necessary expenses of their college education and must provide a statement (sealed or notarized) from a bank official or other financial officer indicating the amount has been in existence for more than six (6) months and sufficient funding is available to cover the student's expenses for the duration of enrollment.

Parent, Family Member and/or Sponsor*:
The party must provide an official financial statement and guarantee of source of funds for the student during his/her enrollment. This must be accompanied by a bank official's or other financial officer's certification (sealed or notarized) that the account has been in existence for more than six (6) months and that sufficient funds are available to cover the student's expenses for the duration of enrollment.

*A Sponsor who is a permanent resident or a U.S. Citizen must complete and submit U.S. Government Form I-134 with supporting financial documentation as required in I-134 instructions.

All documentation must be in English and equivalent to US dollars. All documentation must be on official stationary from the bank or lending institution.

International students MUST purchase the Ivy Tech Community College mandated health insurance plan for the entire period of enrollment as a student at the College. This insurance provides coverage for medical, accident, medical evacuation and repatriation, which will be billed with tuition and fees for that semester of enrollment at the College. Insurance coverage must also be provided for all dependents. Once the student is enrolled in classes, the fee of the insurance will be added to the student's College account. Upon payment of the insurance fee, the student can obtain their insurance card along with detailed coverage information from the international admissions advisor.

Students need to submit a signed Mandatory Health Insurance Information form or the Insurance Waiver Request form prior to the start of the semester. Students requesting the Insurance Waiver that fail to turn in the waiver form prior to the start of the semester will automatically be charged for the Ivy Tech insurance plan. This form is available on the dropdown box for your intended campus.

A foreign transcript equivalency evaluation from an approved evaluator is required to indicate the student has attained at least the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma or transferable college credit. The evaluation (including appropriate fee) is the responsibility of the student. Ivy Tech Community College does NOT evaluate foreign academic credentials. The College-approved evaluation agencies must be NACES members. Details about NACES, along with the current list of NACES members can be found at www.naces.org.

The type of evaluation report required by Ivy Tech to document high school equivalency is a general report. However, if a student wishes to transfer in college credit from an institution outside of the U.S., a detailed or subject matter analysis evaluation may be required.

Students entering Ivy Tech Community College under an F-1 student visa must provide proof of satisfactory English language proficiency. J-1 English proficiency is program specific. Students whose first language is not English are generally required to take an English proficiency test. They may utilize the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Acceptable levels of proficiency are listed below. All test results must be received directly from the testing center or verified with the testing center by the DSO. Test results are valid for two years from the examination date.

• TOEFL (iBT) = 79
• TOEFL (PBT) = 550
• IELTS = 6.5
• MELAB = 77

Students who have successfully completed an Intensive English Language Program or Training at an accredited U.S. institution may meet our English language proficiency requirement. These occurrences will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the DSO.

Additionally, language proficiency may be waived if an applicant is from a country who lists English as their official language, as listed in the following CIA website, or has completed secondary school in the U.S. with passing grades in non-ESL English courses, or is a college transfer who has completed standard freshman English, with a grade of C or higher, from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants who wish to transfer to Ivy Tech Community College must inform their present college/university of their intent to transfer. Any student desiring to transfer from a college or university in the U.S. must adhere to the deadlines stipulated above. Students must be full-time and be in a degree-seeking program. International transfer students must submit all international admission requirements 1-8 and submit the additional following documents:

1. Copy of I-20 issued by the current college or university
2. International Student Transfer Reference Form. This must be filled out by the current college/university from which you are transferring from. Please download: Transfer Reference Form (this form is available in the dropdown box for your intended campus below).
3. Official transcript from current institution.

For applicants outside of the U.S.

• Fall Semester: All documents MUST be submitted by April 15th prior to the Fall semester in which the student is seeking admission.
• Spring Semester: All documents MUST be submitted by October 15th prior to the Spring semester in which the student is seeking admission.
• Summer Term: All documents MUST be submitted by February 15th prior to the Summer semester in which the student is seeking admission.

For applicants transferring from a college or university within the U.S.

• Fall Semester: All documents MUST be submitted by July 1st prior to the Fall semester in which the student is seeking admission.
• Spring Semester: All documents MUST be submitted by December 1st prior to the Spring semester in which the student is seeking admission.
• Summer Term: All documents MUST be submitted by May 1st prior to the Summer semester in which the student is seeking admission.

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT PROCESSED UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

These requirements MUST be completed and submitted to the appropriate International Student contact at the Ivy Tech Community College campus of your choice. Please pay special attention to established deadlines listed below. Due to high enrollment numbers and limited course availability, students failing to submit completed applications by these deadlines will not be accepted. Students who are accepted will be notified directly.

How to become an F1 International Student:

• There are two ways be become an F1 international student.
  1. Apply for a change of status from within the US
  2. Apply for an F1 visa at the US consulate or embassy in your home country

• Applying for a change of status from within the US requires the following steps:
  1. Apply for admission
  2. Complete the I539, Application for change of status form and submit along with all required supporting documents and fees to USCIS. More information on applying for a change of status can be found by visiting the following the USCIS website
  3. Pay the SEVIS (I901 Fee)

• Applying for an F1 non-immigrant visa from within your home country requires the following:
  1. Apply for admission online or by contacting the International Student Services Coordinator
  2. Once accepted, your international advisor will issue you an I20 form, which you will use to apply for your F1 Visa
  3. Pay the SEVIS (I901 Fee)
  4. Contact the US consulate or embassy in your home country to schedule an interview. Because each consulate is different, it is important for students to understand what supporting documents will be required at the time of your visa interview. Visit the US consulate or embassy website for country specific information

• Maintaining Status
  F1 International students must maintain their status by meeting some basic requirements.
  1. Upon arrival in the United States, international students must check in with their international student advisor for SEVIS registration. Students should bring their I20 document, visa, passport, I94, and certificate of coverage and insurance waiver form (if applicable)
  2. Enroll full time (12 credit hours) during the Fall and Spring term
  3. Only one online course per semester may be counted toward your full time credits
  4. Meet with your international advisor BEFORE dropping or withdrawing from a course. In certain circumstances, reduced course loads can be approved
  5. Keep all of your documents up to date including your I20 and passport. Passports should be kept valid at least 6 months into the future. If you need to renew your passport, contact your embassy
  6. Obtain a travel signature from your international advisor before you leave the US
  7. Work only with authorization from your international advisor. F1 students are permitted on campus employment up to 20 hours per week. Full time employment on campus is permitted during summer, spring, and winter breaks. Working off campus must first be applied for and authorized by your international advisor
  8. Keep your address and contact information up to date with your international advisor. Changes in address must be reported within 10 days
  9. Adhere to grace periods. F1 Students are granted 30 days prior to their program start date indicated on their I20 form to enter the US. After program completion, students are granted 60 days before being required to leave the US. If you withdraw from all classes with the permission of your international advisor, you are given 15 days to leave the US. If you withdraw from classes before receiving authorization from your international advisor, you do not have a grace period and must depart the US immediately

• Status Violations
  Students are responsible for maintaining status and remaining in good standing. Violation of status can lead to termination of your SEVIS record. Termination can have many severe consequences that affect your ability to remain in the US and attend classes.  Failure to enroll in a full time course load, unauthorized employment, and academic suspension, among other things, can result in termination.

• Transferring
  Students wishing to transfer from Ivy Tech to another institution should submit a transfer request to their international advisor at least 30 days prior to the anticipated transfer date. Typically these forms are available in the international student office at the institution you will be attending.
  
  Students wishing to transfer to Ivy Tech from another institution should review Step 6 detailed above.

• Employment
  F1 Students are limited to part-time, on campus employment only. Employment opportunities are limited and you should not rely on employment as a source of income. Should you secure on campus employment, be sure to communicate with your international advisor. During breaks, including summer, spring and winter, international students may work up to 40 hours per week (on campus only).
  
  CPT or Curricular Practical Training is available to international students who have been offered a position off campus in a field related to their degree. Students who have successfully completed their degree, have continued to maintain status, and have completed one academic year in F1 status may apply for CPT through their international advisor. The “employment” must be an established part of your curriculum (you must receive college credit for the work experience) in order to qualify.

• Travel Outside the United States
  Students wishing to travel outside of the US during their studies must first obtain a travel signature on their I20 form by their international advisor. Upon return, students should bring in a copy of their new I94 card. Students are encouraged to review the expiration date on their visa prior to departure. If your visa is expired or will expire before your reentry into the US, you will be required to renew your visa before you will be allowed to reenter. Students will need to allow enough time for a visa renewal if necessary.

• Completion of your Academic Program
  International students are issued an I20 upon acceptance which lists a program start date and a program end date. These dates are determined by the beginning date of your first semester, and the estimated amount of time it typically takes students to complete an Associate’s Degree. Students must pay special attention to their program end date. Your F1 status is valid until the program end date. In some cases students will need to apply for an extension in order to extend their status. International Students are given a 60 day grace period upon the completion of their program during which you may remain in the US.
  
  Upon completion of your program you will need to consider what your next step will be. If you wish to pursue employment after graduation, you must first apply for OPT. Optional Practical Training is available to students who have completed their academic program, and have maintained their status at their academic institution for at least one academic year. OPT allows students to work in a job related to their academic field for up to 12 months. (Certain degrees in Science and Technology may be eligible for an additional 6 month extension.) Students interested in applying OPT must contact their international advisor and are encouraged to review the application process found on the USCIS website.
  
  Students completing their program may also consider:
  1. Transferring to another institution
  2. Pursuing a second degree at Ivy Tech
  3. Returning to their home country
  4. Applying for a change of status

• International Student Orientation
  International students are required to attend an in person orientation session. Orientations are typically held the Friday prior to the start of the academic term. Students should contact their international advisor for specific information on orientation dates.