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Potential Students Interested in Obtaining

an F1 Visa to Study in the United States

The college welcomes applications from international students who can benefit from the educational programs at Lehigh Carbon Community College. International students are encouraged to begin the admission process six months prior to the start of the school semester to allow ample time for processing by both LCCC and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Fall semester typically begins at the end of August and Spring semester begins in mid-January. There are condensed summer sessions which begin in May.

If you have further questions after reading the information below, or you would like to request that you be sent an International Student Information Packet, which will detail what you will need to do to apply for student visa; please email your questions and/or postal mailing address to: international@lccc.edu Or you may try entering International_LCCC to your Yahoo! Instant Messenger; please be advised the international student advisor may not always be available to answer the messenger.

Important:
The International Student Advisor will be out of the office beginning December 18, 2009 through January 4, 2010 for Winter Break. The Spring 2010 semester begins January 15, 2010.

Click here to read the Spring 2009 International Newsletter

To aid our international students we have provided a link that is capable of translating web pages from English to the following languages: Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Please be advised that this website is NOT affiliated with Lehigh Carbon Community College and the college is in no way responsible for the validity of the translation; this is provided as a courtesy to our prospective students. All documents and applications submitted to the college, must be in English

Please follow the link to use this tool. http://translate.google.com/translate_t

General Information

--Some important facts that international students (students on an F-1 Visa) should know about Lehigh Carbon Community College:
  • What is a visa or an I-20? Click here.
  • The College has no housing on- or off-campus. There is a list of local apartments for rent by the general public for students, but it is limited and the resposibility for follow-up rests upon the student. Please email: international@lccc.edu for information.
  • Public transportation (bus service www.lantabus.com/) is limited. The majority of international students who attend LCCC live with sponsors who can provide the student with a car or transportation to the college.
  • International students are not eligible for financial aid.
  • International students may NOT be employed off campus while they are students. On-campus employment is very rare and should not be considered as means of financial support.
  • International students MUST maintain full-time status which is a minimum of 12 credits.
  • International student tuition is $4335 per semester, effective Fall 2009, this does not include books or supplies.
  • Public health care is not available to foreign/international students. It is recommended that students be prepared to purchase health insurance upon entry into the United States.
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How to Apply for Admission

International students are encouraged to begin their admission process six months prior to the start of the school semester to allow ample processing time by both LCCC and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Fall Semester typically begins at the end of August and Spring semester about mid - January. A more detailed guide to admission requirements and an application packet can be obtained by phoning 610-799-1137 or e-mailing the International Student Advisor, Christine Orban international@lccc.edu. If requesting a packet be sent to you by mail, please include your postal address as it would appear on an envelope.

For admission, the prospective student must provide the following:
  • a completed application for admission with the $30 application fee.
  • financial Resource Statements (the Affidavit of Support from the packet) showing sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses for at least one-year (approx. $18,000) - Both pages must be notarized. Supporting evidence must accompany the Affidavit. Two affidavits per sponsor are required.
  • evidence of high school graduation and a minimum of two years of English language instruction.
  • $1450 tuition deposit and the $30 application fee, payable in US Dollars and drawn from a US bank, is required before an I-20 is issued. This tuition deposit will be refunded (in the form of a check) if the student decides not to attend, or is denied a student visa.
All international students are expected to be full-time (minimum of 12 credits) students for the Fall and Spring semesters.

Upon receipt of the above documents and fees, the application for admission will be reviewed; only complete application packets will be considered. If the student is accepted for admission, the College will issue a Form I-20, (processing can take up to two weeks) and send it, along with information on obtaining an F-1 visa in the mail to the student. There is a fee for the I-20, (I-901) that must be paid prior to going to the Consulate; the receipt must be presented at the consulate. All documents are sent by regular US mail and must be sent directly to the student; special arrangements can be made in advance for express mail, a fee is charged for this service.
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International Student Advisor

The international student advisor's office is in the Advising and Counseling Center (AD 126). International students are required to schedule an appointment with LCCC's international student advisor, as soon as they arrive in the area and must bring their passport, I-94, and I-20 to update and maintain their SEVIS records. The international student advisor will assist international students in course selection throughout their academic career and will advise students on their responsibilities for maintaining legal status while in the United States.
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Admission Agreement

An international student will be admitted to Lehigh Carbon Community College with the following understanding. Any international student who is not proficient in reading, writing and speaking English must enroll in the English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. These courses are credit courses, and the fee is the same as for any other college credit course. Also, all international students must be full-time (a minimum of 12 credits) students.

International students must register for 12 credits or more. Any petition to take less credits must be approved by the international student advisor. Violation of this policy is a failure to maintain F-1 Visa status and requires that the student petition the USCIS, (a fee is involved in this process) for reinstatement before they will be allowed to continue their studies at the College.
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How to Obtain a Student VISA (F-1)

in Your Native Country

An international student who was issued a Form I-20 applies for an F-l (Student) visa at the U. S. consulate or embassy in his/her native country. In addition to the I-20, the student should also have documents that show proof of sufficient funds to cover all expenses. The reciept for the I-901 is also needed. It is also assumed that the student will depart from the U.S. at the completion of his/her studies. If the visa application is approved, the I-20 is returned to the student. When the student arrives at the U.S. port of entry, he/she presents his/her passport and the I-20 to the USCIS officer. The student should plan to arrive in the Lehigh Valley area at least 3 weeks, but no earlier that 30 days prior to the start of the semester.
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Students Changing from Other Visa

Types to an F1 (Student Visa)

A person who has entered the United States on a B-1/B-2 Non-immigrant visa is not permitted to enroll in a course of study, as this violates the conditions of the B-Visitors visa. Students who are in the U.S. on a visitor's visa (B-Visa) or any other visa type which permits change, and who wish to enroll in a course of study must first change their status to an F-1 student visa. Prospective students with should consult the International Student Advisor. Those who wish to change thier status, must comply with all the necessary steps outlined in "How to Apply for Admission" in LCCC's Guide For International Students. In addition they must do the following:

  • Write a letter to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requesting the change of status.
  • Submit a I-539 Form to Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There is a fee, payable to DHS, to process this form.
  • This must be done no later than 45 days prior to the expiration of the B-Visa, and no more than 30 days before the beginning of the next semester start date.
  • Not all non-immigrant visas allow for a change of status.

USCIS will determine if the change of status is approved.


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How to Transfer TO LCCC

for Students with F-1 Visas

Students currently studying at another US institution may transfer to LCCC. All students who intend to transfer must first follow the admission procedures outlined above and, in addition, must complete the Transfer In Form and return it will all required documents as listed above. Be sure to make your intent to transfer known to the International Student Advisor at your current school. Click Here for the F-1 Transfer Guide.
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What Needs to be Done After Arrival

to the Lehigh Valley?

Meeting the International Student Advisor - The International Student Advisor's Office is located in the Advising and Counseling Office in AD 126 of the main campus in Schnecksville. International students are to schedule an appointment with the advisor as soon as they arrive in the area prior to the start of classes and bring with them their passport, I-94, and their I-20. Photocopies of these documents are kept in the student's file. Please call 610-799-1137 to schedule the appointment. When scheduling your first appointment, let the secretary know if you would like the International Student Advisor to provide a tour of campus, and help you with the purchase of your books. This will allow amble time to help you.
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Testing

Students who are not proficient in speaking, writing, and reading English must take the English as a Second Language (ESL) test. Phone 610-799-1006. Some students may also need to take the mathematics assessment test. Phone 610-799-1137 to schedule this test.
Students who are proficient in the English language must take the Compass assessment tests in English, Reading and Mathematics. Phone 610-799-1137 to make arrangements for this testing and to schedule an advisement appointment with the International Student Advisor.
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Registration/Advisement

Test results will be used to schedule students for appropriate courses. The Director of English as a Second Language Program assists students with registering for the appropriate level courses after the placement test. If additional advisement is needed, please make an appointment with the Foreign Student Advisor 610-799-1137.
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Important Information

You must keep your passport updated at least six months into the future. Passports must be updated at your native country's consulate or embassy. Most of these are located in either New York or Washington, D.C. Some countries require renewal in person. Before you leave the U.S. for a temporary visit to your home country (or any other country), you must obtain the signature of the International Student Advisor on your currently valid Form I-20, otherwise you will not be able to re-enter the United States. You must maintain full-time status to have your I-20 signed. If you have not maintained full-time status and wish to leave the country, you will need a new I-20 to take with you to your home country and you must go through the process of obtaining a student visa.
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Foreign College Transcript Evaluations

Please check with the International Student Advisor for evaluation of credentials from foreign universities. It is generally recommended that these transcripts be evaluated by a professional service. Applications for this service are available at the International Student Advisor's Office(AD 126). Among the accredited agencies accepted is World Evaluation Service - www.wes.org and Educational Credential Evaluators - www.ece.org. For a list of other NACES accredited agencies please contact the International Student Advisor at (610) 799-1137.
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Students Requesting a Reinstatement

to Student Status

Students who have failed to maintain status at Lehigh Carbon Community College or another college/university should discuss their particular situation with the International Student Advisor to establish the feasibility of petitioning USCIS for reinstatement to status. If it is possible for the student to apply for reinstatement the student must first comply with all the steps above for International Student Admission. In addition they must do the following:
  • Write a letter to USCIS requesting reinstatement and the reason for failling out of status.
  • Submit an I-539 Form to USCIS. There is a fee to process this form.
  • Present an updated, notarized, Affidavit of Support
  • Obtain from the International Student Advisor, an I-20 with re-instatement recommendation
  • The entire packet must be sent to USCIS
The USCIS will determine if the change of status is approved.
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Helpful Links for more information:

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) International Students information page.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS)

United States Department of State

http://www.edupass.org/english/glossary.phtml provides a list of words and definitions most commonly used in the American education system.

Links About the Lehigh Valley Area:

www.awchannel.com This provides current weather information for the surrounding area.

http://www.welcomingcenter.org/ This is an information center for new Pennsylvanians.

http://www.lehighvalleyshopper.com/categories/real_estate/index.php This site provides listings of apartments and houses for rent in and around the Lehigh Valley area. Occassionally, local residents post housing opportunities here.

Lehigh Valley This provides general information about the Lehigh Valley and surroundingareas of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pennsylvania; events, things to do, things to see, etc...

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cko10/7/09