Post on 22-Dec-2015
The International Student: From Admissions to
Arrival
January 8, 2010
PDI Presenters
Sandy Dailey, Graduate School
Christy Eylar, Sponsored Student Adviser
Petra Marlin, Assistant Director Office of Admissions
Amanda Miller, Graduate Admissions
Shelby Sack, International Student Adviser
Populations of International Students & Scholars at CSU
France ; 11 Indonesia ; 11 Kazakhstan ; 11 Australia ; 12 Russia ; 12
Vietnam ; 12
Mexico ; 14
United Arab Emirates ; 14
Germany ; 20
Qatar ; 20
United King-dom ; 21
Malaysia ; 23Brazil ; 24
Canada ; 26Thailand ; 26
Taiwan ; 37
Kuwait ; 41
Japan ; 44Libya ; 46
South Korea ; 102
India ; 137
China ; 168
Saudi Arabia ; 222
Understanding the Admission Process & the Visa Application
Process
** Two very separate processes **
International Undergraduate
AdmissionsRequired Documents and Deadlines Application
$50 Application Fee
High School and/or College Transcripts
English Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS scores
Personal Statement
Letter of Recommendation
Financial Documents (not required for admission)
Deadlines:
Fall Semester: May 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Conditional vs. Clear Admission
For clear admission: minimum scores of 71 TOEFL Internet-based, 525 TOEFL paper-based, 6.0 IELTS
For conditional admission: scores of 45 -70 TOEFL Internet-based, 450 – 524 paper-based, 5.0 – 5.5 IELTS
Conditionally admitted students receive a TOEFL hold and must either complete the Intensive English Program (IEP) or submit sufficient scores in order to have hold removed
Conditionally admitted IEP students may take CSU classes with permission from an IEP advisor
IEP students not admitted to CSU may take GUEST classes concurrently if their total time between IEP and GUEST is equal to 12 or more credit hours. (Exception: Post Bac may take more than 6 credits at undergrad level)
How can Undergraduate Admissions and Grad
Departments work together to service students?
Students not admitted directly to graduate school may seek undergraduate admission in order to strengthen grad school app
Provide clarity on what is expected of student in order to gain admission to grad department: only a few classes or 2nd Bachelors
Undergraduate options: Apply as degree seeking student, apply as GUEST (Post Bac may take more than 6 credits at undergrad level, more than 6 at grad level needs dept approval)
V i s i t i n g I n t e r n a t i o n a l P r o g r a mA s h o r t - t e r m s t u d y p r o g r a m a t C o l o r a d o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
•Non-degree undergraduate international students can study for 1 or 2 terms
•Requirements are similar to those for undergraduates (conditional admission is possible)
•NOT an avenue to become a degree seeking student
•Students will come on J-1 student visa
•Instructions for applying are on the OIP website (www.international.colostate.edu)
The Ideal Admission
ProcessBy Sandy Dailey
Steps the application takes
Student fills out the on-line application and forwards the additional materials to the Correct office.US Application – DepartmentInt’l Application - Admissions
Department makesrecommendation andforwards to the Office
of Admissions2A – Admit App2D – Deny App
1C- Withdraw App
Admissions office signs the 2A,If it is a clear admit. If it is a low
grade or International file,Admissions forwards the file to
the Graduate School for final review
Graduate School makesdecision
If US Application is Approved, the Graduate School
signs 2A & forwardspaperwork back to
admissions
If denied file is sent back to the department
with the reason& departmentsends out 2Ddenial form
If Int’l application is approved, the Graduate School signs
2A & forwards the paperwork to the International Programs
office where the I-20 will be issued.
From Admission to ArrivalStudent sends
written application for admission to
school
School reviews for academic
admissibility, and English ability
written
School admits student to a full course of study
Financial Ability
Reviewed by ISSS
DSO creates SEVIS
record and requests
SEVIS I-20
No I-20 without foreign
address and adequate funding
DSO prints and signs Form I-20
and creates student
packet for mailing
Cannot Express
Mail without
a phone#
Form I-20 & GS 2A are sent to student
(If out of the USA) Student pays the $200 SEVIS Fee & then uses Form I-20 to apply for an
F-1 Visa
OR
(If in the USA) Student uses Form I-20 to
apply for a Change of Status within the U.S OR
“transfers” their F-1 status to CSU.
(If in the USA) Student
completes transfer upon
check in at CSU
(If out of the USA) Student is admitted to the USA in F-1
status at a Port of Entry and CSU is notified through SEVIS. Student has 30 days to check
in at CSU
If student fails to enroll at CSU, ISSS reports a “No Show” to SEVIS within 30 days of CSU’s census date. ISSS complies with
various reporting requirements throughout a students stay in the USA.
Graduate Applicants
Changes to the Application for Admission:•Application processing fee must be paid before the application can be submitted. There are no fee waivers, but a department can pay the fee on behalf of the student via an IO (formerly IMO).
•Warning that reminds students to check with the department to ensure that eligibility requirements are met.
•Language that reminds students to verify, with the department, that applications are accepted for the desired term of entry.
Graduate Applicants
Reminders• International applicants submit all supporting
documents to the Office of Admissions for tracking of those documents in the system.
• International applicants are NOT able to check the status of their documents in RAMWeb and rely on communication from the academic department.
• Always place the 2A form on top of the packet when recommending an applicant for admission.
• Int’l 2As are prioritized and typically sent to the Grad School for final decision within 2-3 business days from the date they are received in Admissions.
How Departments Can Help Process and render a decision for international applicants as quickly
as possible to allow maximum time for visa processing.
Notify the applicant if the Certification for Issuance of Immigration Document (GS3-F) is missing before admission, but still PROCEED with RECOMMENDING THE APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION.
Include any Graduate Award information in writing with the 2A form to the Office of Admissions. If a decision is made after admission, send that information directly to OIP.
Include ANY financial documentation with the 2A (originals or copies).
Utilize the International Credential Guidebook posted on the Graduate School website to determine GPA. A Dept Letter of Support and 3 Letters of Recommendation are required (in addition to 2A forms and transcripts) for applicants with GPA below a 3.0.
Contact ADM_gradprocessing@mail.colostate.edu if you are not sure of the next step.
Sponsored Students
• Government/Fully Funded
• Fulbright/Ford Foundation/Muskie
• Some assistance possible?
• Fully funded
• Conditional Admission
How Does a Student Obtain a Visa?
Apply to the University
Be Admitted to the University
Provide Financial Documentation
Be Issued an I-20 Immigration Document
Pay SEVIS Fee
Schedule a Visa Appointment
Interview with Consular Officer
Have Visa Approved
Head to the USA
Check in at the Office of International Programs
I-20 Form
Student Visa
Transfer Students
Students currently studying at another university in the United States
If they transfer to CSU directly, generally do not need to apply for a new visa
Still require financial support documentation
Change of Level Students
Students that were currently studying at another educational level at Colorado State University
No new visa is required
New funding documentation IS required to create the new I-20
Change of Status Students
Students who are not currently in an immigration status that allows them to study are required to change their immigration status.
These students can still be admitted to CSU
If you know of any of these students, please notify our office as soon as possible as the change of status process can take 4-6 months.
Acceptable Financial Documentation
Graduate Assistantship award letter
Personal Funding
Sponsor funding
Dependents (spouse and children) require additional funding support
Student meets with a consular officer to discuss purpose for entering the U.S. (secondary
screening). If study is approved, then a visa is granted –stamped in
the student’s passport.
Form I-20 and the international
orientation packet (including the Globe Trotter) are sent by
express mail to student.
Student pays the $200 SEVIS fee
and makes appointment with the U.S. Embassy
in their home country and pays
the visa application fee.
Visa Screening and Issuance
Timeline for International Students After Admission & Before Arrival at CSU
1 week: ISSS processing time to issue and mail an immigration document after proof of funding is complete
3-15 days: Estimated time for the express package to reach the student currently outside the US
4-8 weeks: Estimated time to schedule an interview and obtain a US visa. Time depends on area of study, country, gender… Some may be longer!
1-4 weeks: Estimated advanced time necessary to arrange a flight to the US within a reasonable price range AFTER obtaining the US visa.
Cannot arrive more than 30 days prior to start of program Should “check in” at OIP as soon as possible after arrival
Possible Issues at the Consulate
Visa Delays
Security Clearances (name, nationality, field of research)
Lengthy wait times to obtain visa appointment
Insufficient documentation provided at time of interview
Visa Denials
Failure to prove non-immigrant intent
Security Risk
Previous illegal stay in the U.S.
Health related issues
Criminal background
International Student & Scholar
Services Serving students after arrival
International Student Orientation
Always held the Wednesday before classes begin
Complete schedule can be found in the Globetrotter and on the Office of International Programs website.
Students are REQUIRED to check-in at the Office of International Programs (students will need their passport, I-94 card, and I-20)
Maintaining Immigration
Status
Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
9 credit hours/semester for graduate students
There is no requirement to be enrolled in the summer
Exceptions must be approved prior to dropping courses
On-Campus Employment
Does not require written authorization
Limited to 20 hours/week when school is in session
Can exceed 20 hours when school is not session
Social security card required
Off-Campus Employment** Requires prior authorization from an
international student advisor or USCIS **
Type of Off-Campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Severe Economic Hardship
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Thanks for Joining Us
Today!
Question and Answers