International Students

Admissions Items Checklist

It is recommended that you download and use the above checklist to help you organize your required admissions items and forms as you acquire and complete them.

1. A completed Online Application. 
2. Read, initial, and sign International Student Agreement. 
3. A completed  Financial Responsibility Form
4. Current official bank statement showing sufficient funds to cover educational, living, health insurance, and transportation expenses. 
5. Completed Supplemental Information Form. 
6. A copy of valid, non-expired passport.  
7. Official secondary school (high school) transcripts, in English, indicating completion of secondary school. 
8. Proof of English language proficiency from one of the following: 
   • TOEFL: 61 minimum is required (with not less than 15 on reading, writing and listening sub scores) using the on-line version of the test 
   • IELTS (International English Language Testing System): score of 5.5 minimum 
   • Duolingo English: score 90 or higher

   
   *Applicants with Canadian citizenship are exempt from English proficiency requirement.

9. Transfer Student Only: 
   • International Transfer Student Form completed jointly by student and international officer or DSO from previous institution.  
   • Request U.S. college/university official transcripts to be sent to SCTCC for possible Accuplacer placement test exemption and transfer of credits. 
   • Send a copy of current visa, I-20, and I-94 arrival/departure record. 

Accompanied by a spouse and/or children?

Please complete F-2 Dependent Form so we can issue additional I-20s for each dependent.

Check out https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/get-started/bringing-dependents-to-the-united-states for more information on F-2 dependents.

SUBMIT ALL ADMISSIONS ITEMS TO:

INTERNATIONALADMISSIONS@SCTCC.EDU OR BY MAIL AT 1540 NORTHWAY DRIVE, ST CLOUD, MN 56303

Students are encouraged to apply six months prior to their anticipated start date to ensure sufficient time for SCTCC to receive, authenticate, and process paperwork.

Application Deadlines

New Student: First time attending college in the U.S. OR attended a U.S. institution in the past, did not get reinstated, and is returning to the U.S. to study with a new SEVIS record.

Transfer Student: Currently admitted and in status at a U.S. high school or college/university and will transfer SEVIS record to attend SCTCC.
 

Fall Semester
New Students: July 1st
Transfer Students: August 1st

Spring Semester
New Students: November 1st
Transfer Students: December 1st

Financial Responsibility:

SCTCC is required by the United States government to examine the financial documentation of F-1 students to ensure the financial support is sufficient to issue an I-20. An international student at SCTCC will need to show official proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, health insurance (required by state law), and personal expenses. Official proof of funding cannot be more than 3 months old at time of application.

The funding can be from personal funds, funds from the student's family/sponsor, scholarships, fellowships or sponsoring agencies or governments.

Funding needs to be in liquid assets only. Property is not an acceptable source of funding.

Bank Statements:

The funds need to be on original bank letterhead stationery with a signature of the bank official in ink or a photocopy of the bank statement will need to be stamped by the issuing bank in original stamp ink and have a signature of a bank official in ink. Faxes, scanned copies, notarized copies and photocopies (without the original stamp/signature) are not acceptable documentation. Bank statements must not be dated more than three months prior to the date of application.

An English translation by an official translating agency and with the stamp and signature of the translating official, and contact information of translating agency is required for all statements not in English.

English proficiency waived for citizens of:

Canada
 

Current Options

1. TOEFL: 61 minimum is required (with not less than 15 on reading, writing and listening sub scores) using the on-line version of the test  
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System): score of 5.5 minimum  
3. Duolingo English: score 90 or higher  
4. Accuplacer Reading: score of 228 or higher. Details at sctcc.edu/accuplacer. 

Upon receipt of your I-20 document, schedule a visa appointment at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate that issues visas.  An interview will be required.  Find the location nearest you at: http://www.usembassy.gov/.  You may apply for your visa up to 120 days before the start date on your I-20.

Anyone applying for an F-1 or J-1 visa is required to pay the SEVIS fee.  Plan to pay the fee at least 3 days prior to your visa interview.  For more detailed information about the SEVIS fee, including options for payment, refer to: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/. 

If you have paid the fee previously, it is good for one year.  If it has been over one year since you have paid the fee, be sure to make payment again prior to your visa appointment. 

Note: the SEVIS fee is a separate fee from the visa application fee.

Upon receipt of the F-1 visa, you may enter the U.S. not more than 30 days prior to the start date on your I-20 or DS 2019.

Receipt of an I-20 from SCTCC or any other school in no way guarantees that you will be issued a visa. In addition, receipt of an F-1 visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S. Customs and Border Control officers will inspect your immigration documents at the port of entry to determine your admissibility into the U.S.

For additional information about non-immigrant visas and rules for visiting the U.S., refer to: http://travel.state.gov/.

Students who are unable to secure a visa after two attempts will not be processed for a third I-20 and will be advised to apply to another college.

The SCTCC Foundation funds limited awards each year based on merit and need. A scholarship generally covers only a portion of the tuition. Therefore, it is imperative that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses.

Find information on available scholarships!

Jobs are limited on campus and most students attend college for at least a year before being able to secure employment.  Therefore, it is imperative that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. 

Students can visit Career Services for interview practice, resume critique and more!

International students ARE NOT eligible for Financial Aid.