F1 Student Visa

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Important Regulations

• Immigration regulations require that you maintain your status as a full-time student while you are in the USA with an F-1 visa. If you stop studying full-time, you will lose your status and may be subject to deportation. Full-time study requires a minimum of 18 hours per week in the Intensive English Program. Nearly all F-1 students take 20 hours per week (Intensive English Program and Accent on Fluency).
• F-1 student status requires special permission to work on campus from the Social Security Administration as well as from the ESL Program. It is considered a serious violation by the Department of Homeland Security if an F-1 student works without permission.
• Your financial documents must prove your ability to pay the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses for the length of your program. Living expenses are expected to be lower if a relative or sponsor is providing your room and board. Please see attached information for specific kinds of financial documentation.

Forms

The Intensive English Program can give you a Form I-20, which is required if you want to apply for the F-1 Student visa. First, you must provide the following to the Intensive English Program:

• A completed Intensive English Program application form. Please complete all parts of the application form, including providing a passport-style photograph.
• Financial documentation. All students must prove that they have the ability to meet financial obligations while studying in the United States on an F-1 visa. Students can meet these expenses in a number of ways:
  1. Personal funds (See Documenting Financial Support, which is attached.).
  2. Funds from one or more sponsors (See Sponsor’s Affidavit of Annual Financial Support, which is attached.).
  3. Local sponsor’s promise of free room and board (See Sponsor’s Affidavit of Free Room and Board, which is attached.).

Please complete the enclosed forms and return to the address below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us Monday – Friday. We look forward to receiving your application and having you study with us.

Registration

We encourage all applicants to register in advance to guarantee a space in the program. Call 914-606-6198 for more information about registration or to register by telephone. Tuition must be paid in full at time of registration.

Housing

Westchester Community College does not have student dormitories or other living accommodations. Many of our international students live with friends or relatives near the College. Westchester Community College does not supervise, endorse, nor otherwise assume any responsibility for any living arrangements students may make for themselves.

F1 Student Visa Process

If you would like to come to the United States on an F-1 (student) visa, you may apply for immigration form I-20 through the English Language Institute. F-1 students study full-time (18 hours per week) in the Intensive English Program of the English Language Institute. The Intensive English Program is appropriate both for students who are interested in preparing for college study and for those who want to improve their English for personal or professional reasons.

There are two situations under which you may apply to be an F-1 international student:

1. If you wish to apply at US Consulate in your country and enter the United States with an F-1 student visa, download the ESL 1-20 application packet in PDF format below.
2. If you are already in the United States and would like to change your immigration status to F-1 without returning to your home country, please call us at (914) 606-6656 to discuss your situation before completing this application. (Note: Not all students are eligible to change their status).

For more information, or to request that an application be mailed to you, please call (914)606-6656.
Please do not send application documents via email.

Important F-1 English Language Information

Guidelines for Studying in the United States