Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions that you may have about studying at Community College of Philadelphia as an international student. Please contact if your question is not addressed below.How do I apply to Community College of Philadelphia?
What is a visa?
Do I need a visa?
How can I get a student visa?
What TOEFL score do I need to study at the College?
How much does it cost to attend?
Can I get financial aid?
Do I need health insurance?
Can I work while in the United States?
How many international students attend the College?
How many students attend the College?
F-1 TRANSFER IN - I am currently attending another school. How do I transfer the administration of my F-1 status to Community College of Philadelphia?
F-1 TRANSFER OUT - I attend Community College of Philadelphia and will go to another school next semester. What must I do to transfer the administration of my F-1 status to my new school?
CHANGE OF STATUS - I am currently in the United States in another non-immigrant status. Can I study?
Where can I get information about my F-1 status?
I would like to work. What options do I have to work?
I plan to work on Optional Practical Training for a year upon my completion of studies. When do I need to apply?
What if I work without authorization from the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services??
Do I always have to pay nonresident tuition?
Must I file a tax return even if I do not have any income?
The visa (stamp) in my passport has expired. Is there a problem?
May I take 11 credits instead of 12 as required to maintain my full time status?
May I take distance education courses?
I would like to study English as a Second Language (ESL), do you offer an ESL program?
The immigration inspector put an expiration date on my I-94 card. Is that a problem?
I forgot to get a travel signature on the back of my I-20 before leaving the US. What should I do?
The expected completion date in item 5 on my I-20 is coming up. What should I do?
I heard I have to notify ISS if there are any changes in my educational program or personal information. What information do I have to notify ISS about and how soon after the change?
I am completing my studies. Am I allowed to stay in the United States after I finish?
I am out of status because I did not follow the rules for F-1 students. What should I do?
My situation is complicated and I would like to contact a lawyer. What should I do?
Q: How do I apply to Community College of Philadelphia?
A: Prospective students interested in applying to the College may download the International Student Application Packet from our Web site at http://www.ccp.edu or by contacting Virginia Ramirez, International Recruitment Coordinator, in the Office of Admissions, at 011-215-751-8911. If you are visiting and would like to pick up an application, they are available in our Welcome Center in room 17 of the Mint Building.
Q: What is a visa?
A: A visa is a permit to apply to enter the United States. Your visa does not determine your “status,” which is the length of time you may stay in the United States legally. There are two types of visas, nonimmigrant, and immigrant. The nonimmigrant visa is issued to individuals who intend to come to the United States for a temporary period of stay for a specific purpose, such as students.
Q: Do I need a visa?
A: Yes, you need to have a F-1 student visa.
Q: How can I get a student visa?
A: After you are accepted by the College and receive the Form I-20 from the College, you must apply for your non-immigrant “student” (F-1) visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest your home. You must bring the necessary supporting documentation to your visa appointment, including your college acceptance letter, proof of payment of SEVIS fee, passport, your I-20 Form and appropriate financial documentation. Required documents depend on the country, so it is recommended that you check with the U.S. Consulate or embassy to determine what you need before your appointment.
Q: What TOEFL score do I need to study at the College?
A: Community College of Philadelphia does not require the TOEFL score, but if you have taken the TOEFL test and your score is above 520 (190 computer test), you do not have to take the ESL Placement Test, a test that evaluates your English skills. If you pass the ESL Placement Test or have the TOEFL score above 520 (190 computer test), you will not be required to take the College’s placement test for admission.
Q: How much does it cost to attend?
A: The estimated expense for the 2005-2006 school year is $22,092. Tuition and fees are $8,592.
Q: Can I get financial aid?
A: No. International students do not qualify for state or federal financial aid programs.
Q: Do I need health insurance?
A: Yes, all international students are required to maintain adequate medical health insurance coverage.
Q: Can I work while in the United States?
A: International Students with F-1 status are not permitted to work off-campus without INS authorization. Unauthorized employment is considered a violation of your visa status.
Q: How many international students attend the College?
A: Community College of Philadelphia enrolls more than 150 international students from nearly 50 countries.
Q: How many students attend the College?
A: Community College of Philadelphia currently has 46,000 students. This number includes all types of students, such as full-time, part-time, degree and non degree, lifetime learners and those receiving training through their employers.
Q: F-1 TRANSFER IN—I am currently attending another school. How do I transfer the administration of my F-1 status to Community College of Philadelphia?
A: If you are in valid F-1 status at your current school, you must do the following:
- You must inform the international student office at that school to inform them that you will transfer to
Community College of Philadelphia. After you have notified the international office at your current school that you will be
transferring to the College, a Designated School Official (DSO) from that school must assign a date to release your
SEVIS record to the Office of International Student Services (ISS) at the College. The release date will
generally be the last day of the term you end your studies at that school or the end of your OPT,
unless classes begin at the College before this date. However, if you are working on campus or on Optional
Practical Training (OPT), be sure to discuss it with an International Student Advisor (ISA) at your school because
your permission to work under that school’s I-20 will end automatically on the date of your release.
- Then, you will need to contact ISS to receive further instructions and complete the formal transfer
(of F-1 administration) procedure. You must meet with the ISS Coordinator at least 15 days before the beginning of
classes.
***If you are out of status (in violation of your F-1 status) and thus ineligible for transfer of administration of your F-1 status or you are currently in a different status, you should contact ISS for instructions.
Remember: You must meet with the ISS Coordinator before the beginning of classes. It is your responsibility to comply with the regulations regarding your F-1 status.
Q: F-1 TRANSFER OUT - I attend Community College of Philadelphia and will go to another school next semester. What must I do to transfer the administration of my F-1 status to my new school?
- You must notify the ISS Coordinator that you will transfer to another school by completing the
Notification of Departure or Transfer form at ISS within the time period allowed for your situation. After you have notified ISS that you will
be transferring to a new school, ISS will assign a date to release your SEVIS record to your new school. The release
date will usually be the last day of the term you end your studies at Community College of Philadelphia (or the end of your OPT,
if applicable), unless classes begin at your new school before this date. However, if you are working on-campus or on
Optional Practical Training (OPT), be sure to discuss it with the ISS Coordinator because your permission to work under
the College's I-20 will end automatically on the date of your release.
- Then, you will need to contact your new school's international office to receive further instructions and complete
the formal transfer (of F-1 administration) procedure. You must report to the international office at your new school
within 15 days of the report date in item 5 on the new I-20 if you receive the new I-20 before reporting to the
international office.
***If you are out of status (in violation of your F-1 status) and, thus, ineligible for transfer of administration of your F-1 status or you are currently in a different status, you should contact your new school's international office for instructions.
Q: CHANGE OF STATUS - I am currently in the United States in another nonimmigrant status. Can I study?
A: It is possible for people in some non-immigrant (visa) statuses to apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status to F-1 within the United States. Contact ISS for instructions for this application. However, in most cases, you should consider applying for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad and reentering the U.S. in F-1 status instead of applying for a change of status.
If you are already in the United States in any other status or are unsure about your situation, also contact the Office of International Student Services (ISS) to ensure that you are complying with the terms of your status and for information on what to do. Remember: It is your responsibility to comply with the regulations regarding your status as a non-immigrant in the United States.
Q: Where can I get information about my F-1 status?
A: International Student Services (ISS) at the Community College of Philadelphia provides you with comprehensive information and assistance in dealing with all aspects of your F-1 status. After meeting with the ISS coordinator and attending the mandatory International Student Orientation, you should refer to the International Student Handbook, which is available at ISS and revised each year, for general information and details about the rules for maintaining F-1 status. Many additional handouts with detailed instructions and procedural forms are also available for specific situations. After reviewing the information, you should meet with the ISS coordinator for advising.
Q: I would like to work. What options do I have to work?
A: F-1 students are admitted to the United States with the understanding that they have secured funds in advance for the entire duration of their intended studies in the United States and that their main purpose for being in the United States is to study as a full-time student with a particular educational objective in mind. Therefore, students are restricted from working, except with special permission to gain practical training experience in their field of study or to make extra money through on-campus employment. F-1 students may only work with authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or International Student Services (ISS) for specific curriculum-related employment. Details about employment options and restrictions are explained in the International Student Handbook and specific employment handouts.
Q: I plan to work on Optional Practical Training (OPT) for a year upon my completion of studies. When do I need to apply?
A: You must meet with the International Student Services (ISS) coordinator for final review of your OPT application and recommendation for OPT before the date you complete your studies if you wish to apply for OPT to begin upon completion of your studies. Your application must be complete for the final review. It is advised that you meet with the ISS coordinator or counselor for an initial review well before the deadline.
Q: What if I work without authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?
A: Working without permission from USCIS* is considered illegal and a major violation of F-1 status. Any student who has worked illegally in the U.S. is not eligible for the benefits of F-1 status and cannot apply for reinstatement to status.
*Students who are in valid F-1 status are eligible to work on the Community College of Philadelphia campus up to 20 hours per week during classes and up full-time (36 hours for students at the Community College of Philadelphia) during vacation periods. (This employment does not require special permission, but does require the student the student to be maintaining F-1 status with a valid I-20 from Community College of Philadelphia.)
Q: Do I always have to pay nonresident tuition?
A: Yes. F-1 students and all other nonimmigrant students at the Community College of Philadelphia are considered non-residents of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania for tuition purposes.
Q: Must I file a tax return even if I do not have any income?
A: Yes. All F-1 students who have been present in the United States for five different calendar years or less must file a United States tax return each year. Instructions and forms are available at International Student Services (ISS) each year in March.
Q: The visa (stamp) in my passport has expired. Is there a problem?
A: A U.S. visa is stamped in a passport to show that a person has been reviewed by a consular official and is eligible for entry to the United States during the dates of validity of the visa. Reciprocity agreements between the U.S. and one’s country of citizenship determine the length of visa validity and the cost of the visa. The expiration of one's visa has no bearing on that person’s legal permission to remain in the United States. His/her permission to remain in the U.S. is determined by the expiration date on one's I-94 card. In the case of F-1 students, there should be no expiration date given. Instead, the I-94 card should be marked D/S, meaning duration of status. This notation means that an F-1 student may remain in the US in valid F-1 status until the expiration date of their current I-20 as long as he/she maintains valid F-1 status.
Q: May I take 11 credits instead of 12 as required to maintain my full-time status?
A: No. Immigration regulations clearly state that an F-1 student must maintain full-time study. An F-1 student may be granted permission to drop below 12 credits in a few special circumstances, such as a student's documented illness or during a student's last semester if he/she needs to take courses to graduate that semester. The permission may only be granted by the International Student Services (ISS) coordinator or counselor, and it must be before a student drops below full time. NOTE: A student may not drop below 12 credits because he/she she is afraid of failing a course. However, if a student believes he/she was placed in a course level that was too high, he/she should consult the ISS coordinator or counselor before dropping below 12 credits.
Q: May I take distance education courses?
A: F-1 students are now limited to taking no more than one 3-credit course of distance education. Check with ISS before registering for any courses online, television, or other distance education courses.
Q: I would like to study English as a Second Language (ESL). Do you offer an ESL program?
A: Community College of Philadelphia offers ESL classes for students enrolled full-time in a major curriculum program. However, we do not have an intensive English language program for students wishing to study only English as a Second Language.
Q: The USCIS inspector put an expiration date on my I-94 card. Is that a problem?
A: F-1 students should be given the notation D/S (Duration of Status), not an expiration date on their I-94 cards. If you ever find an expiration date on your I-94 card, come to ISS immediately. Overstaying the expiration date on one's I-94 card can result in serious legal problems.
Q: I forgot to get a travel signature on the back of my I-20 before leaving the US. What should I do?
A: If you have a valid visa in your passport, you should be able to return to the United States upon U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) inspection. An inspector may grant you entry for 30 days if they believe your entry as an F-1 student is legitimate. The inspector will mark your I-94 card with an expiration date of 30 days. The time period allows you to return to campus, visit ISS for advising and obtain the proper signature from ISS. The inspector may also require additional documents. You will have until the expiration on your I-94 card to return to UCSIS at the Philadelphia Airport to be reconsidered for inspection. (If you will be attending a new school upon your return, you must present your new I-20 from that school.)
Q: The expected completion date in item 5 on my I-20 is coming up. What should I do?
A: If you will not complete your studies by the expected completion date in item 5 on your I-20, you must apply for an extension of F-1 status before the expected completion date. In order to apply, you must provide a current bank statement (must be original, not a copy or fax) from your sponsor and you must meet with the International Student Services Counselor in advance. Failure to apply for extension of your F-1 status on time will result in the loss of your F-1 status.
Q: I heard I have to notify ISS if there are any changes in my educational program or personal information. What information do I have to notify ISS about and how soon after the change?
A: You must report the following to ISS within 10 days:
- Change in address (where you physically live in the United States).
- Change in legal name.
- Change in (major) curriculum.
- Completion of studies before expected completion date in item 5 on your I-20.
A: Upon completion of studies (or Optional Practical Training), you are permitted to remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days to prepare for your departure. During this time you may not work. If you wish to remain in the United States beyond the 60-day grace period, you must make arrangements to transfer to another school or change your status before the end of the 60-day grace period.
Q: I am out of status because I did not follow the rules for F-1 students. What should I do?
A: You should meet with the International Student Services (ISS) coordinator as soon as possible to discuss your options. Under some conditions, you may petition the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to excuse your violation; otherwise, you may have to leave the United States.
Q: My situation is complicated, and I would like to contact a lawyer. What should I do?
A: After contacting International Student Services (ISS), you may be advised to contact a competent immigration lawyer. To find a qualified immigration attorney, check out the homepage for the American Immigration Lawyers Association at http://www.aila.org/. You may pick up an article at ISS about how to find a qualified immigration attorney.
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