F-1 Visa Student Admissions

For students abroad interested in pursuing studies at Carroll Community College on an F-1 Student Visa, below are requirements and steps you must take to be eligible for the Form I-20 which allows you to apply for the F-1 student visa to study as a full-time student at Carroll.

Please note that many of our allied health selective admissions programs are not eligible for F1 students. They do not meet the full time requirement.

Requirements you must meet to receive an I-20 at Carroll

1. Carroll does not offer on-campus housing and is located in a rural community. For this reason, students are required to have a local sponsor (e.g. relative, family friend) to live with within a 15-mile radius of the College. Please make sure you meet this requirement before completing any additional steps.
2. Completion of the Affidavit of Support form identifying local sponsorship by an individual in the community who will provide living accommodations for the student at no cost.
3. English-translated version of high school records, if applicable.
4. Any college-level coursework outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org). A course-by-course evaluation is required for students who hope to apply preview college credit.
5. Completion deadlines:
   • Fall Term – June 1
   • Spring Term – October 1
6. An official transcript of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Carroll Admissions Office. The following minimum scores are required:
   • 550 on the paper-based test;
   • 213 on the computer-based test; or
   • 79–80 on the internet-based test
7. Complete the College placement test for English and Math to determine exact placement and verify the ability to enroll fulltime which is required as an F-1 student.
8. Official evidence of financial support ($15,000 in a local account) for the coming year. Moneys must be in U.S. dollars. This covers the cost of tuition and supplies only for one year. Please see tuition and fee rates for F-1 students on our tuition and fees page.
9. Once all of the above criteria are approved, the document used to apply for an F-1 visa, called Form I-20, will be issued to the student. Please follow these steps: Students must schedule an appointment with their embassy or consulate.
10. Complete the I-901 form and pay the SEVIS fee. These are required before the appointment. The form and payment can be completed online.
11. Only the U.S. Department of State, not the College, has the authority to grant or deny F-1 visa status. When approved for a F-1 student visa, students must enroll fulltime for a minimum of 12 credits each term, and they will be charged out-of-state/country tuition rates. Students are eligible to work on-campus (based on job availability) at a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Transfer into Carroll with an eligible F-1 status from another institution

1. Provide a copy of their I-20 form from their previous institution, and must be in good standing and eligible status to transfer.
2. Students are considered for admission only after each of the above requirements have been met and verified by the College’s Admissions Office.
3. Must coordinate with the students Designated School Official at the current institution to approve and release the record to Carroll in an eligible transfer status.
4. Upon successful completion, Form I-20 will be issued for students to apply for an F-1 student visa.