FCC is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. International students studying at FCC must be pursuing a full course of study towards an Associate Degree other than an Allied Health field, Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technology, Pre-Health, Biotechnology, Emergency Management, Culinary Arts and Supervision, Baking and Pastry Arts, Hospitality Management, American Sign Language Interpreter Preparatory or English as a Second Language. Prospective F-1 international students must complete three steps before being admitted and receiving their I-20 from FCC. After receiving the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, schedule a visa appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and attend the mandatory International Student Orientation upon obtaining their F-1 visa and arriving in the U.S. to complete the enrollment process.
Student Process to obtain I-20 from FCC:
FCC highly recommends completing the steps in order
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**The College is unable to provide scholarship assistance to international student applicants. The estimated minimum cost of tuition, fees, books, health, and living expenses per year is $32,000 for student applying for Fall 2025. Students attending the College on the F-1 Visa will be classified as out-of-state residents for tuition purposes while at FCC. (F-1 students are required to be enrolled full time with a minimum of 12 credits in the Spring term and a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall term). Tuition and fee rates are subject to change.
Instructions for I-134 – Declaration of Financial Support
Note: Proof of financial support must be resubmitted for extension of the I-20 form.
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If you are currently residing in The United States upload
- Upload copy of Visa
- Upload copy of I-94 (DHS Arrival/Departure Record)
- Upload copy of current I-20 form, if applicable
Additional documents might be required.
Step two: Student will complete the application process with a NACES approved foreign credential evaluation agency to have their secondary school (high school) coursework equated to the United States school system. You will need to request a document-by-document evaluation and have the completed evaluation sent to our Admissions office in the form of an official transcript or if you have completed courses at a college or university outside the Unites States, you must request a course-by-course evaluation of that coursework and have the completed evaluation sent to our Admissions office in the form of an official transcript. The length of the I-20 form may be dependent on credits eligible to transfer to FCC. We accept foreign credential evaluations from any member of the
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), including,
International Education Evaluations (IEE),
The Evaluation Company (TEC), and
World Education Services (WES). Students that use these links for IEE or TEC will receive a special discounted rate.
Step three: Student takes the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Minimum acceptable score is 61 on the internet-based test, 173 on the computer-based test or 500 on the paper-based test. Student will need to enter FCC School Code (5230) on the TOEFL request form to have the report sent directly to the FCC Admissions department. Student should allow time, as it can take up to a month for TOEFL to send scores to the College. For more information on how to take the TOEFL, a student can go to
www.toefl.org.
**TOEFL score requirements are being reviewed. Proposed scores for students are: Minimum acceptable score is 79 on the Internet-based test, 212 on the computer-based test or 548 on the paper-based test (IBT).
NOTE: Student must submit all materials and required documents in support of their I-20 request to FCC by June 15 for the subsequent fall term and October 15 for the subsequent spring term. The I-20 is issued at the time the student is formally accepted and admitted to the College, which occurs after the above listed documents have been received and evaluated.
International Student Transferring to FCC
If you are currently residing in the United States on an F-1 visa and wish to transfer to Frederick Community College (FCC), please complete steps one through three above. To determine if you may be exempt from step two and three, submit an official transcript with final grades from the U.S. institution you are attending.
FCC will issue your admissions letter and Transfer Form, which must be completed by your current institution. Once your SEVIS record transfer is finalized, you will receive your I-20 from FCC. *FCC does not accept terminated SEVIS records.
Student Process once admitted to the College and issued an I-20 by FCC:
Step five: Student applies for their F-1 Visa, as a separate process from FCC through http://usvisas.state.gov.
5. A. Once admitted to the College and issued an I-20 by FCC, a student will be required to pay the
SEVIS I-901 fee. The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of the student and ensures that they maintain their status while in the U.S. Each student issued an initial I-20 is responsible for paying this fee to the SEVP. The fee must be paid in advance of their visa appointment and proof of purchase must be brought with them to their visa appointment.
5.B. Student will learn their Consulate’s requirements. A student can get this information by going to
http://www.usembassy.gov and choosing their country, then choosing the U.S. Consulate closest to their home.
5.C. Student will complete online Visa Application -
Nonimmigrant Visa - Instructions Page (state.gov). (DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa) – Printing and keeping the DS-160 barcode confirmation page.
5.D. Student will make the Visa Appointment and pay the Visa Application Fee.
5.E. Student will collect their documents for that Visa Appointment (Passport,
I-20 from FCC, SEVIS Fee receipt, DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa barcode confirmation page, Visa Application Fee receipt, additional documents required by their embassy or consulate).
5.F. Student will prepare for and attend Visa Interview and inform Frederick Community College of the outcome.
NOTE: After a student is approved for the F-1 Visa, the student is expected to arrive in Frederick County, MD no later than the International Student Orientation date listed in the admissions letter.
Student Process after Arrival in U.S:
All new F-1 visa students at Frederick Community College MUST attend the International Student Orientation. The orientation date will be provided in the admissions letter.
Note: Students will receive detailed information, such as time, location, and additional instructions a few weeks prior to the orientation date.
What to Expect During International Student Orientation:
Step six: Student will meet the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Designated School Official (DSO) at Frederick Community College, receive an overview of F-1 visa regulations, and sign the International Student Agreement Form.
Step seven: Take a campus tour to become familiar with available resources, classrooms, and student support offices.
Step eight: Student take the placement assessment as appropriate.
Step nine: Student register in classes either with their Academic Advisor or online through Campus Solutions.
Step ten:Student pays for the courses or set up a payment plan.
Step eleven: Take FCC photo ID.
11.A. Student buy books and supplies for their classes. Textbooks are available through the FCC Bookstore.
11.B. Student completes the Go2Orientation at home.
NOTE: Student will need to maintain their F-1 Visa status and notify the Designated School Official of any changes to their address or major within 10 days of change.
Contact Information
Cindy M. Vinson
[email protected]
Bilingual Enrollment Recruiter- Transition (Yo hablo Español)
301.846.2468