International Programs

The International Student application form must be filled out and returned to the International Student Programs Office with the required fees and documentation before an I-20 can be issued. The I-20 is a document necessary to apply for a foreign student visa at the U.S. Consulate in the student’s home country. Upon admission, the I-20, along with orientation information, is mailed to the student. The student must check with the US consulate in their country to inquire about specifics in gaining a visa to the US.

Below are two web links that may be helpful when applying for a student visa:

• US Embassy
  This site will lead students to the US Embassy located near their home city/country. This site outlines how to schedule interviews and the appropriate documentation required for the interview.
• Education USA
  There are education centers all around the world that are designated to helping potential students prepare for study in the US. They may help with preparing applications for visa interviews, preparing for questions for visa interviews, how to make appointments at the embassies and more.

10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-Immigrant Student Visa

1. Ties to Your Home Country
   Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must, therefore, be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the United States. “Ties” to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects, that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans, and career prospects in your home country. Each person’s situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter which can guarantee visa issuance. If you have applied for the U.S. Green Card Lottery, you may be asked if you are intending to immigrate. A simple answer would be that you applied for the lottery since it was an authorized stay in the U.S. previously, be prepared to explain what happened clearly and concisely, with documentation if available.
2. English
   Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview, but do NOT prepare speeches! If you are coming to the United States solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful for you in your home country.
3. Speak For Yourself
   Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview. The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. If you are a minor applying for a high school program and need your parents there in case there are questions, for example about funding, they should wait in the waiting room.
4. Know the Program and How it Fits Your Career Plans
   If you are not articulate the reasons you will study in a particular program in the United States , you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home.
5. Be Brief
   Because of the volume of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officer’s questions short and to the point.
6. Additional Documentation
   It should be immediately clear to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have 2-3 minutes of interview time, if you’re lucky.
7. Not All Countries are Equal
   Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the US as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S.
8. Employment
   Your main purpose in coming to the United States should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work off-campus during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school part-time are permitted activities.
9. Dependents Remaining at Home
   If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that your family will need you to remit money from the United States in order to support themselves, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
10. Maintain a Positive Attitude
    Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

Yes. Please note that due to the high cost of medical services in the United States, we require that students have medical insurance coverage while attending Skagit Valley College. Students will be required to purchase insurance from the school prior to registering for classes. Purchasing insurance from Skagit Valley College, the cost of insurance coverage is $1,170* per year (nine months). At Skagit Valley College, we are interested in your well-being and, therefore, would not want the cost of medical expenses to disrupt your educational goals.

As of January 2018, Skagit Valley College will no longer be accepting insurance from any outside sources.  Students will be required to purchase their medical insurance through the school only.  To review the insurance program offered through the school, please visit: www.lewermark.com/skagit

Students may purchase insurance per quarter or up to 3 quarters at a time. If you have questions about your insurance or want to purchase your insurance before you arrive, you may contact International Programs via email at international.admissions@skagit.edu or phone: 360.416.7600.

*Insurance rates are subject to change yearly, typically in the summer or fall

You can start school at the beginning of any of the four quarters: September, January, April or June. Students taking courses at the Language Institute may enter mid-quarter.

Yes! With the exception of Homestay fees.  Following are the procedures: When sending funds electronically to Skagit Valley College, please use the information provided below, send funds in US dollars. In the wire memo, include the student’s name and ctcLink ID number. Note that it can take up to 10 business days before funds are available to be used by the school. Please make checks /wires payable to Skagit Valley College

Bank Name: US Bank Bank
Address: 419 S. Second St.
Mount Vernon, WA
98273

Bank Routing Number: 125000105
Account Name: Skagit Valley College
Account Number: 153505364635

SWIFT CODE: USBKUS44IMT
Please note that the “I” in the code is not a one, but the capital letter I (i).

Once funds have been sent, please send a notification email to:

• Nancy Cisneros, GL Accountant
  E-mail: Nancy.Cisneros@skagit.edu

Skagit Valley College does not have any scholarships or financial aid for international applicants at this time. However, you may want to investigate the following websites for possible funding resources:

College Board URL: www.collegeboard.org Phone: 212.713.8143
Institute of International Education URL: www.iie.org Phone: 800.445.0443
Edupass URL: www.edupass.org Phone: 800.695.3317 or 888.296.4332

Following is a breakdown of the cost per credit:

***Students in the Intensive English Program will be enrolled in 18 credits per quarter.

We have on campus housing and homestay options.

• Click here for the Dormitory (Campus View Village) and Homestay information.

Both have different purposes. Therefore, one is only better than the other based on your interest and goals. In the American home environment the student is immersed in the English/American language and culture, which assists in the student’s academic and overall growth. 

• Click here for the Dormitory (Campus View Village) and Homestay information.

In traditional homestay, most all food is provided by the host.  The student will need to prepare their own breakfasts and lunches with the food provide and the host will provide 4-5 prepared meals a week for you.

In a non-tradtional homestay and living at dorms, you are responsible to purchase and prepare all of your own meals.

Yes, the hosts in SVC’s Homestay Program have agreed to reduce the daily rate by 50% while on vacation 15 days or longer.  The discount must be calculated through the Homestay office before given.

If a student will be out of the home for an extended time (a quarter or more) and wishes to be able to return to their homestay, there will be a larger discounted rate, calculated through the Homestay office.

If student or parent wish not to pay the pro-rated amount, then the student would be required to move out of the current home and would either need to find housing of their own upon returning to school, or they may be relocated into a different Homestay.

Once the homestay coordinator receives a potential host’s application, the host will be interviewed and a background check will be made. After everything is complete, a match is made by comparing information on both the host application and the information which you provide on your application. The homestay coordinator will take into consideration both living habits and personal interests of both host and student.  The more information that you provide, the better match can be made.

The families in our program range from singles, couples – with or without children, older singles or couples. Most homes in America will also have animals and so you may need to choose between cats or dogs.

We have some homes with a single student and some homes have several students.  When there are more than one student in the home, both students will be of the same sex, and we do our best to make sure they are each from a different country.

Employment

International students are eligible to work on campus while studying in the United States. A student can begin working up to 30 days before the start date on their I-20. Students may only work on campus while they maintain status.

If an F-1 student would like to work on campus, they must first be registered for a minimum of 12 credits. They need to actively search on the SVC website or within departments on campus. Once they have been offered a position, they will take the job offer letter to their DSO to get a letter for their Social Security Card. Note, the Social Security processing times can take up to one to two months.

Yes. Please note that due to the high cost of medical services in the United States, we require that students have medical insurance coverage while attending Skagit Valley College. Students will be required to purchase insurance from the school prior to registering for classes. Purchasing insurance from Skagit Valley College, the cost of insurance coverage is $1,170* per year (nine months). At Skagit Valley College, we are interested in your well-being and, therefore, would not want the cost of medical expenses to disrupt your educational goals.

As of January 2018, Skagit Valley College will no longer be accepting insurance from any outside sources.  Students will be required to purchase their medical insurance through the school only.  To review the insurance program offered through the school, please visit: www.lewermark.com/skagit.

Students may purchase insurance per quarter or up to 3 quarters at a time. If you have questions about your insurance or want to purchase your insurance before you arrive, you may contact International Programs via email at international.admissions@skagit.edu or phone: 360.416.7600.

*Insurance rates are subject to change yearly, typically in the summer or fall.