International Students General Information

The International Students Office at EPCC is dedicated to serving the needs of the international student from the admission application process through transfer or graduation. We understand that Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration (BCIS) regulations can be difficult to understand, but we are here to help the international student stay in compliance with BCIS requirements while attending EPCC. The International Students Office is located at the Valle Verde Campus. For the convenience of students, EPCC has designated International Student advisers at all campus Counseling offices.

All international students wishing to live in the US while attending college must be admitted as full-time international students and maintain a full-time course load to stay in compliance with F-1 Visa requirements. Mexican students who reside in Mexico and commute daily to college may be allowed to enroll less than full time as a Border Commuter International Student, but there are important restrictions that must be followed to maintain the F-1 Visa. BCIS use the Student and Exchange Visitors Information System (SEVIS) to track and issue I-20's to international students requesting F-1 visas.

After receiving the SEVIS I-20 form and F-1 Visa, the following requirements pertain to both full-time and Border Commuter students

• You must report to the EPCC International Students Office within 10 days of entering the US for the first time on your F-1 Visa.
• You must report all changes to your address and phone number to the International Students Office within ten (10) days.
• You must report to the International Students Office any changes in your schedule that causes you to be out of status, i.e., withdrawing from a class causing less than full-time attendance.
• You must report to the International Students Office and receive permission prior to registration if you wish to enroll for less than full-time.
• To extend your I-20 Form, you must report to the International Students Office for an extension four (4) weeks prior to the expiration date. If the I-20 is not extended or renewed prior to the expiration date, it will be terminated and the student will not be allowed to continue to study after the expiration date. The student will have to leave the US and re-apply for a new I-20 and get a new F-1 Visa.
• Contact the International Students Office immediately if you plan to transfer to another college or university. Another school will not be able to issue an I-20 to you unless EPCC first releases your SEVIS record.

How Do I Get A SEVIS FORM I-20?

• Official transcripts reflecting graduation from a US high school.
• Official transcripts from an accredited US college or university showing completion of 15 semester –credit hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Official report on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 450 (paper-based), or 133 (computerized), or 45 (Internet) on the International version.