NUMBER:
13-11-1
APPROVED DATE:
09-25-2014
BASED ON POLICY NUMBER AND TITLE:
SBTCE POLICY 3-2-102 Status Of International Students
PURPOSE: This procedure establishes the process for Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development to accept international applicants who are eligible for M-1 student visas issued by the US Department of State as confirmed through the US Department of Homeland Security.
1. STUDENT VISAS
Before an applicant can apply at a US Embassy or Consulate for an M-1 student visa, the applicant must first apply to and be accepted by the Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development at Trident Technical College, which is a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved school.
Applicant must complete and submit the M-1 Visa Non-Academic Admission Application for enrollment into one of the Division of Continuing Education’s M-1 approved programs. If the applicant meets all admission requirements and is accepted, the Division of Continuing Education will process the applicant in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Division of Continuing Education will provide the applicant with Form I-20 to present to the nearest US Embassy/Consulate. The applicant must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee after receiving the I-20 form.
The financial obligations of an international student are specified in the category titled Enrollment Criteria for International Students (see item #4) and as listed on the Division of Continuing Education M-1 Visa Student webpage, tridenttech.edu/ce/registration/international-students.
2. VISA CATEGORIES
The College does accept other visa types. For more information, please visit the following link: http://www.tridenttech.edu/start/international/index.htm
3. DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION OPERATIONS OFFICE
The Division of Continuing Education Operations Office is responsible for M-1 applicant inquiries and referrals. International applicants must present official paperwork from the Department of Homeland Security that identifies current immigration status (Form I-94) prior to beginning the training program.
4. ENROLLMENT CRITERIA FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The Division of Continuing Education Operations Office provides to an M-1 applicant information on the Division of Continuing Education M-1 Visa Student webpage that contains the admission application and relevant College documents outlining the following admission requirements:
- Submission of the M-1 Visa Admission Non-Academic Application with the nonrefundable application fee.
- English translation of secondary and postsecondary records and transcripts completed by a recognized language evaluation service (based upon program enrollment requirements). There are three approved agencies used by the college: http://www.jsilny.com/ , http://www.ece.org/, or http://www.wes.org/.
- TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language) score report with a minimum score of 500 on the paper version, 173 on the computerized version or 61 on the Internet version; or by demonstration of proficiency in English as determined by the Division of Continuing Education.
- Notarized Affidavit of Financial Support (in U.S. currency) from the international applicant’s sponsor(s). The Department of Homeland Security website provides the most up-to-date Form I-134.
- Notarized bank statement from sponsor(s) indicating sufficient funds (in U.S. currency) to cover all fees and living expenses at a rate based upon program length as listed on the Division of Continuing Education M-1 Visa Student Web page.
- Tuition deposit (in U.S. currency) equivalent to the program’s required tuition, supplies, materials, books and fees. Funds will be used to pay required prepayment for program fees prior to enrollment.
Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development determines the acceptance of M-1 Visa international applicants who meet all stipulated admission requirements and can deny admission to any international applicant whenever such action appears to be in the best interest of the College. Upon acceptance of an international applicant, the Division of Continuing Education Operations Office is responsible for initiating an acceptance letter and issuing an I-20 form.
5. RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENT APPLICANTS
TOEFL information is available at the Educational Testing Service website, http://www.ets.org/toefl. Applicants from India, Hong Kong or Taiwan must obtain special editions of the test directly from TOEFL, P. O. Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540. Translation of non-English documents is available through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services membership list at http://www.naces.org/.
6. MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT APPLICANT FILES
The Division of Continuing Education Operations Office establishes a file for each M-1 Visa international student applicant, assigns ID numbers as needed, and maintains all files in accordance with South Carolina General Records Retention Schedule requirements.
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Renumbered, renamed and moved from Section 15 to Section 13 September 2020. Formerly number 15-2-4 Continuing Education Programs International Students for Non-academic Training.
Reviewed: 04-12-2019