International Students

International students are citizens of a country other than the United States who have an F-1 visa for educational purposes and who intend to return to their home country upon completion of their educational program. The following are required if you would like to obtain an F-1 visa to study in the United States:

  • Acceptance to a SEVP approved institution
  • English proficiency
  • Sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire course of study
  • Maintain a residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up

First-time International Students

All first-time international students (students who have not attended a college or university in the United States) must complete the International F-1 New Student Checklist.

Click here to access the International F-1 New Student Checklist.

You will need the following documents in PDF format to complete the application:

  • Passport Photo Page
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable) 
  • Notarized Sponsor Declaration or Affidavit of Support
  • Notarized or Official Bank Statements (six consecutive months)

Admission Checklists

If you have attended a college or university in the United States previously, please use the following checklists to assist with completing your F-1 Admission application.

Transfer: F-1 Admission Checklist
Change of Status: F-1 Admission Checklist
Concurrent: F-1 Admission Checklist

Academic Year

International students are admitted for the Spring and Fall semester. The ACC academic year is composed of Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. F-1 students who begin in the fall semester are not required to attend summer classes. F-1 students who begin classes in the spring and summer must enroll full time in the summer during their first year of studies in the U.S.

Fall semester: August-December           Checklist Process deadline: June 1
Spring semester: January-May              Checklist Process deadline: October 1

Initial I-20, submit all required documents and complete checklist by June 1 for Fall and

Initial I-20, submit all required documents and complete checklist by October 1 for Spring.

International FAQ

A: International students are responsible for the cost of attending ACC and all living expenses. Federal financial aid is not available to F1 visa holders, but you may be able to apply for institutional scholarships after your first semester. You should check with your home country to see if they provide any financial assistance.

A: Tuition is based on the number of credit hours you take per semester. Please review the non-resident column on the ACC Tuition and Fees chart. The estimated cost of educational and living expenses is $28,000 per year.

A: ACC does not provide English as a second language (ESL) resources to prospective students. However, there are many online options available including Rosetta Stone, Memrise or Babble. Students are responsible for the cost of these programs.

A: A sponsor can be anyone that is willing to be financially responsible for the student. A sponsor must demonstrate proof of the required financial commitment and sign the required sponsor forms.

A: Before meeting with an international advisor, students must complete the Apply Texas admissions application, pay the international application fee, submit passport documents and TOEFL/IELTS scores or official college transcripts is transferring from another US institution. Please refer to the appropriate Admission Checklists at the top of this page for more information on the steps for admissions.

A: Learn more about the many degree and certificate programs offered at ACC. F1 students must be degree seeking.

A: The ACC nursing program requires a separate application and receives 200 to 300 applications per year. Applications are accepted twice a year. To learn more about prerequisite courses and the application process go to the ACC Nursing webpage.

A: The TSI can be completed online through Examity after you have completed your ACC application and been accepted to ACC. It is recommended to complete testing 2 months prior to U.S. arrival date. Click to learn more about the TSI.

A: Students needing an F1 visa must pay the International Application Fee. F1 Application Fee.

A: ACC applications expire after a year if a student does not register for classes. If your application expires, you are required to re-apply and repay the International Application Fee.

A: Students may request that their college credits from their home country be applied to their ACC degree by having their transcripts evaluated by an approved agency. For a list of approved agencies, please refer to the appropriate Admission Checklists at the top of this page.

A: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. ACC is not allowed to share a student’s information with anyone other than the student.

A: Students can gain general information about the enrollment process by reviewing the appropriate Admission Checklists at the top of this page. Due to FERPA regulations, once a student has been accepted to ACC, all communication must be between the student and ACC representatives.

A: No, deadlines cannot be extended. The deadlines for Fall application is June 1 and the deadline for Spring is October 1.

A: ApplyTexas is a website administered through the state of Texas. It is the only way to apply to ACC. To view the steps for admissions to ACC, please refer to the appropriate Admission Checklists at the top of this page.

A: I-20s are issued once all required documents listed on the checklist have been submitted. This process often takes a few weeks to complete. To view the steps for admissions to ACC, please refer to the appropriate checklists at the top of this page.

 

Transfer

F-1 students transferring in from another college must complete a Transfer Form as part of the admission process. 

Fall semester: August-December           Transfer Process deadline: July 1
Spring semester: January-May              Transfer Process deadline: November 1

Transfer I-20, submit all required documents and complete checklist by July 1 for Fall and

Transfer I-20, submit all required documents and complete checklist by November 1 for Spring.

Employment

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment for up to 20 hours, subject to certain conditions and restrictions. Speak with your international advisor for more information.

After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in the following types of off-campus employment:

Additional Resources