International Students Office

A community college is a nonresidential junior college established to serve a specific community and typically supported in part by local government funds. California Community Colleges offer affordable and dynamic educational programs. Folsom Lake College is a part of the Los Rios Community College District, which serves over 80,000 students in the Greater Sacramento area.

The California Community Colleges system has transfer agreements with the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. These agreements allow students to complete their general education requirements at the community college level and then transfer at a junior standing to complete their bachelor degree. More and more students, non-international and international, are choosing to complete their lower division courses in a community college. Furthermore, studies have shown that international students who transfer from a community college are more prepared than their counterparts who entered as freshmen.

International Students are able to study at Folsom Lake College on the F-1 student visa. As an international student, you will be given the I-20, certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant status. This will allow you to apply for the F-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country. For more information on student visas, please visit the U.S. Department of State website. It is important that you are prepared for your visa interview. The NAFSA website has some useful information regarding your interview. In order to receive the I-20 from FLC, you will need to follow the International Student Application Procedures above. There is an additional fee in addition to the regular DS-156 non-immigrant application fee. This fee will need to be paid before you can receive the F-1 visa. This fee can be paid online.

In order to get the visa, you will need to apply at the nearest U.S. Consulate to your home. Because every consulate has different local procedures, please visit the U.S. Department of State website for more information. Also, please don’t forget to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee after receiving the Form I-20. View additional information regarding the I-901 SEVIS fee.

Unit Load

You are required to take 12 units every semester. Schools are required to report to SEVIS when a student drops below a full course of study 12 units or fails to enroll. Note: You are not required to register for the summer session, but you must be registered for a full course of study throughout the academic year in order to maintain your valid student visa status. There are certain circumstances under which FLC can approve dropping below 12 units, but in all cases this approval must be done by FLC before the student actually drops their classes. If that is not done, the student will fall out of status, even if the reason is valid. In other words, it is essential that you contact the International Student Advisor prior to dropping below a full course load.

There are only three reasons why you would be able to drop below 12 units at Folsom Lake College:                                                      

1. Medical reasons documented by a physician.
2. A student is in his/her final semester and only needs certain courses to graduate.
3. Academic Difficulty (this can only be approved for one semester).

Housing

FLC does not have on-campus housing. It is the responsibility of the student to prepare their own living arrangements. You must be 18 years of age in order to sign a rental agreement in the U.S.

International Students Under Age 18

It is the responsibility of the student and their parents to obtain a power of attorney from an attorney in their country that states who has legal guardianship for the student in the United States. We require a power of attorney before we can issue an I-20.

If you are currently in B-1 or B-2 status and you want to become an international student in F-1 status at FLC, you need to change your status before attending school. You can complete the application procedures, receive your I-20, and return home to obtain an F-1 visa. You would then re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.

The visa stamp that is in your passport was issued by the U.S. Consulate in your country. It is a document that is used to tell the Port of Entry officer that your application was reviewed by the U.S. Consulate, which determined you could enter the U.S. The visa allows you to travel to the U.S. where the Port of Entry officer will admit you by stamping your I-20 and I-94 card. If you are in the U.S. and your visa expires, you don't need to worry. You can stay in the U.S. with an expired visa, but you will need to renew it if you leave the U.S. and intend to travel back to the U.S. For more information on U.S. visas, visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Undergraduate education is very expensive for international students and funding resources are limited. International students are required to show enough financial support for the first academic year.

Social Security numbers (SSN) are issued for the purpose of employment taxation. You do not need a social security number to open a bank account, rent a car, or get your driver's license. It is more convenient for students to have an SSN, but it is not absolutely necessary. You should only apply for an SSN if you are going to be employed. There have been changes to the SSN application procedures that require evidence of employment. Please talk to Admissions & Records about SSN application procedures.

You should see the International Student Advisor in Admissions & Records for the following reasons:

• If you need to travel out of the U.S. at anytime, you will need a signature on the third page of your I-20.
• If you transfer to another school, you will need to have FLC release your SEVIS record.
• If you change your major and/or need to extend your I-20.
• If you fall below 12 units.
• If you change your immigration status, FLC will need to terminate your SEVIS record.
• If you lose your I-20.
• If you want to work on campus or off campus.