FCC is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. International students studying at FCC must be pursuing a full course of study towards an Associate Degree other than an Allied Health field, Nursing, Biotechnology, Emergency Management, Culinary Arts and Supervision, Baking and Pastry Arts, Hospitality Management, American Sign Language Interpreter Preparatory or English as a Second Language. Prospective F-1 International students complete three steps prior to being admitted and receiving their I-20 from FCC; four steps to obtain their VISA from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate; and six additional steps with FCC after obtaining their F-1 Visa and arriving in the U.S., to complete the enrollment process.
Student Process to obtain I-20 from FCC:
FCC highly recommends completing the steps in order
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**The College is unable to provide scholarship assistance to international student applicants. The estimated minimum cost of tuition, fees, books, health, and living expenses per year is $32,000 for student applying for Fall 2025. Students attending the College on the F-1 Visa will be classified as out-of-state residents for tuition purposes while at FCC. (F-1 students are required to be enrolled full time with a minimum of 12 credits in the Spring term and a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall term). Instructions for I-134 – Declaration of Financial Support
Note: Proof of financial support must be resubmitted for extension of the I-20 form.
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- Complete the I-20 FCC Request Form with a local (Maryland) sponsor’s address and the address of your home country. Sponsors residing outside of Maryland will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and subject to approval by the Principal Designated School Official (P)DSO.
- Upload copy of passport
- Upload copy of the I-134 - Declaration of Financial Support ** See further details
- Upload copy of the bank statement or bank letter (in English and in U.S currency) ** See further details
- Upload copy of sponsor's government-issued photo ID
If you are currently residing in The United States upload
- Complete the I-20 FCC Request Form with a local Maryland sponsor’s address
- Upload copy of passport
- Upload copy of the I-134 - Declaration of Financial Support ** See further details
- Upload copy of the bank statement or bank letter (in English and in U.S currency) ** See further details
- Upload copy of sponsor's government-issued photo ID
- Upload copy of Visa
- Upload copy of I-94 (DHS Arrival/Departure Record)
- Upload copy of current I-20 form, if applicable
Additional documents might be required.
Step two: Student request an official
high school (secondary school) transcript evaluation in English to an accepted evaluation service. Students should ask for the document-by-document evaluation and that it be sent to the FCC Admissions Department.
Or if you have credits from colleges and universities outside the United States, the documents must be reviewed by a United States evaluation service first. All foreign transcripts require a course-by-course evaluation and that it be sent to the FCC Admissions Department. The length of the I-20 form may be dependent on credits transfer to FCC.
FCC accepts evaluations from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), including SpanTran, and World Education Services (WES).
Step three: Student takes the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Minimum acceptable score is 61 on the internet-based test, 173 on the computer-based test or 500 on the paper-based test. Student will need to enter FCC School Code (5230) on the TOEFL request form to have the report sent directly to the FCC Admissions department. Student should allow time, as it can take up to a month for TOEFL to send scores to the College. For more information on how to take the TOEFL, a student can go to
www.toefl.org.
**TOEFL score requirements are being reviewed. Proposed scores for students are: Minimum acceptable score is 79 on the Internet-based test, 212 on the computer-based test or 548 on the paper-based test (IBT).
NOTE: Student must submit all materials and required documents in support of their I-20 request to FCC by June 1 for the subsequent fall term and October 1 for the subsequent spring term. The I-20 is issued at the time the student is formally accepted and admitted to the College, which occurs after the above listed documents have been received and evaluated for minimum requirements. Evaluations occur in June and October.
International Student Transferring to FCC
If you are currently residing in the United States with an F1 visa and you would like to transfer to Frederick Community College please complete steps one through three. FCC will then provide a Transfer Form that your current institution will need to complete to obtain an I-20 from FCC.
Student Process once admitted to the College and issued an I-20 by FCC:
Step five: Student applies for their F-1 Visa, as a separate process from FCC through http://usvisas.state.gov.
5. A. Once admitted to the College and issued an I-20 by FCC, a student will be required to pay the
SEVIS I-901 fee. The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the program office and the automated system that keeps track of the student and ensures that they maintain their status while in the U.S. Each student issued an initial I-20 is responsible for paying this fee to the SEVP. The fee must be paid in advance of their visa appointment and proof of purchase must be brought with them to their visa appointment.
5.B. Student will learn their Consulate’s requirements. A student can get this information by going to
http://www.usembassy.gov and choosing their country, then choosing the U.S. Consulate closest to their home.
5.C. Student will complete online Visa Application -
Nonimmigrant Visa - Instructions Page (state.gov). (DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa) – Printing and keeping the DS-160 barcode confirmation page.
5.D. Student will make the Visa Appointment and pay the Visa Application Fee.
5.E. Student will collect their documents for that Visa Appointment (Passport,
I-20 from FCC, SEVIS Fee receipt, DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa barcode confirmation page, Visa Application Fee receipt, additional documents required by their embassy or consulate).
5.F. Student will prepare for and attend Visa Interview (Why they want to study in the U.S., why FCC, what financial support they have, plans for after studies are completed, connections and ties to their country, etc.).
NOTE: After a student is approved for the F-1 Visa, the student is expected to arrive in Frederick County, MD no later than August 10 for fall term and January 10 for spring term.
Student Process after Arrival in U.S. on I-20 from FCC:
Step six: Student meets with the Designated School Official in the Admissions Department and signs the International Student Agreement Form to certify they understand the conditions of admission related to the I-20.
Step seven: Student completes the course placement assessment as appropriate. Referral to take the assessment will be given to the student when they meet with the Designated School Official.
Step eight: Student uses their Student ID number to complete FCC’s online orientation.
Step nine: Student meets with an Academic Advisor to select courses as a full-time student.
Step ten: Student registers for specific classes either with their Academic Advisor or online through Campus Solutions – FCC’s Student Information System.
Step eleven: Student completes their enrollment at FCC.
11A. Student pays for their courses.
11.B. Student buys books and supplies for their classes. Textbooks are available through the FCC Bookstore.
11.C. Student attends class.
NOTE: Student will need to maintain their F-1 Visa status and notify the Designated School Official of any changes to their address or major within 10 days of change.
Contact Information
Cindy M. Vinson
[email protected]
Enrollment Recruiter-Transition
Principal Designated School Official (PDSO)
(Yo hablo Español)
301.846.2468