First-Time at HCC F-1 International Student

1. Complete the SEVIS Form I-20 Application. This is a fillable .PDF document that is different from the online application. Add an additional page if there is more than 1 dependent.
2. Passport photocopy (biometric page only) - If you plan to bring your dependents (spouse/children under 21) on F-2 status, add copies of their passports as well as marriage and birth certificates.
3. Financial Documentation 
4. $75 non-refundable Application fee 
   
   How to pay the fee:
   You can pay the fee online using a credit card or funds transfer from your local bank (via Fllywire).  Refer to the International Payment Tutorial (Flywire) for instructions. Please enable pop-ups on your internet browser for online payment. After payment, the receipt will be sent to your email address. Save the receipt as a PDF.
   
   Note: The payment terms and entrance terms may vary when paying the fee online. This is not a problem as the payment can be tracked by date.

All documents must be saved as PDF files with short names (less than 30 characters). The file name should not contain any invalid characters such as (*:"<>?). Bad-quality or upside-down documents will be rejected. Please combine different document types in 1 PDF file. For example, if you have statements from different banks, save them as one file. To scan and convert a file to PDF format, you can also use free PDF scanner apps (Genius Scan - PDF Scanner, Fast Scanner: Free PDF Scan for Android, Tiny Scanner- PDF scanner, etc.) Upon uploading, the System will automatically add a 3 or 4-digit code and your HCC ID number to the document's name. Do not attempt to modify the document's name!

1. Log in to your account on the HCC Student System using your HCC W number and your Password.
2. In the Student Homepage, click on Checklists
3. Click on the F-1 Student Checklist to upload the required documents (If you do not see an F-1 Student Checklist, please send an email to oiss.international@hccs.edu with your HCC student ID, "NEW," and the semester you're applying for, written in the subject line. Check your account again within 3 business days, and the F-1 Student Checklist should now be available.)

New applicants should wait about 2 hours after submission of the online application to access their F-1 Student Checklist.

* Monitor your F-1 Student Checklist for additional documents that may be required.

Tutorial - F1 Students Checklist_Prepare and Upload Documents

Login to your HCC Student Sign-In and view your To-Do list (click on Checklists>F1 Student Checklist).  If the only item in your To-Do list is “I-20 In Process”, your application is under review by one of the Designated School Officials (DSO). If you see any other items in your F-1 Student Checklist, you must upload the required documents so that your application can be reviewed. 

After uploading all the required documents, it usually takes approximately 10 business days for the review and processing of the I-20. The duration of this process may vary depending on when the application is submitted and the number of applicants in the queue at that time.

If you haven't heard from us within 10 business days (weekends and holidays are not included), please email oiss.international@hccs.edu  to check the status of your application. Make sure to include your HCC ID in the email subject line.

Once the office receives all of your documents, you should wait at least 10 business days for the processing of the SEVIS Form I-20. This time will vary depending on when the application is submitted and how many applicants there are at that time. Applications are processed in the order they are received.

The I-20 form and your official acceptance letter with specific instructions will be sent to your preferred email listed on your student's account.

Using the information on your I-20, submit SEVIS I-901 Fee payment here: www.fmjfee.com.  Print your receipt to present during your visa interview and when you enter the U.S. I-901 fee applies only to the F-1 applicant. The dependent applicants (F-2) do not pay this fee.

A prospective F-1 student with a country of citizenship or country of birth of Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia must pay by money order, Western Union Quick Pay or certified check drawn from a U.S. bank. 

All other prospective F students also have the option to make a credit card payment on FMJfee.com.

• SEVP will accept third party payments, meaning someone else can pay your I-901 SEVIS Fee using the same method of payment. For students from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia who cannot pay the fee by credit card, third party payers are also restricted from paying the fee by credit card.
• Visit SEVP's website for instructions on how to complete the Western Union Quick Pay/Quick Collect form.
• You can access the PDF version of the SEVIS Form I-901 on SEVP's website. Print and mail in your paper SEVIS Form I-901 with your check or money order, according to the instructions on the form.
• For detailed instructions or for assistance on how to make an I-901 SEVIS Fee payment, call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400.

Apply for an F-1 Visa with your U.S. embassy/consulate.  For additional information about this process, review Study in the States’ Five Ways to Prepare for Your Visa Interview.

Visa Denials: If you are denied an F-1 visa on your first attempt, you can re-apply with your U.S. embassy/consulate.  If you will be unable to enter the U.S. by the Program Start Date listed on your I-20, you can defer your attendance to receive an I-20 for the next semester. Please note that you can apply for deferment only by the date listed on your acceptance letter. Applications received after that date will be processed as initial/new applications.

* Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are not required to obtain an F-1 visa. Upon arrival as F-1 students, their passports should show an entry stamp indicating F-1 and D/S (Duration of Status).

Once you have a valid F-1 visa, you are permitted to enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the start date listed on your I-20.  It is recommended that you arrive at least 2 weeks before the Program Start Date listed on your I-20 so that you have enough time to complete the steps required to enroll in classes.  Classes can fill up so you need to arrive as soon as possible to ensure you are able to enroll in the required number of classes. 

If you will be unable to enter the U.S. by the Program Start Date listed on your I-20, you should defer your attendance to receive an I-20 for the next semester.

All Initial F-1 students coming to the United States must be ready to present the following documentation when entering the U.S.:

1. Original SEVIS Form I-20 – With valid Program Start Date and signed by the Designated School Official/International Student Advisor (DSO/ISA)
2. Passport – Must be valid for at least six months after the date of your entry.
3. F-1 Visa – Must be valid and designated for attendance at HCC. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are not required to obtain an F-1 visa.
4. Proof of Financial Support – Information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses.
5. I-901 Fee Payment Receipt – Validating that the I-901 payment was submitted.  The receipt can be reprinted at www.fmjfee.com.

Please review Study in the States’ Getting to the United States for additional instructions about your entry to the U.S.

After you have successfully entered the U.S. on your F-1 visa, you must immediately report virtually to check-In with the Houston Community College Office of International Student Services. 

You will need to provide your HCC ID number, a current local US address, and a US phone, emergency contact information, and prepare to upload copies of the following documents in .PDF:

1. Form I-20* 
2. Passport (photo page)* 
3. F-1 Visa page*(citizens of Canada and Bermuda provide a copy of the passport entry stamp indicating F-1;D/S) 
4. I-94*  Go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home > click on Get most recent I-94.  If you receive an error that your I-94 was "Not Found", follow the directions in this document to request a correction to your I-94 record:I-94 Correction Instructions
5. Receipt of online payment for the $50.00 orientation fee – you can pay this with a credit card online through the PeopleSoft / Student Account sign-in. For more information, see International Payment Tutorial (Flywire). Allow pop-ups on your browser.
6. Receipt of SEVIS fee I-901. If you need to retrieve it, go to http://www.fmjfee.com/, and click on “Check I-901 Fee Status’.

*Provide this document for all dependents (spouse/ children) on F-2 visa.

Check-in as a newly arrived student

If you are under 22 years old, submit proof of Meningitis Vaccination to the Admissions office at any HCC campus or scan your documentation and send it via email to vaccine@hccs.edu. There are additional alternatives to submitting the proof on the following website: https://www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/meningitis/

Log onto your student Homepage via https://myeagle.hccs.edu and complete the Checklist items that prevent enrollment: Financial Responsibility; Residency Re-affirmation; Meningitis (if under 22 years of age); On-boarding Checklist: Eagle Launch (web orientation), Testing. Negative holds like Int’l Student Advisement, Bursar's office, and ESL should be cleared before enrollment with the relevant department (read details of the hold).  Positive holds like “F-1 student” do not affect enrollment. For additional information, review the Checklist Completion Video

Meet with Enrollment Services on an HCC campus or via the HCC Virtual Lobby www.hccs.edu/virtual-lobby to receive testing authorization. Pay the testing fee at the cashier’s office on campus or via your HCC portal, and bring the receipt to the testing center on campus to take the exam. Make sure to have a photo ID to present before taking the test. https://www.hccs.edu/resources-for/current-students/testing-services/

You can find more information about Testing and English proficiency on the following website: https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/international-students/foreign-credentials/  Documents with passing English proficiency scores should be sent to HCC as instructed. Evaluated foreign credentials or U.S transcripts should be sent to  Transcripts | Houston Community College - HCC (hccs.edu)

Students placed in ESL/Intensive English levels 0,1 and 2 should contact the ESL department or their Zoom lobby for enrollment/registration. Click to learn more about CE-ESL services and support schedules.

Students placed in ESL/Intensive English levels 3 and 4 and all academic-ready students should meet with an Enrollment Services/Academic Advisor on campus or virtually about the classes they need to take. For help with enrollment, please watch the Class Search and Enroll Video or download the PDF tutorial:  How to search and enroll in classes.

Spring and Fall semesters - F-1 students must enroll in 12 credit hours, of which only ONE (1) class can be 100% online. The remaining classes must be in-person or hybrid classes.

If Summer is the first semester of attendance, F-1 students should enroll in 9 credit hours, of which only ONE (1) class can be 100% online, and the rest must be in-person or hybrid classes. Summer enrollment is not required. It is considered vacation time if you are not enrolled. Students in the Intensive English program will be enrolled in cohort-based courses that do not allow mix-and-match of the classes.

Your sponsors can also pay for your classes from their home countries: International Payment Tutorial for government or third-party sponsored students, go to Payment and Scholarship Information at https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/international-students/faqs/.

You can find more about How to Make a Payment or Set Up Payment plan here.

F-1 international students will be automatically enrolled in HCC’s Student Health Insurance Plan. For more information about the plan and applying for a waiver of coverage, please visit http://www.hccs.edu/support-services/international-students/health-insurance/

Attendance at the International Student Orientation is MANDATORY. Please visit http://www.hccs.edu/support-services/international-students/orientation/ for more information.

Don't wait for the Mandatory International Orientation to enroll in classes! Classes are filling up quickly!