F-1 Visa Holders - Prince George's Community College

As an F-1 student, you can connect with other students through clubs, organizations, sports, and events. Upon clearance, you can also request to work on campus or at one of our satellite locations and participate in training related to your major. Additionally, you may request a Social Security Number in addition to a learner's permit or driver's license and travel home during your annual vacation (summer) and the winter holidays.

F-1 students may transfer to another Student Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP) certified school to further their education. Please refer to the following information to proceed with admission to Prince George's Community College.

Note: If you are currently in the United States and plan to request a change of status in the U.S. after international admission has been offered, note that this process will take several months. Please refer to USCIS for additional information.

F-1 Admission Requirements (Degree-Seeking)

Students studying under an F-1 visa are eligible for admission during the fall and spring semesters. Complete packets (application, fee, and supporting documents) must be submitted by the following deadlines:

Fall: May 1 for initial attendance and change of status or June 1 for transfer students in the U.S.

Spring: October 1 for initial attendance and change of status or November 1 for transfer students in the U.S.

The College reserves the right to deny admission to applicants who fail to meet all admission requirements or supply the requested information by the applicable deadline.

Applicants should complete the following steps in order to be considered for admission:

1. Complete the international online application (this must be completed by the applicant) as a degree-seeking student. Please contact internationalgroup@pgcc.edu for assistance with the process or to request a PDF version of the application. Upon submission of the online application (preferred) and the non-refundable fee of $50.00, an automated confirmation with guidance will be sent via email.

2. Upload all supporting documents with your online application, email them as a complete packet for consideration to internationalgroup@pgcc.edu, or submit them in-person or via mail to: Office of Records and Registration, International (F-1) Admission, 301 Largo Road, Largo MD, Bladen Hall, Room 126. If your documents are not in English, please provide an English translation of all supporting documents by a certified agency. View the F-1 Admission Checklist for a summary of required supporting documents. Click on each item below for more information.

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Required Supporting Documents for F-1 Admission

Applicants must submit the following documents as a complete packet and accompanied by an official English translation from a certified agency, if applicable. Please do not send hyperlinks - all emailed documents should be attachments. Documents can be sent to internationalgroup@pgcc.edu or mailed/delivered in person to: F-1 Student Admission Office of Records and Registration Prince George's Community College 301 Largo Road Bladen Hall, Room 126 Largo, MD 20774-2199 Click on each item below for more information.

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Academic Records

Applicants must submit official academic records (temporarily accepted electronically for the purposes of admission, but original or certified copy (preferred) are required via mail or in-person after F-1 admission/F-1 status have been offered and prior to enrollment) to include:

Official high school transcripts (to show all terms)
National exam results, which must include successful completion of general subjects with at least 5 passes
Any post-secondary college or university transcripts from institutions within and outside of the United States
- Applicants seeking to transfer college credit:
  - Have all non-U.S. college credentials evaluated by a NACES-accredited transcript evaluation agency prior to submission to Prince George’s Community College.
  - Have official copies sent directly from the institution or the NACES transcript evaluation agency to transfercredit@pgcc.edu, deliver in-person in the original sealed envelope, or have them mailed to The Office of Records and Registration, Attn: Transcript Coordinator, Prince George's Community College, 301 Largo Road, Bladen Hall 126, Largo, MD 20774.

Proof of English Proficiency

If English is not the primary language of the applicant’s home country:

Submit the results of the Test of English Foreign Language (TOEFL)*, which must have been taken within two (2) years. Students must achieve the following minimum scores:

TOEFL Exam	Minimum Score Required for Admission
Computer-Based	133
Internet-Based	46
Essentials	5.5

- Applicants admitted based on TOEFL scores are required to take a College-required examination for course placement prior to registration unless they achieve a score of 213 or higher on the computer-based test (CBT), a score of 99 or higher on the internet-based test (IBT), or 10.5 on the essentials version.  Please click here for information on the IBT, CBT, or the essentials tests, including preparation strategies.
- Upon completion, applicants should request to have their results forwarded by the provider of this exam, Educational Testing Service; PGCC’s reporting code is 5545.

*Scores will not be accepted from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam or any exam other than the TOEFL. 

If English is the main/official language of the home country, one of the following documents may be submitted to waive the TOEFL requirement:

Certificate of completion from the national exam, which must include successful completion of general subjects with at least 5 passes
If a national exam is not offered, a letter from the applicant’s high school or secondary school may be submitted to show that all non-U.S. instruction was conducted in English. 
Note: Upon approval and before enrollment, completion of the placement testing may be requested.

All F-1 students must take the College-administered Accuplacer ESL Test, which will be used to determine the level of course placement.

Valid Passport and Current Visa (If Applicable)

Copy of current valid passport and — if already in the U.S. — a copy of current visa.

Financial Sponsor Documentation

Complete and submit the following documentation from the financial sponsor:

Sponsor Declaration of Financial Support
- Self-sponsorship is not an option - all F-1 students must have a financial and local sponsor (this may be the same individual).
Evidence of financial ability, i.e., recent and complete bank statements to show the estimated cost of $26,174 as an ending balance for expenses.
- For fall admission consideration, the full month of February (at the earliest) or a statement within the last 30/31 days from the date of submission is required. Any additional account holders are required to submit sponsorship information as well.
- For spring admission consideration, the full month of July (at the earliest) or a statement within the last 30 or 31 days from the date of submission is required. Any additional account holders are required to submit sponsorship information as well.
Statement of active employment from the financial sponsor to include the date, full name of employee, title, duration of employment, and annual salary on company letterhead
- If self-employed, please forward the business license or the equivalent and tax returns in the name of the owner(s) as well as the establishment that have been generated by a certified preparer or tax clearance certificates (if applicable) for the last two (2) years.

Local Sponsor Documentation

Complete and submit the Local Sponsor Affidavit.

Self-sponsorship is not an option. All F-1 students must have a financial and local sponsor (this can be the same individual).

Current U.S. Attendance Information (only applicable to current F-1 visa holders attending another U.S. institution)

Applicants who are currently F-1 visa holders with or without active status must also submit the following:

F-1 Transfer Clearance Form completed and signed by the DSO at the current institution.
I-20 showing "Continued Attendance."
- A written explanation must also be provided if the applicant has an inactive status.

F-1 Admission Requirements (Visiting or Concurrent)

1. Complete the general credit online application as a non-degree-seeking student. Please contact internationalgroup@pgcc.edu for assistance with the process.

2. Email the following documents as a complete packet for consideration to internationalgroup@pgcc.edu or submit them in person or via mail to: Records and Registration, International (F-1) Admission, 301 Largo Road, Largo MD, Bladen Hall, Room 126.

Image and date page of a valid visa.
Current I-20 to show Continued Attendance.
Permission for the desired term from the official at your home school. This letter must indicate that you are in good standing with the terms of your F-1 visa and specify courses that you are authorized to register for (evaluation forms that include status information are acceptable).

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After F-1 Admission is Offered

F-1 students offered admission to Prince George's Community College will receive an acceptance letter and an I-20 showing initial attendance for the admitted term.

During your visa interview, the U.S. Consulate in your home country or USCIS here in the United States will request the acceptance letter, the form I-20, and any additional documents for consideration of F-1 immigration status. This step does not apply to F-1 transfer students seeking a degree in the U.S.

Please note that the College does not manage this phase of the process. You are encouraged to review USCIS guidance for preparing for your visa interview here.

Official evidence of F-1 status and arrival to the U.S. (if applicable) are required for enrollment. Admitted students should refer to their acceptance letter for information about the earliest date for entry to the United States and the latest date for entry to the United States.

Important Information for Current F-1 Students

Enrollment and Program Requirements

All F-1 students must be enrolled in a full-time degree-seeking program (at least 12 credits) and may not enroll in more than one online or remote course that counts toward the full-time course of study. No exceptions can be made to this policy, as this is a federal requirement.

Students who need to discuss their eligibility for a reduced courseload, program extension, or temporary leave of absence should contact internationalgroup@pgcc.edu for guidance.

Students should work with an academic advisor to select courses that meet the requirements listed above and count toward their program of study. Assistance with registration can be found .

Tuition Information

All F-1 visa holders are charged the out-of-state tuition rate, regardless of the local address used during studies.

Students should refer to the Student Accounts website and their bill for tuition information and payment options. The College offers a payment plan with target dates to enroll by that requires a U.S. bank account. Please consider expenses for textbooks and supplies; the I-20 form will show an estimate. Federal financial aid is not available for the F-1 students.

Change of Visa Status

Students who enroll at PGCC as an F-1 visa holder and have subsequently been granted a change of status should contact internationalgroup@pgcc.edu for guidance. Students may be considered for in-county or in-state/out-of-county residency for tuition purposes upon a change of visa status.

Employment Information

F-1 students may request on-campus employment at any point during their enrollment. F-1 students may also request off-campus employment (under extremely limited circumstances), pre-completion optional practical training (pre-OPT), post-completion optional practical training (post-OPT), and curricular practical training (CPT) after one academic year of enrollment.

Upon clearance by USCIS for OPT or CPT, students must comply with the required work hours of less than 20 hours a week while school is in session and all other employment requirements. Note that OPT must be related to the student's program of study and CPT (cooperative education, internship or work study) must be attached to the program as a requirement for participation.

All students must contact internationalgroup@pgcc.edu for guidance prior to beginning employment. No employment may begin unless and until authorized by the College's Designated School Official (DSO).

Health Insurance

Health insurance is not required for international (F-1) admission. If you plan to seek coverage, please contact Maryland Health Connection for any assistance by visiting here.