International
Student
Handbook
For Newly Accepted F-1 Students
International Student Services
Disclaimer: Information may have changed since the date of this publication.
Introduction
Who We Are
International Student Services (ISS)
After You've Been Accepted
SEVIS & Visa Application
School Reporting
Orientation & Placement Testing
Registering Classes & Tuition Deadline
Maintaining F-1 Status
College & Community Resources
Explore Columbus
International Student Association (ISA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
Contact ISS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Columbus is located in the heart of Ohio and is
the "Buckeye State's" capital. A Midwestern hub,
Columbus is a short distance from major cities
like Cleveland, Chicago, New York and St. Louis.
In our city's downtown neighborhood is
Columbus State Community College, centrally
and conveniently located and home to over
27,000 students from around the world. We
welcome you to the Columbus State family
and hope you will use this handbook to find
information to help with your transition to the
US as an international student, and the
Columbus State resources available to help
you along the way.
WELCOME!
https://www.globaltravelerusa.com/mothers-day-at-hotel-
leveque/dreamstime_s_ 103783812/
WHO WE ARE
OUR STUDENTS
Columbus State is home to more than 27,000 students and is committed to providing
each of them access to an invaluable, affordable education. We are one of the most
diverse schools in the region with 130 different countries represented in our student
body.
TYPES OF DEGREES OFFERED
TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES
Columbus State is a public, 2-year college with over 200 degree & certificate
programs. Associate of Arts/Science degrees (AA/AS) fulfill the requirements of the
first 2 years of a bachelor's degree with guaranteed transfer credit to any Ohio public
and many private colleges/universities. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees
provide skills & credentials to enter the workforce immediately, with select transfer
options to continue on for a bachelor’s degree in the same discipline.
Columbus State offers more than 200 transfer opportunities to
colleges &universities nationwide. For more information, visit
cscc.edu/academics/transfer
WHERE WE ARE LOCATED
International Student Services (ISS) is located on the lower level of Madison
Hall, right under Student Central.
SERVICES WE OFFER
ADVISING HOURS
ISS supports applicants and students with the application process, including
immigration compliance, setting long-term goals and support for currently
enrolled F-1 students.
Current student advising is available for short, walk-in advising sessions.
Please check the ISS website for updated advising hours, or make an
appointment with an Advisor through email at [email protected].
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT SERVICES
MADISON HALL
Compliance Specialist
F-1 Admissions Advisor
Prospective students and
applicants
Supervisor of ISS
Current F-1 student
Advisor
CANDACE ALLEN
JO YIN TANG
DIANE BRACKBILL
MEET THE ISS
TEAM
CONGRATULATIONS ON
YOUR ADMISSION TO
CSCC!
Now that you have your acceptance
letter and Form I-20, read the
information on how to pay your fees
and apply for an F-1 visa.
AFTER
YOU'VE BEEN
ACCEPTED
SEVIS & VISA
APPLICATION
PREPARE FOR
TRAVEL
Once you receive
your visa, check to
make sure that you
received the right
type of visa (F-1) &
that your name &
date of birth are
correct. Remember
that a student visa
does NOT guarantee
entrance into the
country, but it does
give you permission
to arrive at a U.S.
port of entry.
I-901 SEVIS FEE
Your Form I-20 is
attached to an online
record called a SEVIS
record. You must pay
to activate your SEVIS
record (I-901 fee)
before a consulate will
grant you an F1 visa. Be
sure to keep a copy of
your receipt and
ensure the (SEVIS)
identification (ID)
number on the receipt
matches the SEVIS ID
number that appears
on your Form I-20.
APPLY FOR A
VISA
After paying your I-
901 fee, you can
apply for an F1 visa
at a US embassy or
consulate. Visit
theU.S. Department
of State’s websitefor
more information
about applying for
an F-1 visa. You can
also find your
nearest embassy or
consulate by visiting
theU.S. Embassy
website.
PORT OF ENTRY
Your F-1 visa allows you to arrive
at a US port of entry (POE) up to
30 days before your Program
Start Date listed on your I-20.
You will meet a Customs &
Border Patrol (CBP) officer who
has the authority to admit or
deny you entrance into the
country. Have your documents
ON HAND when arriving at a POE.
RECEIVE AN I-94
Ifyou are admitted into the country as
an F-1 visa holder, you will receive an
admission stamp in your passport and
information on how to find your
electronic I-94, or "Arrival and
Departure Record.” Your I-94 may take
several days before it is reflected
online. Be sure that your I-94 says
Class of Admission: F-1 and your
Admit Until Date is "D/S."
REPORT TO SCHOOL
Soon after your arrival, you are required
to report to ISS with copies of your new
immigration documents. Find out which
documents to bring on the next page.
DOCUMENTS TO
HAVE
You must present your Form I-
20, as well as your valid visa
and passport. It is also a good
idea to have your acceptance
letter from your school,
yourevidence of financial
support, and the name and
telephone number of your DSO.
Visit studyinthestates.dhs.gov
for more information
Passport &
Visa
Form I-20 Printed I-94 School
Reporting
Form
REPORT TO YOUR SCHOOL & DSO
Original Form I-20
Copy of your passport biographical page
Copy of your F-1 visa
Printed I-94 (can be found at i94.cbp.dhs.gov)
Completed School Reporting Form
School Reporting is required for new, incoming F-1 students.
After your admittance into the US in F-1 status, gather the
following documents and bring them with you to the F-1
orientation.
SCHOOL
REPORTING
ORIENTATION &
PLACEMENT TESTING
Check your acceptance letter for the F-1 Orientation date. At orientation,
you will meet other new F-1 students, register for classes and learn about
the support services and resources available to you at Columbus State.
Your presence at F-1 orientation is mandatory.
Placement tests in Reading, Writing and Math are required for students
who do not have college-ready placement information (TOEFL, IELTS, SAT,
ACT scores) or official transcripts with qualifying college credit from a US
institution.
You will get your results within 3-5 days of taking the test. Plan to take
your placement tests before orientation. There are many preparation
materials available to you, just ask your ISS advisor.
PAYING FEES AND
TUITION DEADLINE
The tuition deadline is always
the Wednesday before classes
begin. Failure to pay your tuition
will result in your entire course
schedule being dropped. You
can pay your tuition online or in-
person at the Cashier's Office in
Rhodes Hall.
REGISTER FOR CLASSES
An Academic Advisor will explain
your placement test results with
you and discuss the courses for
which you will register. If you need
help registering for your courses,
visit the assistance lab located in
Student Central in Madison Hall.
E N R O L L F U L L T I M E
K E E P V A L I D I M M I G R A T I O N D O C U M E N T S
MAINTAINING F-1 STATUS
You must enroll in and maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours per
semester, excluding the Summer Term. Sometimes, F-1 students are not
eligible for the summer vacation, for example if your first or final semester
is the Summer Term. Check with ISS if you are unsure whether you qualify
for the summer vacation.
Information regarding foreign embassies and steps to renew your
passport in the U.S. can be found at www.usembassy.gov
Get a travel signature from your DSO if you plan on traveling out of the
country on your I-20. Travel endorsements are valid for 1 year and can
be found on page 2 of your I-20.
If you travel outside of the country on an expired F-1 visa, you must
obtain a new visa at a US embassy or consulate before returning to the
US.
F O L L O W P R O P E R P R O C E D U R E S F O R :
G E T W O R K A U T H O R I Z A T I O N
Extension of stay - if you have not completed your degree program by
the Program End Date listed on your I-20
Change of address or programs of study - contact ISS if you change
your address or major within 10 days of doing so
Transfer to another school – see ISS during walk-in advising if you are
considering transferring out of CSCC
F-1 students are only permitted to work on-campus jobs. Search for a
"College Work Study" position in Cornerstone and apply for it. If you qualify,
you will be contacted for an interview. If you get the job, you'll get a hiring
letter from Human Resources. Bring it to ISS and you will receive paperwork
on how to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). For help with applying
for jobs, visit Career Services in Nestor Hall.
Off-campus work without ISS authorization is a violation of your F-1
student status. For more information regarding employment, visit
https://www.ice.gov/sevis/employment
COLLEGE & COMMUNITY
RESOURCES
Transportation from the Airport
Taxis, Uber/Lyft and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus company are all
available to pick you up from the John Glenn International Airport (CMH). Prices vary.
Housing
ApartmentGuide.com
Trulia.com
Zillow.com
CSCC does not offer student housing (dorms) and living accommodations are
the student's responsibility. There are several hotels within walking distance to
CSCC (downtown Columbus) if you are in need of temporary housing. For
something more long-term, the following websites can help you get started:
TIP: There are a lot of great apartments and rooms for rent listed on some
controversial websites, but BE CAREFUL when utilizing websites that anyone can
post on!
cscc.edu/services/student-advocacy/resources
COLLEGE & COMMUNITY
RESOUCES
Finance and Banking
Chase Bank
Huntington Bank
US Bank
PNC Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Opening a US checking or savings account is recommended for convenience
purposes. Nearly all banks offer student promotions so be sure to ask about
them and have your valid CougarID (student ID card) with you at the time of
opening your account. Some popular bank companies include:
International Tuition Payments
cscc.edu/admissions/international/fees
Paying your tuition with foreign currency is permitted via FlyWire Money
Transfer. For more information, please visit:
If using FlyWire, be prepared to pay your tuition several days in advance to
avoid missing the tuition payment deadline.
cscc.edu/services/student-advocacy/resources
COLLEGE & COMMUNITY
RESOUCES
Health Insurance
ISS strongly recommends investing in a US health insurance plan. Many companies
offer health insurance speficially for international students. The company and plan that
the student chooses is his/her choice and responsibility. If you have an F-2 dependent
(spouse of child) make sure they are covered in your plan. Refer to Resources for
International Students for a list of common health insurance companies.
International Friendships, Inc.
IFI is a community faith-based organization that works in partnership with
universities and volunteers to promote friendship and hospitality for international
students, scholars and family members. Contact IFI at [email protected] if you need
help with airport pick-up, temporary housing, or conversation partners.
cscc.edu/services/student-advocacy/resources
COLLEGE & COMMUNITY
RESOUCES
For a full list of resources from Columbus State, visit:
HTTPS://WWW.CSCC.EDU/SERVICES/
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
ASSOCIATION
ISA is a student-led organization with
more than 80 members from around the
world. ISA coordinates events on and off
campus to provide you with experiences
and a network of friends, without the
textbooks!
HOW TO JOIN
To sign up as a member for ISA, visit
connect.cscc.edu and search
"International Student Association." Your
membership will be approved by a
student officer or advisor.
INVOLVEMENT
Student Clubs & Organizations
EXPLORE
COLUMBUS
ABOUT COLUMBUS
Easton Town Center -
eastontowncenter.com
Polaris Fashion Place -
polarisfashionplace.com
ATTRACTIONS
experiencecolumbus.org
Center of Science & Industry
(COSI) - cosi.org
Columbus Zoo & Aquarium -
columbuszoo.org
Columbus Museum of Art -
columbusmuseum.org
NEIGHBORHOODS
Short North Arts District - shortnorth.org
German Village - germanvillage.com
University District - universitydistrict.org
INTERNATIONAL GROCERY STORES
Saraga International Grocery
International Market Foods
CAM International Market
SHOPPING CENTERS
PROFESSIONAL
SPORTS TEAMS
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Crew FC
While we hope this handbook has been informative and helpful, it is not
an exhaustive list of your resources and responsibilities as an F-1 student.
For more information on visa preparation, interview tips, arrival
information and more, visit studyinthestates.dhs.gov
Remember that maintaining non-immigrant F-1 status is ultimately the
visa holder's responsibility and ISS cannot offer legal immigration advice.
If you believe your F-1 student status may be jeopardized, please email
[email protected] or [email protected] immediately.
LEARN MORE!
studyinthestates.dhs.gov
ADDRESS
Columbus State Community College
ATTN: International Student Services
550 E Spring Street
Columbus, OH
43215
PHONE
EMAIL
614-287-5422
[email protected]
CONTACT ISS
ON CAMPUS
Madison Hall
1st Floor