For International Students

In order to be eligible for a change of status (COS) you must qualify for the Form I‐20 and be maintaining your current status.

Following your acceptance to CCM and issuance of the Form I‐20, the following must be submitted to the USCIS Service Center:

• A completed Application to extend/change nonimmigrant status FORM‐I539
• The I‐539 filing fee
• CCM Form I‐20
• Proof of payment of the SEVIS I‐901 fee
• Form I‐94 photocopy
• Copies of passport and visa stamp
• Original CCM Agreement of International Support and supporting financial documents

As soon as the USCIS begins processing your application, they will send you a Notice of Action

NOTE: This is the receipt which informs you that your application has been received and is being processed. The Notice of Action will have an “Application Receipt Number”. With the receipt number you will be able to check on the status of your case.

An application to apply for a COS is submitted to the USCIS. It is the USCIS, not CCM who will make the decision on the change of status application. In other words, a person may qualify for issuance of the Form I‐20 and F‐1 status, but the COS application may not be approved. The USCIS adjudication officers who is reviewing the COS application may base their decision on the applicant’s ability to justify and demonstrate (through documentation) that their change of intent occurred after they arrived in the United States. Applicant’s who have a B‐2 visa bearing the notation “Prospective Student,” may be able to obtain F‐1 status through a COS the most easily.

You will need to continue to check the USCIS processing time while your COS is pending to determine if you need to a file a 2nd request to extend your nonimmigrant status.

Restrictions on Changing to F‐1 Status

Certain nonimmigrant’s are not permitted to change to F‐1 status while in the United States. The following visa classifications are not permitted to change to F‐1 status while in the United States:

• M‐1
• C, D, K
• J nonimmigrant’s subject to the 2 year foreign residency requirement
• WT and WB visitors admitted under Visa Waiver Programs

Note: B‐1, B‐2, or F‐2 visas are nonimmigrant statuses that must have the change of status petition approved prior to enrolling for classes.

Change of Status (COS) Denials

A change of status is not guaranteed. It is suggested that you consult an immigration lawyer to assist you in this process. In some cases, your request for a COS may be denied. If so, this may require that you depart the United States on very short notice.

International application process for all visa holders other than those applying for F1 status

Submit the following items to the County College of Morris Admissions Office at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869:

• An International Student Application for Admission and $30 non-refundable application fee. Download the application here.
• A notarized secondary school transcript translated into English by a verified translation service if student is seeking a CCM associate’s degree.
• A copy of a valid visa.
• Schedule appropriate English and mathematics placement tests; students in the U.S. should take the LOEP test at CCM and not the TOEFL.
• To receive transfer credit from a university attended overseas, the student should submit a copy of his/her transcript to a verified evaluation agency such as World Education Services (WES) and request a course by course evaluation.

Admission Requirements for International Students applying for an F-1 Visa
To apply for F-1 admission, submit the following documentation by the application deadline to the CCM Admissions Office, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph NJ, 07869:

• A completed International Student Application for Admissions ISAFA. A PDF version of the ISAFA can be found here. Keep in mind that international students may not apply online.
• The $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Original or true copies of official secondary school transcript(s) translated into English by an official translation service.
• An official University transcript if the applicant has attended another university in the United States or abroad. To receive transfer of credit from a University attended overseas, submit a course by course evaluation completed by a verified evaluation agency, such as World Education Services WES. The WES application can be found here.
• Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL test for applicants whose native language is not English. The minimum score requirement for admissions is 400 paper, 97 computer-based, and 32 internet-based. Applicants currently in the United States should take the LOEP test at CCM, and not the TOEFL test.
• A completed Agreement of International Financial Support with supporting financial documentation by a United States sponsor or permanent resident. International Financial Support or International Self Support
• Photocopy of passport.

After all necessary documentation has been submitted to the CCM Admissions Office and you have been notified of your acceptance you will need to create an eShipGlobal account and place an order so we can mail your admissions package with the I-20 included.

Applying for an F1 Visa at a United States Consulate

Appointments are required for all non-immigrant visa applicants. Visit http://www.usembassy.gov to locate the embassy or consulate near you. For additional information you may wish to visit the new website by the Department of Homeland Security – http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov

You will need to submit the documents to the consular officer at the interview:

• The I-20 AB
• The CCM acceptance letter
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your proposed date of entry into the United States
• The visa application fee and visa application forms.
• The SEVIS I-901 confirmation receipt www.fmjfee.com
• Financial evidence showing that there is sufficient funds to cover your tuition & expenses during your period of study at CCM. This is accomplished by submitting the appropriate CCM Agreement of International Support showing a sponsor or self-funding.

How to Pay the Federal SEVIS I-901 Fee

An F-1 visa will not be issued unless the Visa officer can verify that the SEVIS I-901 fee payment has been made. You must pay the SEVIS F-visa applicant fee if you are seeking an initial entry (IE) F-1 visa from an embassy or consulate abroad and/or if you are already in the United States submitting a change of nonimmigrant status to F-1 COS.

Currently, there are two payment methods:

• Payment in U.S. dollars by credit card over the internet.
• Payment in any country’s currency through an agent of Western Union “Quick Pay”. There are agents in more than 130 countries.

Access the I-901 fee on their website: http://www.fmjfee.com

* Before scheduling your visa interview, you may wish to review these points:

Ties to your home country

Under U.S. law, all applicants for non immigrant visas, such as F-1 visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. Thus, you should be able to demonstrate that you have significant ties to return to your home country rather than to remain in the U.S. A “tie” to your home country may be your place of residence, job prospects, family, investments, bank account, etc.

Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English

Be comfortable in explaining why you plan to study in the U.S.

Know the academic program that you have been accepted to

We recommend that you review our website for curriculum information on your program of study. You should be able to explain how completing a degree in the U.S. relates to your future professional career plans.

Below you will find a list of the forms you may need as an international student applying to CCM:

• CCM International Student Application
• International Student Data Information Sheet
• An Affidavit of Financial Support (click the link below that applies)
  • Agreement of International Financial Support
  • Self-Supporting Agreement of Financial Support
    
• World Education Services (WES)
• Obligations to Maintaining F-1 Status
• Foreign Student Advisor’s Report

All documentation should be submitted by the indicated deadlines to:

Office of Admissions
County College of Morris
Student Community Center 212
214 Center Grove Road
Randolph, NJ 07869
973-328-5100

If English is not your first language, you must also take the Levels of English Proficiency (LOEP) test at CCM before registering for classes. You may schedule this test and all placement tests by calling our Center for Assessment and Learning at (973)-328-5166. General placement testing information can be found here.

Additional international testing information can be found below.

• Students should arrive in the US one month prior to the start of classes so he/she can take appropriate English (Levels of English Proficiency – LOEP) and mathematics placement tests, meet with the College’s International Student Advisor, register and pay for classes.
• CCM requires Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of at least 400 (paper test) or 97 (computer-based test) or 32 (internet-based test). Students submitting scores below the minimum will not be offered admission to CCM.
• Students already in the United States should take the LOEP test at CCM, and not the TOEFL.

To apply for international admission as a transfer F‐1 student follow the instructions for Admission Requirements for International Students applying for an F-1 visa.

In addition to completing the International Student Application for Admission ISAFA (find below) and submitting the required documentation for admission, F‐1 visa holders seeking transfer to CCM must submit the following items to the CCM Admissions Office by the published semester deadline dates:

• • Copy of current FORM I‐20, passport biographical and visa pages and the front and back copy of Form I‐94.
  • Foreign Student Advisor’s Report Download FAAR (find below). F‐1 students who are transferring from a college in the United States to CCM must have the appropriate Designated School Official DSO at their home institution complete this form and send it to CCM before an admission decision will be made.
  • Official college transcripts from the college you enrolled at before deciding to transfer to CCM.

All international students at CCM must be aware of their obligations in regards to maintaining F-1 status at CCM. You must also sign and submit the Obligations to Maintaining F-1 Status form (find below) to the Admissions Office if you have not done so.