International Students

Students who wish to be familiar with AACC’s general statements for International Admissions may refer to the information listed below. Should you have a question about International Admissions, our Admissions Advisors are happy to help.

General Statement for Admissions of International Students/Non-U.S. Citizens

Anne Arundel Community College is committed to responding to the educational needs of its community, including those whose native language is not English. These students include United States citizens, permanent immigrants to the United States and citizens of other countries temporarily visiting, working or studying in Anne Arundel County. Students with undocumented citizenship status who have graduated from a high school in the United States or who have earned a General Educational Development Diploma (GED) in the United States may be admitted to Anne Arundel Community College. These students may be eligible for a special tuition rate in accordance with the Maryland DREAM Act. Please refer to Tuition, Fees and Payments  section of this catalog.

In all cases, the college requires students whose native language is not English to be tested for English language ability using the English as a Second Language (ESL) Assessment test. Scores on the college’s English as Second Language Assessment test are used to determine if classes are needed to improve English language skills for a successful college experience.

For students whose ability in English is not yet sufficient to succeed in college credit courses, the college provides comprehensive preparatory course work in English as a Second Language (ESL) through Continuing Education. For ESL course descriptions refer to the Courses  section of this catalog.

Permanent Resident Status - A student with an Alien Registration Receipt Card has been given permanent residence in the United States as an immigrant may enroll at any college location for full- or part-time study. Tuition costs are determined by location of residence. Verification of permanent residence status is required at the time of application. Any student without appropriate identification as a permanent resident is required to pay out-of-state rates.

To apply as a student with permanent residence status, submit:

• an online or paper application for admission signed by the student;
• SAT or ACT scores if available (the college’s assessment tests may be required for enrollment in certain courses);
• transcripts from secondary and postsecondary schools attended (translated into English); and
• proof of permanent resident status: temporary evidence or actual Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-551 or I-151).

Admission of International Students With a Student Visa (F-1) - Nonimmigrant international students who apply to Anne Arundel Community College must meet special admission requirements.

The college admits students from abroad into its ESL area of study and associate degree programs. Requirements for admission of F-1 students into either ESL sequence or associate degree programs are the same except that a higher level of English proficiency is required for admission into an associate degree program.

Students who score into intermediate or high intermediate ESL may register for credit courses only with written permission of an ESL advisor. Students who complete the ESL sequence may request a change of status to an associate degree program.

Students who apply to come to the United States for the purpose of studying at Anne Arundel Community College may be issued an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility For Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status form by the college after submitting the following documents:

• an online or paper application for admission signed by the student;
• official or certified copy of transcripts and diploma or certificate from secondary and postsecondary schools attended (translated into English);
• to obtain transfer credit for education completed at non-U.S. postsecondary institutions, all academic records must be converted into their U.S. educational equivalents by a recognized credentialing agency. The following organizations specialize in international credential evaluation: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), World Education Service (WES), SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran) and National Association of State Boards of Accounting (NASBA) International Evaluation Services. Note: The use of NASBA Evaluation Services is only for students in the Financial Accounting Certificate program leading to the CPA examination.
• evidence of proficiency in English based on one of the following: (1) an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score no more than two years old; or (2) documentation of satisfactory completion of an intensive curriculum of English instruction such as the college’s course sequence; and
• official bank statements or bank letter and a completed Statement of Financial Resources signed by the student and sponsor or family (if applicable) guaranteeing that the student has financial support for one year. The form must also indicate how the student will be supported for the remaining years in the program.

The TOEFL score determines the student’s initial level of English proficiency. Students with a satisfactory score (TOEFL - Paper Test score minimum of 450 or TOEFL - Computerized Test score minimum of 133 or TOEFL - Internet Based Test score minimum of 46) may be admitted to the ESL course sequence. Students with a satisfactory score (TOEFL - Paper Test score minimum of 550 or TOEFL - Computerized Test score minimum of 213 or TOEFL - Internet Based Test score minimum of 79) may be admitted to an associate degree or certificate program (AACC TOEFL code: 5019). The Admissions and Enrollment Development office verifies that applicants have met all of the requirements before admitting students for a program. After arriving at the college, students must do the following before registering for courses:

• complete an interview, attended by the student’s local sponsor (if applicable), with an advisor; and
• take the college’s ESL or English, reading and mathematics assessment tests as required.

Final placement into courses is determined by performance on the college’s assessment tests.

Application for a Student Visa - The college issues an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility For Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status form to students who qualify for admission. Students present this form with other documentation to a U.S. Consular Office in the country where they are applying for a student (F-1) visa. Final decision on admission into the United States and permitted length of stay is made by the Department of Homeland Security.

Change of Status to F-1 - Most non-immigrants are eligible to request a change to F-1 (student) status if they have maintained their current, lawful status.  Individuals in J-1 status who are subject to the two-year home residence requirement (Section 212e) are not eligible for a change of status unless a waiver is granted by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  Students must apply and submit required documentations for admission to AACC by the deadline in order to get the I-20 form or Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Visa Status, pay SEVIS fee, then mail the original I-20, acceptance letter, documentation of financial support with an I-901, (SEVIS processing fee form) or SEVIS payment receipt, I-539 form with filing fees and other required documents to the USCIS to file for change of status. Students must maintain their current status while their I-539 change of status application is pending. The approval of a change of status can take up to 15-18 months or more for USCIS to process. Students must check USICIS website for current special instructions and appropriate filing fees prior to mailing their change of status applications.

F-1 Visa Students Enrolled Full-Time At Other Colleges or Universities - F-1 students are eligible for simultaneous enrollment with a combination of courses at AACC and another college or university, only if approved by the Designated School Official (DSO) at the authorized school. (The authorized school is the one that issued the I-20 and maintains the SEVIS record.)  Students must submit a college’s standard application, copy of F-1 visa or status, I-94, transcript form current school and permission letter from current DSO to enroll at AACC.

F-1 Transfer Students - Students with an F-1 visa seeking to transfer to Anne Arundel Community College from another U.S. institution must submit the following documents and meet the following criteria:

• a copy of the I-20 from the previous institution;
• a complete Transfer Eligibility form signed by the Designated School Officer (DSO) from the previous institution;
• official or certified copies of transcripts and school diploma or certificate from secondary and postsecondary schools attended (translated into English);
• official transcripts from all previous schools attended in the U.S.
• evidence of proficiency in English based on one of the following: (1) an official TOEFL score report no more than two years old; or (2) documentation of satisfactory completion of an intensive curriculum of English instruction such as the college’s ESL course sequence; or (3) eligibility determined by the college’s English assessment test; and
• official bank statements or bank letter and a completed Statement of Financial Resources signed by the student and sponsor or family (if applicable) guaranteeing that the student has financial support for one year (the form must also indicate how the student will be supported for the remaining years in the program);

SEVIS School Code for AACC = BAL214F00081000

Application Deadlines - To meet federal requirements and allow adequate processing of applications for international students with F-1 visas, students must submit appropriate documents by the following dates:

Students With Other Types of Visas or Statuses (Not F-1 Status) - Non-U.S. Citizen Students with Other Types of Visas or Statuses wishing to enroll in credit courses or non-credit English for Academic Purposes courses as part of the ESL Department must submit:

• an online or paper standard application for admission signed by the student.
• SAT or ACT or TOEFL scores if available (the college assessment tests may be required for enrollment in certain courses) or college placement tests in English and/or Math.
• final transcript(s) from secondary and post-secondary schools.  These transcripts must be translated into English if written in your native language and must be evaluated by one of the approved evaluation agencies: Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) - www.ece.org, World Education Services (WES) - www.wes.org and SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran) - www.spantran.com
• proof of legal immigration status (i.e. valid permanent resident card or green card, valid work authorization permit, valid visa stamp and I-94, letters from USCIS as proof of legal presence in the United States, etc.)  If you have been approved for Permanent Residency status but have not yet received your card, submit a photocopy of your passport and a copy of the page containing the I-551 stamp.

Prospective students with a temporary visa status such as B or Waiver (visitors, business, etc.) should contact the Admissions and Enrollment Development office to have their applications approved before registering for classes. Nonimmigrant students other than F-1 international student visa holders may take as many credit courses as their college admission status permits, as long as the term begins and ends within the duration of stay indicated on the I-94 in their passport. They are subject to the out-of-state tuition rates. Refunds will not be issued after the term’s scheduled drop dates.

Students who want to obtain an associate degree also should refer to Transfer Students information in this college catalog for information about credit requirements and course evaluation processes.

Students with Undocumented Citizenship Status - Students with undocumented citizenship status must meet the following enrollment criteria:

• must have graduated from a high school (public or private) or must have earned the equivalent General Educational Development Diploma (GED) in the United States.
• if wishing to participate in high school concurrent enrollment programs must be attending a high school (public or private) in the United States.
• must submit a statement with the Community College affirming that he or she has filed an application to establish appropriate immigration status or will file an application as soon as they are eligible to do so.
• must submit an Enrollment Request Form including a signed statement affirming that the student has met all of the requirements outlined above. Information obtained in this process is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed unless required by law.

Students with undocumented citizenship status are subject to the out-of-state tuition rates and are not eligible for federal or state financial aid unless they have received approval for special tuition rate through the Maryland Dream Act.

Maryland Dream Act law provides the opportunity for some undocumented immigrants who attended high school in Maryland to be charged tuition at either the in-county or out-of-county rate.  In order to qualify for this special tuition rate, students must provide documentation that they meet the following requirements:

1. Attended a public or nonpublic high school in Maryland for at least 3 academic years not earlier than the 2005-2006 school year and;
2. Graduated from a public or nonpublic high school in Maryland or received the equivalent of a high school diploma from the State not earlier than the 2007-2008 school year; and
3. Enrolling at a Maryland Community Colleage no later than 4 years after graduating from high school or receiving a GED;
4. Provided documentation that student, or their parent or legal guardian, have filed Maryland income tax returns:

   1. annually, while student attended a high school in Maryland; and

   2. annually during the period, if any, between graduation from high school and enrolling in a community college; and

   3. will continue to submit proof of tax filings each year student is enrolled at Anne Arundel Community College;

5. File an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days after becoming eligible to do so.
6. Provide a signed affidavit attesting to become a permanent resident within 30 days of becoming eligible to do so; and
7. Registered with the Selective Service System if required to do so. (This applies to all males 18 and older.  You must submit a copy of proof of selective service registration.  This can be obtained online at www.sss.gov or from your local post office.)

The college reserves the right to request additional information and documentation as necessary.

Additional Information - Students with an F-1 visa must enroll for a full-time course of study, which is a minimum of 12 credits/billable hours each term. Courses in the college’s ESL core program may be included as all or part of the 12 hours. Students with B1, B2 and F2 dependents must consult with the International Student Advisor prior to registration.

Questions pertaining to the most current regulations regarding the admission of international students should be directed to the Admissions and Enrollment Development office in the Student Services Center, 410-777-2246 or 410-777-2677.

Non U.S. citizens wishing to enroll full-time at AACC must apply.  For more information visit: http://www.aacc.edu/apply-and-register/credit-application/international-students/