International Students Without F-1 Visa

Determine Eligibility

Are you eligible to study on your current visa? A list of visa types and eligibility to study can be found on the ICE.gov website.

Do you need to change your status before being eligible to study?

Some visa holders (such as visitors on a B visa) must change their status to F before eligible to study.

After you meet all of HFC’s admission criteria for those seeking an F-1 visa, a DSO will issue you a “change of status” I-20 if you are remaining in the U.S. while changing your status. Your current visa status (such as B) must be maintained while your change of status request is pending. We recommend consulting with an immigration attorney to assist you with the change while remaining in the U.S. Students are not eligible to study until the change has been approved.

An “initial” I-20 will be issued to those who will obtain the F-1 visa from the U.S. Embassy in his/her home country.

Application Steps for International Students with Other Visa Types

(non F-1 students and if you do not wish to apply for Change of Status to F-1)

Apply to HFC

Complete the HFC online application:

• Under “Citizenship” of the application, please click “No” to: “Are you a U.S. citizen, Permanent Resident…”
• Please click “NO” to the questions: "Are you a Green Card holder, Asylee, Refugee or DACA student?" and “Do you plan to attend HFC on an F-1 student visa?”
• The name on your application (and all documents) must match the name on your passport exactly

To complete your application and enroll in classes, complete the rest of the 7 Steps.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Admissions Office at enroll@hfcc.edu.