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Permanent Residents, Refugees, & Asylees


You will apply to Columbus State using the standard application. Your application will be processed by the domestic Admissions team (not International Student Services). Once you submit your application for admission, you will receive an email requesting that you submit a photocopy of the documentation verifying your immigration status in the United States (Permanent Resident/Green Card, I-94, stamp on passport, etc.) to the Admissions Office. Submission instructions will be included in the email or see below for details.

If you have questions, contact the Admissions Department.

Below are the procedures for admission for immigrant, refugee, asylee, and any other students who have been granted permanent residency in the United States by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):

  • Students who are returning to Columbus State after being previously accepted in the past, see Returning Students.

New applicants with permanent residency, who have never applied to Columbus State in the past, please follow the instructions below:

Get Started Guide

Step 1: Apply

Complete the Columbus State Community College Application for Admission online.

Be sure to also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.gov (Columbus State school code: 006867).

Step 2: Submit Requested Documents

Submit a photocopy of the documentation verifying your immigration status in the United States (Permanent Resident/Green Card, I-94, stamp on passport, etc.) to the Admissions Office. You can submit the documentation in one of the following ways:

Step 3: Placement

If English is not your first language, complete the English as a Second Language Placement Test.

Students with transfer credit in college-level English and Math may be exempt from taking the tests. If you have previous credit from another college and/or university, click here for more information about sending your official college transcripts. If you have completed ACT, CLEP, or AP, click here for more information about exemptions from placement testing.

Step 4: Transcripts

You will need to submit your foreign transcripts to a professional foreign transcript evaluation service in the United States if you wish to pursue the possibility of receiving transfer credit for any credit you previously received at a college or university outside the United States. Click here for more information.

Step 5: Register and Pay Fees

If you are currently in high school or graduated from high school in the last two years, you will register for classes at New Student Orientation. 

If you are an adult student who graduated two or more years ago, you will register for classes at a New Student Workshop.

Click here for more information on fee payment.

If you are applying for Financial Aid and are selected for verification or if your program of study (such as Nursing) requires proof of high school graduation, click here for instructions on Foreign High School Credential Submission.