Non-F-1 Visa Holders
Admission Requirements and Enrollment Process
Columbus State Community College welcomes students from all over the world to join our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have a two step admission process and our application is easy to fill out and only takes a short time to complete. Our staff and faculty are committed to helping you attain your goals and want you to get a good start toward success.
Who can apply through International Admissions as a non-F-1 visa holder?
A student is considered Non-immigrant for admission purposes if they:
- Hold a valid non-immigrant visa/status in the USA, such as F-2, E-2, H1B, J-2, L-2, etc.
Or
- Are “undocumented” with no immigration status,
Or
- Are under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Or
- Are “pending permanent resident” or "pending aslyee" (application for permanent residency or asylum statushas been submitted to USCIS but has not yet been adjudicated)
If you currently have a visa of non-immigrant status (such as B2, C, D, etc.) that does not allow for full-or part-time study, you should consider not enrolling in classes until you have a visa status that permits enrolling in a course of study. In this case, you must travel outside of the US and apply for an F-1 visa or apply for a change of status with USCIS (Form I-539) if you choose to stay in the US before starting your classes. Please note that changing your visa status is a personal decision and ISS cannot offer you advice on when or how to file your Form I-539. For more information regarding how to change your status to F-1, please visit Information For B-1/B-2 Visa Holders and our F-1 Student Admission Instructions webpage. To request an appointment with an international admissions advisor, please use our ISS Appointment Request Form and select the type of appointment you need (Immigrant/DACA/Visa Holder/Asylum or F-1 Visa Consultation appointment)
Steps to Admission:
1. New applicant
Complete the online Standard Application. To determine Ohio residency classification for in-state tuition purposes, be sure to indicate your current immigration status and country of citizenship on the application. Please note that not all visa types are eligible for in-state tuition.
If you are a returning student or you have previously applied for admission, you do not need to reapply. Pease email iss@cscc.edu for next step instructions.
2. Submit immigration documents
To determine Ohio residency classification for tuition purposes, send photocopies of your current immigration documents to iss@cscc.edu. Examples of immigration documents include: passport page, visa, I-94 (arrival/departure document), DS-2019, and/or other documents concerning your current immigration status. Please include your name and Cougar ID in the subject line of your email and attach copies of your immigration documents in PDF file format.
After you have submitted a complete application and you have emailed copies of your immigration documents to iss@cscc.edu, please allow 5 business days for ISS to process your documents. Upon admission, you will receive an email confirming both your admission and your residency classification status for tuition purposes. This email will also include information regarding your next steps for enrollment.