Main Content:
Students who wish to obtain a visa for study in the United States, or a person who is currently in the country on a non-immigrant visa are eligible to take classes at RCTC.
- Application for Prospective F-1 VISA students
- Application for other VISA holders
- Dates and Deadlines
- English Proficiency Requirements
- Scholarships for International Students
- College and City Information
- Housing Information
- Transferring to RCTC from a U.S. College / University
- Transferring to RCTC from a non-U.S. College / University
- Deferred Enrollment
- Student Pre-Arrival Information
- International Student Club
- International Student Resources
- Contact International Student Services Office
Application Deadlines
RCTC strongly encourages International Students to apply as early as
possible to allow time for processing.
International Student applications are due to the International Student
Office no later than
• 30 days before the begin date of the semester for which the
student is applying if the student is already residing in the United
States
• 60 days before the begin date of the semester for which the
student is applying if the student is overseas
Overseas Students: When you receive your RCTC I-20, you have several requirements.
1. Schedule an interview at the local US consulate or embassy.
2. Complete an I-901 and pay a processing fee at www.FMJfee.com at least 3 days before your visa interview
3. Upon arrival in the US you must report to the RCTC Advisor within 10 days with your passport, I-94 and stamped I-20. Failure to report may result in becoming " out of status" and having to leave the US immediately.
4. Attend the International Student Orientation
Transfer Students:
1. When you receive RCTC's acceptance letter or e-mail, submit a copy of your current College International Advisor for processing.
2. Your transfer is not complete until reporting in person to your RCTC Advisor.
Change of Status:
1. Prospective students must meet with RCTC advisor prior to applying for change of status
English Proficiency requirements
International students who wish to attend RCTC with an F-1 Student Visa must prove English language proficiency. There are
several ways to provide this.
1. Attend and graduate from an accredited United States secondary or
post secondary institution, such as a US high school, college or university.
2. Satisfactorily complete college-level English coursework at an accredited
US post secondary institution
3. Satisfactorily complete Level 8 at one of the ELS Language Centers
4. Take and achieve a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or equivalent evaluation.
The minimum score required for admission to RCTC on the written TOEFL is 450. CBT based TOEFL is 133, or IBT score of 64.
RCTC’s school code for TOEFL is 6610. Your TOEFL results must be sent directly from the testing center to RCTC.
Click here for more information the price of and testing locations
for the TOEFL www.toefl.org
Mandatory Health Insurance Costs:
Health insurance is mandatory for all F-1 students. Separate from tuition and fees the insurance costs are listed below must be paid in full at the time of enrollment. A payment plan is not available for health insurance.
The only means of waiving RCTC’s mandatory health insurance requirement
is to demonstrate that you have current health insurance coverage though
another sponsoring agency or government.
2010-11 examples of the costs of the RCTC health insurance policy are:
Yearly Coverage Example:
Student: $919.00
Spouse: $2752.00
Each Child: $1693.00
(spring and summer option is available for students beginning in the Spring 2011).
RCTC’s insurance plan is underwritten by The Mega Life and Health Insurance Company.
Web Site: www.studentresources.net Phone Number: 1-800-767-0700.
International Student Costs : Single
Student
The following annual costs are for the 2011-12 academic year at RCTC
and are subject to change.
In order for international students to receive an I-20, it will be
necessary for them to document to the RCTC and to a consular official
at a U.S. embassy or consulate that they can meet these costs for at
least their first year of study in the United States.
F-1 students are not permitted to work their first year on campus and will not qualify for financial aid, however may apply for scholarships.
Students who wish to study at RCTC under an F-1 visa are required to maintain a full course of study (12 credits or more) during each semester.
To attend RCTC as a Single Student:
One year tuition cost approximately = $5400.00
Living expenses (Accommodations, food, transportation, books, etc) =
$13122.00*
* Includes Health Insurance
Total: $18522 needed for 1 year of studies at RCTC (Student Only)
Total International Costs: Single
Student with Dependents
To have your spouse and / or dependents join you in the United States,
you will be required to prove sufficient financial support.
RCTC requires proof of support in the amounts of:
$ 6,000 Spouse
$ 3,500 Per Child
F-2 dependents are not permitted to obtain any type of employment under any circumstances.
U.S immigration law requires all foreign nationals entering the United States to present proof of sufficient financial resources as your family members will not be permitted to accept public benefits (such as food stamps, federally subsidized housing or free public school meals).
Scholarships for International Students
International Students are eligible for academic achievement scholarships along with the US resident.
International students are eligible to participate in RCTC's Cross Cultural Scholarship program. The Cross Cultural scholarship program is an extension of goodwill from RCTC to International Students. The purpose is to encourage enrollment of International Students. In turn, the community will benefit from a greater appreciation and understanding of other cultures. International Students receive in-state tuition while attending RCTC.
The program is coordinated through the International Student office and presents a cultural exchange through events on and off campus. Some past events have been a Global Village, visiting Speakers, Chinese new Celebration representing RCTC in local celebrations.
The Cross Cultural scholarship is subject to the discretion of RCTC and the college reserves the right to make changes.
College and City Information
Rochester is located in the southeast section of Minnesota.
RCTC currently enrolls over 6,000 full-time and part-time students, including over fifty international students from 32 countries.
The college offers two years of preparatory courses for a bachelor’s degree in many areas of study. Additionally, RCTC offers numerous technical and vocational programs.
Bachelor’s degrees can be completed in Rochester through RCTC’s relationship with Winona State University and the University of Minnesota.
The population of Rochester has grown to 100,000 due to a vibrant economy, with the Mayo Clinic and IBM leading the way. Rochester is also a very ethnically diverse community, art, music, cultural and sporting events, plus restaurants offering world cuisine.
The climate of Minnesota includes all four seasons. The temperature ranges from 20-32 degrees Centigrade during early autumn and late spring. During the coldest months of December and January, the temperature averages between -12 and -5 degrees Centigrade.
Housing Information
RCTC is a commuter college and there is no dormitory housing
on campus. There is an apartment complex on the college property that
provides some housing for students. Many students find other apartment
housing throughout the city. Rochester has a city-wide bus system that
makes frequent stops at the RCTC campus.
Transferring to RCTC from a U.S.
College / University
If you are currently an international student at another
U.S. institution and would like to transfer to RCTC, you will need to
complete the following:
- International Student Application
- Application fee
- Financial Information form
- Official transcripts from all U.S. universities attended
- Evidence of your English Language proficiency
- Transfer release form (to be completed by your current university)
If you are approved for transfer, you will need to have the International Admissions Office at your initial school “release” your SEVIS record from that institution. After being released by the initial institution, RCTC can create your new I-20.
RCTC accepts college-level credits completed at accredited colleges. Upon acceptance to RCTC, you will need to meet with a Student Advisor to determine your course of study.
Transfer students may satisfy the English Proficiency requirement by
providing evidence of completion of one semester of freshman English
at the initial school.
Click here for Application Information
Transferring to RCTC from a non-U.S. College
/ University
We require all students who are hoping to transfer courses
from a university outside of the United States to have their foreign
coursework evaluated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved professional agency.
There are several agencies you may choose from to complete this evaluation. Two examples are:
http://www.ece.org
http://www.wes.org
Credit evaluations must be sent to RCTC as official, unopened copies direct from the agency. Our mailing address is:
RCTC Admissions Department
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4999
Deferred Enrollment
Once you are admitted to RCTC, or after you have received
your I-20, and you wish to defer your enrollment, contact the office
of International Admissions by letter or e-mail On your request, please
state:
• Your name
• The reason you will not be able to meet the original attendance
date at RCTC
• The date when you anticipate you will be able to start school.
Deferment requests can be mailed to:
Glen Saponari
International Student Advisor
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4999
Or e-mailed to:
glen.saponari@roch.edu
If your request for deferment is approved, you will be mailed a new
I-20 with new start and end dates.
Student Pre-Arrival Information
Registering with International Student Services Upon Arrival at RCTC
Before you make travel plans, check your admission papers to be sure of the expected arrival date. The arrival date is the date that you will be expected to be on campus for orientation, so be sure to arrange travel plans which enable you to be at RCTC by the date noted on your I-20.
Students may not arrive in the United States more than thirty (30) days before the start date listed on their I-20.
Make certain your passport is valid and that you have obtained your F-1 visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Effective October 2008, there is a $200 processing fee for the I-20 that all F-1 students must pay prior to making their visa appointment. This fee is paid directly to USCIS and should not be sent to RCTC.
For more information on this $200 processing fee, please see:
Frequently Asked Questions: I-901 Processing Fee
We do not recommend coming to the United States on a "B" (visitor's) visa with the expectation of changing it to an "F" (Student) visa after you have arrived in the United States. It is highly unlikely that this type of change would be approved through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Registering with International Student Services Upon Arrival at RCTC
Once international students have arrived at RCTC, they should report to the International Student Office: SS134
The International Student Office will need to electronically inform SEVIS of each student's arrival. This must be done within 20 days of the student's arrival or their student status could be affected.
Updated: February 28, 2012
