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Rochester Community and Technical College - Rochester, Minnesota

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International Student Admission

 

International Student Admission

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.

Dates and Deadlines


Application Deadlines
RCTC strongly encourages International Students to apply as early as possible to allow time for processing.

Keep in mind that once RCTC issues an I-20, the student must then schedule and complete a visa interview at their local consulate or embassy.

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

International Student Orientation
The International Student Admissions Office will hold Orientation for both new and returning International Students at the start of each semester. New International students must attend orientation, and will receive advance notice of the scheduled orientation date so they may make travel plans accordingly.

Academic Calendar

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English Proficiency requirements
All international students who wish to attend RCTC under Student Visa F-1 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).

The minimum score required for admission to RCTC on the written TOEFL is 450. The minimum score required for admission on the computer-based TOEFL is 133.

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

TOEFL in Rochester Minnesota:
Sylvan Learning Center
1129 6th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 292-9713

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Cost of Attendance
 Mandatory Health Insurance Costs
Total International Costs: Single Student
Total International Costs: Student with Dependents

Mandatory Health Insurance Costs:
Health insurance is mandatory for all RCTC F-1 students. F-1 will be required to purchase the policy offered by RCTC.

The costs listed below must be paid in full at the time of enrollment, separate from tuition and fees. Each student should be prepared to offer immediate payment for the amounts listed below upon arriving at RCTC. There is no payment plan offered 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.

2005-06 example of the costs of the RCTC health insurance policy are:

Yearly Coverage Example:

A spring and summer option is available for students beginning in the spring term.

Student: $822.00
Spouse: $2,385.00
Each Child: $1482.00

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.


Total International Costs: Single Student
The following annual costs are for the 2006/2007 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.

As part of the undergraduate admissions process it will be necessary for each student to complete a Financial Statement document before final admission is granted. A student must demonstrate that he / she can meet the financial requirements for one year of study at RCTC. This evidence is required in the form of bank statements and sponsorship letters.

F-1 students are ineligible for financial aid and are not permitted to work their first year on campus.

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:

15 credits per semester (Full-time/Out of state tuition)= $ 8000.00
Living expenses (Accommodations, food, transportation, books, etc) = $11,100.00*

* Includes Health Insurance

Total: $19,100 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.

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 Statues 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).

The costs below reflects the local cost of living in Rochester.

RCTC requires proof of support in the amounts of:
$ 5,000 Spouse
$ 2,500 Per Child

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Scholarships for International Students
International students are eligible to participate in RCTC's Cross Cultural Scholarship program. This scholarship offers International Students the privelege of paying In-state tuition rates provided that they meet a number of eligibility and service requirements. For more information, please see:

International Student Cross- Cultural Scholarship

College and City Information
Rochester is located in the southeast section of Minnesota.

RCTC currently enrolls over 3,500 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 90.000 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.

Link to RCTC Campus Map

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.

More about housing...

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:

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

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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 professional, independent credit evaluation 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 email. 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 emailed 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

Visa and Passport Information

Registering with International Student Services Upon Arrival at RCTC

Visa and Passport Information

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 September 1, 2004, there is a $100 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 $100 processing fee, please see:

www.fmjfee.com

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: Student Services, Room #134.

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 immigration status could be affected.

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