International Students: Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the Application Deadlines for International Students?

• Application Deadlines are on the Information page.
  Admissions documents are issued one month following the application deadline. Please check with the International Student Office to see if there is a late filing period beyond the deadline dates.

How do I know that I am an International student and need a special packet?

• Students or potential students, who need an admissions document to apply for F-1 visa status.
  Students on F-1 visas who wish to transfer to West Valley College or potential students on visitor visa’s (B-1/B-2 or visa waiver) wanting to apply to F-1 visa status.
  Potential students who are on H-4, E-2, L-2 or F-2 turning 21 years of age are required to change to F-1 visa to continue their schooling in the United States.
  Potential students applying from outside the United States who are not on H, E, or L visas.
  Students who are here on resident alien “green cards” are not considered International Students for application purposes and should apply directly to the college, NOT the International Student Program.
• If you have a question about your residency or status, please call the International Student Counselor/PDSO, Sara Patterson at (408) 741-2694, Wanda Wong, Counselor/DSO at (408) 741-2528 or Terry Eppley, Program Specialist/DSO at (408) 741-4028.

How do I apply to West Valley College as an International Student?

• Obtain an International Student Application from West Valley College either by phone, by mail or our website on the: Application Forms page.
  You can contact the Admissions office by
  phone: (408) 741-2001,
  email: askwvc@westvalley.edu,
  or by mail at:

  West Valley College
  14000 Fruitvale Avenue
  Saratoga, CA 95070-5698

  (please include your name, street address, city, postal code and country of origin).

What is required to apply as an International Student?

• International Student Application, includes West Valley College application and $100 application fee.
  (check made payable to West Valley College – must be in U.S. Dollars).
  TOEFL minimum score of 500 (paper version) or 173 (computer version) or 61 (Internet version) or STEP Eiken Pre-1 level.
  Financial Statement totaling $16,000+ for one academic school year.
  If in the United States when applying, you must be in legal “status” to apply or transfer.
  Transfer letter (if attending US school) with SEVIS release date sent to PDSO, Sara Patterson.
  Copy of passport front page and if present in the U.S.
  Copies of I-94, I-20 and visa page.
  Health statement (included in application).

How do I contact someone if I should have a question about the application?

• Sara Patterson, PDSO/Counselor - phone number: (408) 741-2694
  email: sara.patterson@westvalley.edu
  Wanda Wong, DSO/Counselor – phone number: (408) 741-2528
  email: wanda.wong@westvalley.edu
  Terry Eppley, Program Specialist – phone number (408) 741-4028
  email: terri.eppley@westvalley.edu
  Jane Lautermilch, International Student Admissions – phone number 741-2477
  General Admissions office phone number: (408) 741-2001

Is there any other information that will help me with my application?

• Resource for TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language
  TOEFL phone number: 1-800-GO-TOEFL (1-800-468-6335), website: www.toefl.org
  ESL/English Placement and Assessment Tests at West Valley College (408) 741-2035
  STEP Eiken info: www.eiken.or.jp

Other Resources for International Students:

• USCIS – United States Customs and Immigration Services (local office): 1887 Monterey Highway, Ste. 219, San Jose,CA 95112 web site: www.uscis.gov
  English as a Second Language (ESL) - West Valley College Chair – Anne Marie Wasserbauer (408) 741-2486, email: am_wasserbauer@westvalley.edu
  Web resource for ESL Department, at West Valley College: www.westvalley.edu/esl/
  International Partnership Program, West Valley College - Anne Marie Wasserbauer (408) 741-2486, email: am_wasserbauer@westvalley.edu
  Career Programs at West Valley College (check out different major requirements) website: www.westvalley.edu Click on Career Programs
  IERF – Int’l Education Research Foun. – Foreign transcript evaluation towards Associates Degree. Phone: (310) 258-9451 Fax: (310) 342-7086 email: information@ierf.org
  ECE – San Jose State University foreign transcript evaluations for transfer advising. Phone: (414) 289-3400 Fax: (414) 289-3411 email: eval@ece.org
  Homestay: ISP - International Student Placements –. Phone: (650) 947-8879 fax: (650) 969-9857 email: info@isphomestays.com

What is the current tuition and fees that International Student is required to pay?

• The current tuition and fees as of Fall 2007 semester $185 per unit (12 units minimum required for all F-1 visa holders), including $160 tuition, $5 capital outlay fee and $20enrollment – all fees and tuition are required to be paid by F-1 and students changing their status to F-1 from any other visa status. Basic registration fees include:

  Health Services fee, $13,
  T-Reg fee, $3.00
  Associated Student Body Card, $4
  Campus Center fee, $12
  and Parking permit, $40 per semester.

How many units am I required to take as an International student?

• 12 units constitute full time "status" per Immigration requirements for undergraduate students in a Fall or Spring semester ONLY.

What if I want to take a class at West Valley but I hold an I-20 from another college

• This is called “concurrent enrollment” and requires permission from your home school that issued your I-20. You need to fill out a West Valley College application in the Admissions office and bring a letter of permission from your International Student Advisor from your college to the Admissions office. You will be allowed to take 6 semester units at West Valley College.
  Your application does not need to be filed through the International Student Office, since this is only for students wishing to attend our college full time.

What do I do with a transcript from an International University?

• Students planning to use transcripts towards a degree at West Valley College from a foreign country's university or college will need to have that transcript evaluated by a service.This evaluation counts only towards a West Valley College Associates Degree. If you plan to transfer, contact the transfer college or university to see what requirements are needed for foreign transcript evaluation. San Jose State currently uses ECE-Education Credential Evaluators (See #7 above)

Are there any campus services that are not available to students attending West Valley college on F-1 student visas?

• Yes. They include the following programs:
  1. TAA (Transfer Admission Agreement) in Career/Transfer Center- International students must apply to CSU through regular application process.
  2. Financial Aid - Federal or State (limited scholarships are available to International Students once they attend West Valley College).
  3. Work Study program
  4. EOPS - limited to residents and citizens of the United States only