International Programs & Services | International Students |

New Students

New International Student Admissions

New Students

Welcome to your exciting educational journey!

Lone Star College System hosts more than 1800 students from 95 countries at our five campuses.

International students studying in the United States are expected to be full-time students and be in good standing with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To attend one of our colleges, you must have an F-1 visa. Once you have been accepted for admission into a college, your advisor will send you a welcome packet containing a SEVIS I-20 form, which you will use to obtain your F-1 student visa at a local U.S. embassy or consulate.

Prior to interviewing for the student visa, you will be required to pay the SEVIS fee via mail using the I-901 form, Western Union, or by logging on to http://www.fmjfee.com. You must present your receipt to the U.S. embassy or consulate before being permitted to interview.

Prospective international student applicants

We are an open-enrollment educational institution, and your first step is to apply for admission. Please contact one of the International Student Advisors before applying. If you are already in the US, please contact an International Student Advisor at one of our five campuses for transfer and enrollment requirements.

Enrollment at any of our five campuses involves three processes: admission, advising and course registration.
The following documents are required for admission:

International Student application
Evidence of financial support
Proof of English proficiency
Evidence of high school graduation or college-level work (i.e., official high school records, leaving certificates you received upon completion of high school, college/university transcripts).

Application Process

1 - Complete and sign the International Student Application (PDF). Contact an International Student Adviser about this form. Complete the general admissions online application.

2 - Provide proof of Financial Support - All applicants must provide a completed and signed Financial Responsibility Statement (PDF) and a statement from a financial institution (in U.S. dollars) showing adequate funds for the duration of study.

Applicants sponsored by another source must provide a letter from the sponsor's employer indicating position held, length of time at company and annual salary earned.

3 - Provide proof of English Proficiency - Individuals not proficient in English must take the COMPASS exam English as a Second Language (ESOL) and be placed in the Intensive English Program. The following may be submitted as proof of proficiency:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum score of 530 on written version or 197 on computer version
Official transcripts from an accredited U.S. institution showing completion of a college-level writing course (not ESOL)
Official transcripts from a foreign institution where English is the primary language of instruction
Completion of a Lone Star College System approved intensive English language program

Transfer students

An F-1 student transferring from another U.S. college/university must submit the following documents to Lone Star College System:

Passport, VISA and I-94 card
I-20s from all previous schools
Official transcripts from any U.S. institution attended
Evidence of financial support
International Student Transfer-In Information form (PDF)
Placement test scores (TASP/THEA, Compass, etc.), if applicable
Signed and dated Maintaining Your F-1 Status form (PDF)

All forms listed on this page can also be found on the Forms page.

Academic Documents

To enroll at one of our five campuses, we need your education transcripts in English. You must submit an official transcript. Please contact an International Student Adviser for additional academic documents that may be needed for admission.

Applicants transferring credits earned outside of the U.S. must submit a course-by-course evaluation by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) International Education Services, or a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

**Important** This process may vary for different embassies, and can cost several hundred dollars and take weeks or months to process, so plan early.

Orientation Sessions

Each campus provides an orientation session specifically for international students.

2010 Dates
These sessions occur a few weeks into the school year. Be sure to verify this date with the International Student Advisor and make arrangements to attend this mandatory session.

Still have questions? Send an e-mail and ask us! Before you do, check out our Frequently Asked Questions and Terms and Definitions pages--you may find your answer there.