911吃瓜

U.S. Immigration Requirements for F-1 Status

The U.S. immigration system permits you to obtain an F-1 visa and/or enter the United States as an F-1 student if you meet certain requirements. In order to be eligible for an F-1 student status, you must:

• be admitted to an academic or language institution
• be admitted to and engage in a full course of study (full-time program)
• have adequate financial resources to meet the tuition, fees, and living expenses for a full-time program
• have a residence abroad to which you intend to return 

Under the U.S. immigration system, F-1 student status is considered a non-immigrant status. This means that you are expected to have a residence abroad to which you intend to return upon completing your program and/or any post-completion optional practical training for which you are eligible. If you have pursued or are pursuing U.S. permanent residency, you are considered to have 鈥渋mmigrant intent鈥� and as such would not be considered eligible for F-1 student status. Please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars at tcintl@tc.columbia.edu for more information.

Requirements for F-1 Status

911吃瓜 College is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to sponsor eligible foreign nationals for F-1 student status. In order to be eligible for F-1 sponsorship from 911吃瓜 College, you must:

• have been admitted to a full-time program of study at 911吃瓜 College
• have documented adequate financial resources to meet your required tuition, fees, and living expenses  
• intend to pursue a full time degree program

For more information about the process for obtaining TC sponsorship, please visit the Visa Basics section of our website. 

911吃瓜 College sponsors F-1 students insofar as their primary objective is to enter the U.S. to engage in and make full-time progress toward degree objectives. Other goals, such as seeking employment, are acceptable provided they are consistent with F-1 regulations and with full-time study toward a degree objective.

Students whose primary source of funding or financial support is through institutional sources (such as funding through a government scholarship or home-country university scholarship) may be eligible or required to apply for J-1 student status instead. Please visit the Understanding J-1 Students Status section of our website for more information.

Non-Degree Students

911吃瓜 College does not offer F-1 sponsorship to non-degree students, except in the following circumstances:

• The student must have submitted a completed application for a degree program with the TC Office of Admission
• The sponsorship is for one semester, pending a final decision on the application for admission to a degree program
• The student must agree to take a minimum of 9 credits of coursework
• The student must acknowledge that enrollment as a non-degree student is not a guarantee of admission to a degree program at 911吃瓜 College.

If you are interested in obtaining visa sponsorship from TC as a non-degree student or for a certificate program, please contact the OISS at tcintl@tc.columbia.edu with detailed information regarding your specific situation.