ACADEMIC STANDARDS HANDBOOK

1.5 International Students

International Student Admission Policy

NJC welcomes international students and recognizes the value they add to the learning environment. This policy applies to non-immigrant, international students seeking admission to the college on an F1 student visa.

Definitions

F1 Visa: the legal document issued to a nonimmigrant student who is pursuing a full-time program of academic study to achieve a specific education or professional objective at an academic institution in the United States that has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security to offer courses of study to such students and has been enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

International Students: nonimmigrants coming temporarily to the United States to attend school. The applicant must plan to pursue a full-time program of academic study at an academic institution that is authorized by the USCIS to enroll foreign students.

Nonimmigrant: citizen of another country and not a U.S. citizen, defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act as an alien, who is residing in the United States on either a temporary or a permanent basis. Nonimmigrants may be in this country legally, i.e., with official documentation of legal authorization to reside here; or illegally, i.e., without official documentation of legal authorization to reside here.

Admission Criteria

Admission of international students will be considered and a Form I-20 will be issued when the following are received on record and evaluated as acceptable.

Student must provide the following documents and fulfill the following requirements. Please note that fall semester applications and all supporting documents are requested to be on file by July 15. Spring semester applications and supporting documents are requested to be on file by December 15.

  1. Apply for admission to Northeastern Junior College at www.njc.edu. The application must indicate in which semester the student will begin.
  2. Provide official and complete transcripts of all previous secondary and collegiate academic work with certified English translations (if needed).
  3. Provide evidence of proficiency in English language
  • Note: no documentation is required if student’s native language is English or student graduated from an American high school.
  • If student’s native language is other than English, student must provide one of the following:

For FULL ADMITTANCE:

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum score 65; or
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 6.5. 
    • Student enrolls directly into a college degree program and carries a full-time credit load (12-15 credits) of credit bearing courses including the First Year Seminar. 

For CONDITIONAL ADMITTANCE:

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum score 52-64; or
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum score of 5.5-6.4; and
    • Student is admitted into the SEVIS certified English Pathway Program, which allows for limited ESL assistance including ESL 054 (5 credits) and an additional 7-10 credits of college-level courses including the First Year Seminar. 
  2. Statement of financial support for a two-year program of study at Northeastern Junior College. Federal/state financial aid and tax-supported scholarships are not available for international students.
  3. Record of immunizations.
  4. Proof of medical insurance. All international students are required to have medical insurance in place while attending NJC.
  5. Payment of outstanding tuition and fees on the day of registration. Failure to comply may result in withdrawal of the student’s U.S. Immigration I-20.

Other potential English proficiency assessments may be evaluated for admittance, including: 

  • Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency: minimum score of 75.
  • Completion of Level 5 Advanced or Level 109 from an Intensive English Language Center.
  • Completion of the STEP examination in Japan with a LEVEL II evaluation or above.
  • Graduation from an American high school after attending for at least two years or one year and meets assessment test requirements.
  • Special admission waiver approved by the president of the college.

The final steps for F1 Visa completion include:

  1. The Designated School Officer (DSO) creates a file in SEVIS (or previous college transfers information in SEVIS) to print a Form I-20. NJC’s International Student Coordinator serves as the Designated School Officer.
  2. The DSO signs and sends student the original Form I-20.
  3. Student pays SEVIS I-901 fee at www.ice.gov/sevis.
  4. Student makes an appointment with the US Embassy or Consulate to interview for an F1 Visa.
  5. Consular reviews application, confirms SEVIS fee payment, runs security check, interviews student, and potentially grants visa.
  6. Student obtains the visa prior to departure to US.
  7. Student arrives in US with passport, visa, and Form I-20, then receives I-94 stamp at point of entry.
  8. Student arrives on campus and reports to DSO for updates and confirmation in SEVIS.
  9. Student completes an orientation and registration for the degree program.