Transfer Students from Universities Outside the U.S.

What is needed for the transfer is listed below:

1. TOEFL SCORES: If a student is from a country whose native language is not English, the student must submit acceptable TOEFL scores of 173 for computer or 500 for written-based test or 61 for the online TOEFL. Click here for TOEFL Test Information.

Please Note! All students who have English as a second language must submit a copy of all three of these items:

Acceptable TOEFL test scores or one of the "Exceptions" listed below, and
An SCF Admissions Application and
The $75.00 (USD) Admissions Fee.

[The Online Admissions Application is NOT for International Students who are on some type of visa. Please download the SCF Admissions Application by clicking on the blue underlined words, then mail the completed application to the Educational Records Office along with the $75.00 application fee and the TOEFL test scores.]

If the above three items are not submitted together the application will be returned to the student.

Exceptions to this rule are as follows:

The student earned a college preparatory American high school diploma or GED in English.
The student successfully completed secondary education from a school outside the U.S. that teaches the entire secondary education in English. Students from those countries that follow the British system need proof of successful completion of their particular testing requirements.
The student successfully completed an Intensive English Program from a U.S. college or university or from one of the ELS Language Centers at level nine.
The student successfully completed an associate degree or higher from a U.S. college or university.

2. Students who attended international colleges/universities are not required to submit documentation or transcripts. It is the student's choice whether or not to go through the process and expense of having the documents evaluated by a member of NACAS (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). Credential Evaluation Company.

If the student chooses not to submit a credential evaluation, in that case, the student should not list any international college/university on the student's State College of Florida Application for Admission.
If the student does wish the college/university credits from another country to be considered for admission to State College of Florida (although the courses may not transfer to the College even after the expense of providing official credential evaluations), the student should then list the international college/university for which they are obtaining credential evaluation and must provide the original, course-by-course, credential evaluation(s) to SCF Educational Records for the College records. Course descriptions, including English translations, done by a certified translator, will be required to determine if they will apply to specific programs or are equivalent to SCF courses. Please Note: Only original credential evaluations will be accepted for consideration by the SCF Educational Records Office. Credits accepted in transfer according to the college policy and added to the students academic record can not be removed at a later time.
If the credential evaluation states that the student's university degree is not equal to a U.S. Bachelor's Degree, then the student must prove successful completion of secondary education by submitting official transcripts (originals or certified copies) of record of courses, marks earned, and examination results. These documents must show the date of successful completion. If a completion date is not included on the transcript, then a diploma or certificate is required along with the transcript. If the student's secondary education documents are not in English, the student must have them translated by a certified translator. The translation and a certified copy of the original transcript in the student's native language must be submitted together to the College for evaluation.

[Note: If the student desires to have an original for the student's own use, the student will need to obtain two original credential evaluations--one original for SCF Educational Records; one original for the student.]

3. The student must submit proof of financial support. For in-depth information go to the Financial Requirements Web site.

4. The student must contact the U.S. Embassy in their home country to see what the process is to obtain an F-1 student visa and to find out how much time it will take to process the I-20. U.S. Embassies around the world can take from 5 days up to 4 months to process an I-20; therefore, the student must inform SCF of their embassy's processing time, in order for the appropriate starting date to be entered on the student's I-20.

5. Once all of the above has been submitted, reviewed and approved, only then is the College able to complete the I-20 for the student to take to the U. S. embassy. Please Note! Our government does not permit new initial I-20's to be completed more than 120 days prior to the first day of the term the student plans to attend SCF. If the student has submitted all documents early the International Student Services Office will be required to wait until the 120 day limit has been reached.

6. There is a SEVIS fee for all international students.

After the admissions process has been completed and the student has received the SEVIS I-20 packet from the SCF International Student Services Office, the student must complete the SEVIS I-901 Form and pay the $200.00 (U.S.Dollars) fee. The receipt from paying the SEVIS I-901 fee is required for the interview at the U.S. embassy. Please Note: This fee is in addition to the normal interview fees the embassy may charge. (A relative, sponsor or friend from the U.S. may pay this for the student.)

By using the internet, students are required to go to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Web site at SEVIS I-901 FEE to complete form I-901 and pay the $200 (U.S. Dollars) I-901 fee. Choose one of these three methods of payment:

(a)   PAY ONLINE at SEVIS I-901 by a credit card drawn on an American bank. A computer receipt will be printed immediately.

        or

(b)   Print the I-901 form from the internet and take it to a Western Union Office (closest to the student's home) which offers Western Union Quick Pay. The prospective student may pay using their country's currency (equivalent to $200 U.S. Dollars) and receive an immediate receipt. In using the Quick Pay system there may be an additional fee to be paid to Western Union. For instructions on this process you will need to go to this Web site: WESTERN UNION QUICK PAY.

       or

(c)   The prospective student may download the I-901 MAIL-IN FORM from this Web site. (4 pages: 3 instruction pages; mail-in form is on the 4th page.) Mail the completed I-901 form along with a check for $200 (U.S. Dollars) drawn on an American bank to the mailing address that is provided on the Web site. If the payment is mailed, the receipt may take several weeks to receive by mail.

Please note: Because completing the SEVIS I-901 form requires the SEVIS I-20 number, and School Code number, the form I-901 & fee are not able to be processed and paid until the prospective student receives the SEVIS I-20 packet from the College.

Please note: This fee does not replace the fee charged by the U.S. embassy for the appointment. Prospective students have two separate fees: one paid to the DHS for the I-901 fee; the other paid for the embassy appointment. The prospective student must present the receipt for I-901 fee payment to the U.S. embassy at the interview.

USICE SEVIS Information Page SEVIS Fee Payment Site (electronic payment)SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions

7. The student must submit proof of Health/Accident Insurance: This site lists Health/Accident Insurance Companies as well as the required Health/Accident Insurance Form. This form must be submitted with the above required documents or submitted upon arrival in the United States. This form should be on file in the International Student Services Office after the I-20AB has been issued to the student AND BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Failure to do so will prevent any future class registration until the Health/Accident Insurance Form is submitted and approved.

8. Once the student has completed the above requirements, plans for housing can be made. SCF does not have student dormitories. Students need to locate their own housing: Our Local Housing page gives suggestions to help locate available housing.

9. The U.S. government permits students to arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the start of classes. This time is invaluable to take any placement tests, register for classes, go through Orientation, become familiar with the area, find housing, and attend the required immigration meeting.