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International
Students

Welcome!

Allan Hancock College welcomes your application as an international student, and our staff will make every effort to assist you. Our admission requirements conform to the regulations of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for issuing F-1 student visas.

Read our welcome letter to international students
Read International Student FAQs

Application deadlines for First Time International Student Admission:

  • May 1 for the following fall semester
  • November 1 for the following spring semester

Application deadlines for Transfer International Students with a valid, non-expired F-1 Visa:

  • June 1 for the following fall semester
  • December 1 for the following spring semester

Admissions & Records 
1-805-922-6966 ext. 3248
International_Students@hancockcollege.edu

APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING

Please note the following:

  • Do NOT use special accents or characters when entering personal information in this application. 
  • In the immigration section, if you do not yet have a F-1 Visa, select "other" and then click "no documents."  This will let you proceed in the application process. 

AHC Application

  • IMPORTANT: 2 business days after submitting your online application, you will receive an email with your MyHancock student portal access. If you do not receive this email within 3 business days, contact us at International_Students@hancockcollege.edu

Please complete the International Student Supplemental Application (after the Allan Hancock College (AHC) application is processed! You will NOT be able to access the form until an AHC myHancock ID is issued)

Supplemental Application

All supporting documents will be attached in the application

Before entering the country, students must present evidence that they have the financial resources to pay for tuition and living expenses for one year.  The tuition fee is payable at the time of registration, and no exceptions are made.  Financial Aid is NOT available for international students. 

You will need approximately $23,000 in U.S. currency for tuition, living expenses and other school related fees and expenses for 2 semesters (9 months) at Allan Hancock College.

Please refer to the financial statement (included in the International Student Supplemental Application packet)  for the breakdown of fees. FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO STATE LEGISLATION AND/OR ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE BOARD ACTION.

 

To be accepted for admission as an international student at Allan Hancock College, you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English at a level that will allow you to successfully complete college work.

English proficiency can be determined by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered worldwide by the Educational Testing Service. The test may be paper-based, computer-based, or Internet-based. You may write to them at the following address:

  • Educational Testing ServiceP.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151. Their telephone number is 609-771-7100. The code to report TOEFL scores to Allan Hancock College is 4002. No application from abroad can be considered unless we have received your TOEFL score.

This requirement is waived if you come from a country that uses English as the primary language in its educational system.

Graduation from a secondary school that is equivalent to an American high school. Official records and transcripts, certified and translated into English, must accompany your application.

International students that are accepted by another college or university in the United States must attend that institution for at least one semester before applying for transfer to Allan Hancock College. Transfer students from other colleges must have completed at least 12 semester units at the first institution with at least a C average and have approval for transfer from the institution of attendance.

You must submit official college transcripts from all U.S. colleges and/or universities you have attended.

 

Each applicant must provide verification of a measles immunization and verification of current tuberculosis skin test with negative results within the last twelve months. Both must be signed by a doctor.

Each applicant accepted for admission will be required to have coverage for health and accident insurance. In the United States health care is extremely expensive and there are no free medical facilities. If you have a policy from your home country that will cover you in the United States, you will be asked to give the name of your insurance company, policy number and expiration date. If you do not have health insurance coverage, you must obtain insurance in the United States. Information about health insurance can be obtained from the Student Health Center.

 

Applicants must submit a legible copy of their passport and any  issued Visa.

The I-20 form will not be issued until all of these completed documents are filed with the Allan Hancock College Admissions office.

FEES & TUITION

If accepted, all prospective F-1 students with an initial I-20 are required to pay an I-901 SEVIS fee.  This fee must be paid before a visa will be issued.   NOTE:  The SEVIS fee is required by the U.S. Government.  Allan Hancock College receives no funds or services as a result of this fee.  Please go to the following website link for more information https://www.ice.gov/sevis/students, or contact the nearest American Consulate.

If accepted, a student must arrive in Santa Maria at least three weeks prior to the semester start date to meet with the International Student Advisor, meet with an academic counselor and enroll in classes.  All international students must carry a minimum of 12 units each semester and maintain a C average. Students must make their own living arrangements in the United States.  Allan Hancock College does not have dormitories. The Form I-20 of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will be sent after all admission requirements have been met and the applicant has been accepted for admission. 

International students should become familiar with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations as well as college regulations on student conduct and agree to comply with those regulations.  The F-1 visa can be revoked by the college for failure to comply with the standards and regulations established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and Allan Hancock College.

For more information on the United States regulations visit Study in the States online at: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/ .

**Allan Hancock College reserves the right to amend these rules/policies as may be required by future legislation or Board action.

  • Non-resident tuition $391 per unit
  • Enrollment Fee $46 per unit (These fees above may increase each year due to state legislation and Board action.)
  • Books and Supplies (approximately) $1,000 - $1,500 per year
  • Approximate living expenses (Food and Housing for 9 months) $10,500 - $11,500 US Dollars
  • Minimum Total Dollars Necessity (approximately) $18,000 - $20,000

MAINTAINING YOUR F-1 STATUS

Always be aware of the expiration date on your I-20, and do not let your I-20 expire. Be sure to get a travel signature before departing the United States. You will also need to get a new I-20 if you change your degree level, your major, your funding source, or the number of F-2 dependents you have. Timing can be critical for all of these changes, so start the process early.

Please call 1-805-922-6966 ext. 3248 to make an appointment with an DSO if you have questions about maintaining a valid I-20.

International_Students@hancockcollege.edu

More info via Study in the States

To stay in status, you need to enroll in a full load of classes each fall and spring semester. Students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester. Students are allowed to take ONE online course per term, all other courses must be IN-PERSON. (If an English as a Second Language (ESL) student, NO online courses are permitted.)

Do not register for fewer than the required number of credits or withdraw from a course without first receiving permission from ISS. Part-time studies could jeopardize your stay in the U.S. and make you ineligible for F-1 benefits.

To maintain status, an F-1 student is also required to “make normal progress.” Making normal progress includes, but is not limited to, enrolling in the proper courses required for degree completion, maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and continually meeting all institutional enrollment requirements.

An F student may only work when authorized by a DSO in some cases, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in others. If you choose to work without authorization, you will be forced to leave the United States immediately, and you may not be able to re-enter the United States at a later date. 

 
F students are eligible for curricular practical training (CPT) at either the undergraduate or the graduate level during the program of study. CPT employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum and the position must directly relate to your major area of study. Your DSO can give you the school’s policy on this option.

F students are also eligible for optional practical training during or following the program of study. OPT is a form of temporary employment that directly relates to your program of study. 

For more information about employment and training options available for F-students, visit the Working in the United States page and talk with your DSO.

More information

You must update your address within 10 days of any move, even if it is only temporary.

More information

You must have a valid passport at all times. If your passport will expire while you are in the United States, you need to contact your embassy to find out how to renew it.

F-1 students must complete at least one full academic year at an SEVP-certified school to be eligible for annual vacation. Additionally, students must intend to register for classes in the academic term following their annual vacation.

SEVP-certified schools should have clear and consistent policies regarding annual vacation and comply with the requirements laid out in SEVP Policy Guidance for Adjudicators 1408-01: Academic Year.

Please note that during an annual vacation, students can take as many, as few or no courses as they want. SEVP considers all study during an annual vacation incident to status.

If you are an F or M student studying in the United States, we should be the first people you speak with if you have any questions regarding the legal requirements of your stay in the United States. We can assist in answering your questions or help you find someone who can help.

F-1 students should speak with us if you are planning to do any of the following:
  • Change your major, program, or degree level.
  • Change your education level.
  • Transfer to a new school or take a leave of absence.
  • Take a break from school.
  • Travel outside the United States.
  • Move to a new address.
  • Request a program extension.

M-1 students should speak with us if they are planning to do any of the following:

  • Take a break from school.

  • Travel outside the United States.

  • Move to a new address.

  • Request a program extension.

Both F and M students may contact SEVP by email at sevp@ice.dhs.gov if we are unable to assist you or if you would prefer to ask someone else.

In your email, please describe your situation and include any questions you have. SEVP provides responses on a first-come, first-served basis. Answer times may vary depending on the current number of inquiries.