International F-1/M-1 Students
Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public two-year technical college offering credit programs in five academic departments. International students are required to attend full-time and make satisfactory progress each semester toward their program objectives as stipulated in the institution-issued Certificate of Eligibility (I-20). International students may not work, in accordance with Immigration regulations. This provision permits full-time attention to study and successful completion of the student's educational objective. The College is required to notify immigration officials when international students do not attend full-time, maintain good classroom attendance, make satisfactory progress, or terminate their enrollment.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College does not provide, supervise, or recommend housing facilities for domestic or international students. Students must find housing on their own in the community and should arrive in the metro Atlanta area prior to the term of enrollment for this purpose. All students admitted to Georgia Piedmont Technical College are required to abide by the rules and regulations of the College, to make satisfactory progress toward their educational objectives, and to remain in good standing. Guidance and advisement services are available to assist students in academic and related matters. Correspondence for all non-U.S. citizen applicants who plan to attend on an F-1 or M-1 visa should be directed to the International Student Advisor, who is located on the DeKalb Campus.
International applicants must complete and submit the following:
Application to Georgia Piedmont Technical College Office of Admissions, Attn: International Student Advisor, with a $25 non-refundable application fee (check, money order or credit card). This is a one-time fee.
Official proof of name and country of lawful residence or citizenship (Passport, Visa).
Official document-by-document evaluation of high school transcript for equivalency - Attn: International Student Advisor.
Official course-by-course evaluation of college/university transcripts - Attn: International Student Advisor.
An official translation from an APPROVED EVALUATION SERVICE is required. We suggest WES (World Education Services), www.wes.org., or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., www.jsilny.com.
A list of approved agencies can be found at www.naces.org. Foreign postsecondary educational credentials must have a course-by- course evaluation as outlined in the Transfer Student requirements. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the International Student Advisor (ISA) or from the Georgia Piedmont Technical College website.
Satisfactory test scores:
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
ACT (American College Testing Program)
COMPASS (Computer Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support Systems)
ACCUPLACER
Proof of English Language Proficiency.
Financial statements.
Affidavit of Support showing funds to finance education.
Certified statement(s) from bank, (or sponsors bank), showing that the required funds are available to finance education (a minimum of $20,494 – amount subject to change).
Additional documents substantiating ability to support self/student.
Proof of current health insurance coverage.
Payment for 15 credit hours toward tuition and fees in the amount of $5,697 to Georgia Piedmont Technical College (amount subject to change).
Payment of one-time SEVIS FEE prior to scheduling interview with U.S. Consulate.
F-1/M-1 students must start their studies in the semester for which the visa is granted and remain in college during the duration of the visa’s awarded time frame. Otherwise, the GPTC must notify immigration officials immediately that the student is not in school and therefore “out of status.” The student must consult with the International Student Advisor (ISA) if a problem arises which prohibits the student’s attendance at the College. Before withdrawing from any courses, the F- 1/M-1 student must have the approval of the ISA since time parameters for program completion are part of the visa approval process. The ISA will notify immigration officials if the student does not show academic progress every semester or is placed on academic probation, exclusion, or suspension. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies, the F-1/M-1 student’s visa and passport must remain updated while attending Georgia Piedmont Technical College.
It is the responsibility of the F-1/M-1 student to keep track of the expiration dates of his/her documents. If the visa or passport is to expire before the completion of the student’s program, he/she must see the ISA in order to complete the appropriate forms for an extension. The student must meet with the ISA no less than 60 days prior to the expiration date of the document(s) in order to have adequate time to have the document(s) in question renewed. Failure to do so could result in the DHS denying the request for the student extension that would then result in the student having to leave the country prior to completion of his/her program.
Admission into a credit program is a selective process. International students must meet all the “Admissions Requirements for International Students” prior to acceptance to the College. An Acceptance Letter, a form I- 20, and supporting financial documents will be sent to the student in order for the student to request an F- 1/M-1 student visa from the U.S. Consulate in his/her home country.
International students already studying in the U.S. and desiring to transfer to Georgia Piedmont Technical College must meet the “Admissions Requirements for International Students,” in order to transfer to the College prior to issuance of an I-20 from Georgia Piedmont Technical College.