International Students

• International Student Application
• Financial statement
• NO Application Fee
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old
• Applicants must be high school graduates
• Recommended but not required: Transcript of records from last school attended, in English, sealed by school.
  International Transcript Evaluation
• Transfer students only: Transfer-In Form

New students who use SCC’s I-20 to enter the U.S.A. must:

• Report in person to SCC’s orientation session for new international students
• Enroll for and attend the first semester at SCC
• Present originals of: passport, visa, I-94 and CC I-20*
  *Students transferring from other U.S. schools must present their most recent I-20 instead of a Solano I-20.
• Carry Health Insurance while enrolled at SCC is recommended.

Every international student is assigned to an advisor who will provide every student with personal help with orientation, registration, cultural adjustment, academic and transfer advising.

Transfer Plan

A key to your success at Solano Community College and beyond is your individual transfer plan. Every student works one-on-one with their assigned advisor to develop an individual transfer plan that includes the following: your major, destination transfer universities, and two-year course plan. This plan will help guide you along a university pathway that is right for you!

Registration

During the first semester, your advisor will help you get registered. All SCC students are given registration priorities and appointments based on the number of credits they have completed. For example, new students register last, and continuing students with no completed credits register next to last. Although exploring different courses and disciplines is encouraged, changing majors may extend the date of graduation. For those students sponsored by their governments or other agencies, please check with the International Programs office for the method of tuition payment.

Employment On-Campus

International students holding F-1 visas may work on campus if jobs are available. Government-funded “work study” positions on campus are not available to international students.

Employment Off-Campus

F-1 visa holders must have permission to work off-campus. Practical Training is an immigration category that allows international students to work in the U.S. in a job related to their major. It is normally taken after graduation for a period of up to one year. It can also be taken before graduation if it is a required part of an academic program.

New students who use SCC’s I-20 to enter the U.S. must:

• report in person to SCC’s orientation session for new international students
• enroll for and attend the first semester at SCC
• present originals of : passport, visa, I-94 and SCC I-20*

* Students transferring from other U.S. schools must present their most recent I-20 instead of a Solano Community College I-20.

Student visas (F-1 and M-1) are issued by U.S. Embassies and Consulates located outside the United States. The application process typically includes an interview with a consular official to determine the applicant’s purpose of travel to the US. Most visa interviews are short (one to two minutes) and are conducted in English, so good preparation is essential. It is important that you plan your answers ahead of time and that you be completely honest and thorough.

Essential Points of a Visa Interview

• Have a clear plan. Describe why, where, and what you plan to study in the U.S.
• Demonstrate adequate funding to cover tuition and living expenses. For detailed expense information, see the Costs page of this website.
• Explain your intent to return home. Make it fit your specific situation and avoid generalities.

Document Requirements

Check for specific requirements in your home country. Typical documentation includes:

1. I-20 immigration document – issued by Solano Community College
2. Visa and processing fee – paid to U.S. Embassy or Consulate
3. Photo, passport-sized
4. Valid passport
5. Completed visa application form
6. High school (and university, if available) transcripts, in English
7. TOEFL scores (if available)
8. Documents indicating reasons to return to home country or other country outside the US, if available.
9. Financial statement(s): originals to show and photocopies to submit
   Examples of financial documents:
   • Bank statements
   • Certificates of deposit
   • Earnings statements
   • Tax records
   • Proof of sponsorship from by a corporation or other entity
     This might include:
     • Job offer or admission to an educational program upon return.
     • Documentation of research you’ve done on your intended job in your country. For example, translated job advertisements, written description of a discussion you had with a person in the kind of job you want, or quote from newspaper article or trade industry write-up.
     • Statement of future plans. (Care should be taken to demonstrate the relevance of the US course of study to those plans).
     • An indication of close personal ties in the home country (parents, spouse, children, fiancé, etc.).
     • Local identity card (indicating, if possible, your entire immediate family).

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

Why do you want to study at Solano Community College in the United States?

Do you have any family members or relatives in the United States?

If you have relatives in the United States, identify who they are, what their relationship is to you, and where they live.

What ties do you have in your home country that will draw you home?

• Establish a strong personal motive to return to your country after you complete your course of study.

Who is funding your educational expenses?

• Show documents proving there is a valid source of funds, and explain clearly how they were obtained and/or will be obtained in the future.

Issuance or Denial of Visa

If you are issued a student visa:

Congratulations! Contact us to confirm your arrival plans.

If you are denied a student visa:

Politely ask the consular official why the application was denied. Also ask when you may reapply for a visa. Then, contact Solano Community College. If the denial was based on a misunderstanding or on poor communication, the SCC official may be able to write a letter for you to present to the consular official during your second visa interview. Such a letter does not guarantee approval, but will serve to clarify points of possible misunderstanding.

If you have questions or concerns, please e-mail us at: admissions@solano.edu.

Visit Student Development + Engagement

Clubs

Solano Community College has a variety clubs covering a multitude of interests. 

Leadership:

• Student Government – ASSC

Sports:

• Men’s Baseball
• Men’s Basketball
• Women’s Basketball
• Women’s Soccer
• Women’s Softball
• Women’s Volleyball
• Coed Swimming/Diving

Volunteer in the Community:

• Food Bank
• Senior Activity Center
• Plant trees
• …And More!

Enjoy Fairfield and Northern California:

• River Rafting, jet skiing and water skiing
• Hiking
• Skiing and Snowboarding
• Camping and fishing
• Restaurants, shopping, and sports events in our area:
  • Vacaville and Napa Premium outlets (http://www.premiumoutlets.com), Westfield Shopping Mall
  • Professional Baseball: San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Sacramento River Cats
  • Professional Football: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
  • Professional Basketball: Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings

Explore America

Solano is situated in a perfect location. We are not located in a metropolitan city, which allows students to focus on studies and achieving their educational goals; however, we understand and respect the need for students to explore and enjoy their time here! Fairfield is approximately a 45 minute car drive (West) to San Francisco and its surrounding cities (Berkeley and Oakland), as well as approximately a 45 minute car drive (East) to Sacramento and its surrounding cities (Davis, Natomas, Elk Grove). We are also located within a couple hours driving distance to major tourist attractive cities like Santa Cruz, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and San Jose.

• Homestay
• Extended Stay Hotels
• Apartment Housing

• International Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan
• International Student Insurance