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Admission of International Students

Para información acerca de I-20 en español haga click aquí o llame al (305) 273-4499 o envie un e-mail a: admisiones

The Immigration and Naturalization Service, has authorized our Institution to enroll International Students in our College. (Click to see the Intensive English Program) .Students are required to follow the regular admissions procedures.

International applicants should start the admissions process at the earliest possible date prior to the beginning of the semester. Two to three months lead time is recommended to assure enrollment as requested. International mail delays, transcript verifications, international monetary transfers, consular appointments, travel, and advisement/testing requirements must be anticipated many months in advance of enrollment. The application for admission, including all admission credentials, must be received at least 30 days prior to the semester in which the applicant plans to enroll.

Procedures for International Students

We are authorized under Federal Immigration to enroll non-immigrant international students. Request Information Today

The College of Business and Technology in Miami has and had students from over 52 nations from around the world who had made CBT a more diverse College.

Miami is the perfect city to live with great weather and exiting student life style options and activities.

Requirements to get an I-20 SEVIS Visa:

• A letter from a bank stating that the student or a sponsor has the funds to pay for the student's education and expenses while attending the school before the I-20 is submitted.
• A letter from the sponsor certified that she/he will pay the expenses for the student
• Copy of the prospect passport
• Fill CBT application either on paper (to request an application call 305-CALL-CBT) or online at www.cbt.edu/i20visa
• Academic Requirements for ESOL academic is not required

For more detail and guide for applying a student visa: Click Here

Financial Requirement of an I-20 VISA

• All international students must have sufficient funds to pay full college registration and tuition fees, textbooks, living expenses, transportation expenses, and other incidental expenses while attending college in the United States . Documented evidence of means of financial support must be provided $18,000 in US Dollar to the College of Business & Technology for admission purposes and issuance of the I-20-M-N Certificate of Eligibility form
• International students will be required to pay $150 for an Institutional For a Registration Fee SEVIS Processing Fee (Non-Refundable) in addition to a 150 Enrollment and Tuition Fee and a $30.00 FedEx Fee if the student resides outside the USA. In case the I-20 visa is denied in writing , CBT will return $150 of the Enrollment and Tuition deposit.
• International students will be required to pay their tuition cost in advance Paid 50% tuition cost in advance in order to register for courses. The 50% of the total cost for the first semester must be paid before the semester starts and the remaining cost will be due two months after the semester began.

Financial aid in the form of grants, loans or deferred payment plans is not available to international students.

Medical Insurance

It is required for an International Student in order to start classes to have health insurance. Since 2002 College of Business and Technology has and is using The ACSA Insurance when International students don't have their own medical Insurance. For more info please visit:

• www.acsa.com or call 1-888-526-2272

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Maintaining Legal F-1 Immigration Status

These are the basic things you must do to "stay legal":

• Passport -- Keep it valid at all times
• Enrollment -- Must be full-time each semester. "Full-time" enrollment may be defined differently by each academic department. For immigration purposes, students must complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Students should meet with an advisor in ISA before dropping below full-time enrollment status
• Attend the school noted on I-20 -- You must have a current, valid I-20 from the school you are attending. If you transfer from another school to CBT the transfer process must be completed by the Admissions Counselor. Please check that the transfer was made with our ISA
• I-20 document expiration and validity -- Request an extension of your I-20 if your completion date will expire within the next 30 days and you need more time to complete your program of study. The completion date can be found in Box # 5 on the I-20 form. You must also request a new I-20 if you change your major or your degree level. Application instructions for requesting an Extension of Program are available at CBT.

Employment Regulations

• On-campus employment Limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Employment on-campus may be full-time in the summer and vacation periods. No special work permit is required
• Off-campus employment Do not work off-campus without permission. Work permission for F-1 students must be obtained through CBT. (See below for more detailed information.)

The types of off-campus work authorization for F-1 students include:

• Practical TrainingThis type of work authorization allows a student to accept employment in the field of study. The two types of Practical Training that can be considered by an F-1 student include the following:
• Curricular Practical Training This can be used only before the student completes his or her study program and ONLY IF the employment is sponsored by CBT as an integral part of the student's academic program. To learn about how to get sponsored for CPT, see an advisor in CBT
• Optional Practical Training This type of authorization requires an application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) after approval from an advisor at CBT. The INS can take up to three months to issue the work authorization permit. There is an overall limit of 12 months of full time Optional Practical Training. The four types are:
  • Academic Year A student may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year in employment related to his/her study
  • Vacation Period A student may work full-time or part-time in work related to his/her field of study in the summer or during the break between semesters
  • Courses Completed A student may work full-time or part-time in employment related to his/her study if all coursework has been completed for the degree progra
  • Post-Completion Once a program of study has been completed, the student may work in employment related to his/her field of study
• Economic necessity If a student shows compelling evidence of unanticipated financial need, the student may be eligible for this type of work authorization. The INS applies these standards in a very strict manner, and insists on documented proof of severe and unexpected economic necessity. If they do grant permission, they allow part-time work during the academic year (not to exceed 20 hrs/wk) and full-time work during the summer and other vacation periods
• Employment for Spouses and DependentsSpouses and dependents in F-2 status are not permitted to accept any kind of employment for pay or any other form of reimbursement. No exceptions are possible.

For more information please call: (305) 273-4499 or email @ InternetLeads@cbt.edu

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. The "F" visa is reserved for nonimmigrant wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs, and the "M" visa is reserved for nonimmigrant wishing to pursue nonacademic or vocational studies.

F-Academic Students and M-Vocational Students Requirements

Important Note on F-1or M-1 Visa
Click here!

Foreign students who are seeking to study in the U.S. may enter in the F-1 or M-1 category provided they meet the following criteria:

• The student must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program
• The school must be approved by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
• The student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution
• The student must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
• The student must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study; and the student must maintain a residence abroad, which he/she has no intention of giving up

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Offices Information:

Miami Office Location
Street and Mailing Address
USINS Miami District Office
7880 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33138

Texas Office Location
SPECIAL NOTE:
Separate PO Box numbers
And Zip codes are required for the different
Form types.

For General Correspondence:
USINS TSC
P.O. Box 851488
Mesquite, TX 75185-1488

Kentucky Office Location
Street and Mailing Address
Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse and Customhouse
Room 390
601 West Broadway
Louisville, KY 402

INS MIAMI - BISCAYNE
6445 NE Seventh Avenue
Miami, FL 33138
Open: Tues-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed: Sun, Mon and all Federal holiday

National Customer Service Center
1-800-375-5283
1-800-767-1833 (TTY)
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time

Forms:

You should be able to pick up immigration-related forms from your designated school official (DSO). Only your designated school official (DSO) can give you an INS Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status - for Academic and Language Students) or an INS Form I-538 (Certification by Designated School Official).

If you would like other immigration forms, you may call 1-800-870-3676 , or submit a request through INS website go to INS Forms, Fees and Fingerprints/Forms and Fees/Forms at website: www.immigration.gov

Guide for Applying for a United States Student Visa

In order for an international student (defined as any student holding a foreign passport) to enroll at a school in the United States, they must obtain an F-1 (or student) visa. The information below explains the process of applying for a student visa and provides some helpful hints. U.S. embassies and consulates work from the same set of rules, which are then adapted to their host countries. Therefore you should inquire in advance about individual policies. Students should plan ahead for their study in the U.S. and should allow plenty of time for visa processing. Keep in mind, however, that you should not apply for a student visa more than 90 days before the registration date noted on the I-20 form. The timetable for visa processing can vary widely depending on the volume of applications processed by an individual consulate or embassy. Notifications of acceptance or denial can range from one to ten weeks. June, July, and August are the busiest months for visa processing.

Online Resources: Edvisors.com : The Online Education Resources Directory

The I-20 Form

To apply for a F-1 visa, you must complete an I-20 Form (the official name for this form is the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for Academic and Language Students) from the school you plan to attend. Schools may issue I-20s for one year or multiple years to cover the duration of a student's program. Schools may only issue I-20 forms after a student has completed the application process and is admitted.

After receiving the I-20, the student must apply in person for a visa at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy in their home country. For specific information regarding consulates and embassies worldwide including addresses and hours of operation, refer to the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs website It is always wise to call ahead to inquire whether an appointment is necessary and to confirm what documents are needed.

Documents Needed for Visa Application

The student should bring the following documents when applying for a visa:

• Completed Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form OF-156, which can be obtained from a U.S. consulate or embassy, with a photo and receipt for the $45 visa processing fee
• Completed I-20 from the school you plan to attend. Do not bring I-20s from schools you do not plan to attend
• Passport, which must be valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the U.S.
• Letter of admission from a school
• Financial documentation that shows sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition, room and board, books, and other related expenses.

Occasionally students will be asked to provide additional information. In order to avoid multiple trips to the consulate or embassy, you should be prepared to show other information including:

• Transcripts from previous institutions attended
• Scores from standardized tests used in admission process such as the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP)

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The Consular Interview

In most countries a consular interview is required. These interviews are conducted by U.S. State Department Consular Officers and take place at the embassy or consulate. Some consulates/embassies request that students submit the required documentation before scheduling the interview and others conduct the entire process on the same day.

The purpose of this interview is for a consular officer to determine the student's academic interests and English language proficiency. It is also the consular official's job to ensure that the applicant is a legitimate candidate for a student visa and is not entering the U.S. for some other reason -- such as immigration. To prove that students are seeking a visa solely for educational purposes, they will often be asked to show proof of ties to their home country. Examples of such ties might include evidence of a family business or real estate. If close family members have studied in the U.S. previously and returned home, this information might also serve as evidence of ties to the home country.

Applicants should be prepared to answer a variety of questions. There are no set questions for the interview, but the consular official's role is to learn about you and why you wish to study in the U.S. The official will also want to know why you wish to attend a particular school. You may also be asked you about the documentation you have provided and officials may want to see copies of materials sent to the school such as transcripts and test scores.

Here are samples of questions

That may arise during a consular interview:

• Tell me about this school and why you wish to enroll there? What does it offer that your current school does not?
• Where is the school located? (Be prepared to point out the location on a map of the U.S.)
• Who is the Head of School or Director of Admission?
• Why do you wish to study in the U.S.?
• How will studying at this school benefit you when you return home?

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Returning Students/Visa Renewal

A student may be issued a visa for one year or for several years. It is important to check the visa carefully in order to determine whether renewal is necessary. Visa renewal applications should be made at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy in the student's home country. Much of the same documentation is required for a visa renewal that is required when you first received your visa.

Applicants applying for renewals must submit:

Passport valid for at least six months after proposed date of entry into the U.S.
Two Completed Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form (Form OF-156) with photo and receipt for application processing fee.
New I-20 from school where the student is enrolled OR an I-20 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official within the last 12 months.

Applicants for visa renewals should also be prepared to submit:

• Official copy of grades
• Financial documentation showing ability to cover cost of tuition, room and board, travel and other related expenses.

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Visa Approval

If the student visa application is approved, you will be given an F-1 visa stamp in your passport indicating:

• Where the visa was issued
• Date the visa will expire
• Number of entries permitted *
• Type of visa
• Visa number

At this time you will also be given a sealed envelope containing both pages of the I-20.

* A multiple entry visa enables a student to enter and leave the U.S. as many times as indicated on the document. A single entry visa will require the student to obtain a new visa every time he/she travels outside of the U.S. in order to return.

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Travel to the U.S.

During the flight to the U.S., the student will be given the I-94 card (Arrival/Departure Record) to complete. At the Port of Entry the student will go through customs and must present the following to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) official:

• Valid passport and visa
• Sealed envelope with I-20
• Completed I-94
• Any other requested information (financial documents, admission letter, etc.)

The INS official will:

Return the passport/visa with an INS entry stamp
Return the departure record card with an entry stamp (usually will be stapled to the student's passport)
Separate the I-20, keeping the first page for INS records and returning the I-20ID to the student with the INS entry stamp in the right-hand corner.

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Maintaining Records

Be sure to keep your passport/visa with I-94 card, I-20 Form, and all other important documents in a safe place. Replacing these items is a complicated and time-consuming process and may create problems.

In order to avoid jeopardizing your visa eligibility, it is wise to pay particular attention to your status as an F-1 student. When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may remain in the U.S. as long as you are a full-time student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in the U.S. If your visa expires and you leave the U.S. you will be required to apply for a new visa before returning. A student visa cannot be renewed in the U.S., it must be done at a consulate or embassy in the student's home country. Students who have completed the program of study have a 60-day grace period before being required to exit the U.S.

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