International Students

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Application Forms

1. International Student Instruction Sheet (89 KB)
2. International Student Application Checklist (135 KB)
3. International Student Application (282 KB)
4. International Student Financial Statement (101 KB)
5. International Student Immunization History (100 KB)
6. International Student SEVIS I-20 Request (57 KB)

The following are required and must be completed before West Valley College can issue a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) Form.

• Application must be completely filled out and returned with the other required documents before the deadline date shown above along with an application fee of $100 (U.S. Dollars) made out to West Valley College International Students.
• Submit English translation of high school transcript and any college records.
• Submit a notarized financial bank statement in U.S. Dollars with a minimum of $21,500.
• Must take the TOEFL test administered by the American Embassy or consulate in your homeland. Students already in the United States may obtain information online at TOEFL or phone 1-800-GO-TOEFL (1-800-468-6335). Send results to West Valley College (institution code 004958). Minimum TOEFL requirement: 500 (paper based), 173 (computer based), or 61 (internet based) TOEFL minimum. Minimum IELTS requirements of 5.5.
• IELTS exam accepted in lieu of TOEFL at 5.5 or higher.
• Eiken exams accepted in lieu of TOEFL at the Pre-1 level.
• The international student must be able to use the English language with a degree of proficiency which will enable him to profit from instruction at West Valley College. The international student must offer evidence of a standard degree of academic aptitude and achievement equal to an American high school education.
• All new international students accepted for the current semester must complete a Counseling 002, orientation class with the International Student Counselor before registering.
• International students must be enrolled in and maintain a minimum of 12 units each semester excluding Summer and Winter Session to meet status requirements per SEVIS guidelines.
• A student must be at least 18 years of age or a graduate from a high school with proof/verification.
• All international students must become familiar with the regulations of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and assume responsibility for complying with those regulations by taking the required orientation class, Counseling 002.
• Students must keep programming appointments with the international student counselor. All subsequent program changes must be approved by the international student counselor.
• Departmental assessments are required for Math and English placement after acceptance to the college.
• Post office boxes are not acceptable per Immigration Law. All international students must have a physical street address. Immigration requires change of address notifications within 10 days of moving.

Admissions documents are issued one month following the application deadline. Please check with the International Student Office to see if there is a late filing period beyond the posted deadline dates

• Fall Semester: May 1
• Spring Semester: November 1

• Students or potential students, who need an admissions document to apply for F-1 visa status.
• Students on F-1 visas who wish to transfer to West Valley College or potential students on visitor visa’s (B-1/B-2 or visa waiver) wanting to apply to F-1 visa status - please note that B-1/B-2 may NOT attend until change of status is approved from DHS.
• Potential students who are on H-4, E-2, L-2 or F-2 turning 21 years of age are required to change to F-1 visa to continue their schooling in the United States.
• Potential students applying from outside the United States who are not on H, E, or L visas.
  Students who are here on resident alien “green cards” are not considered International Students for application purposes and should apply directly to the college, NOT the International Student Program.
• If you have a question about your residency or status, please call the International Student Counselor/PDSO or admissions,
  • Sara Patterson at (408) 741-2694
  • Terry Eppley, Program Specialist/DSO at (408) 741-4028

Obtain an International Student Application from West Valley College by:

• Online: Application Forms
• Phone: (408) 741-2001
• Email: askwvcFREEWEST_VALLEY
• Mail: (Please include your name, street address, city, postal code and country of origin)

West Valley College
Attention: International Student Counselor/DSO
14000 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070-5698

• International Student Application, includes West Valley College application and $100 application fee. Please make check payable to West Valley College – must be in U.S. Dollars.
• TOEFL minimum score of 500 (paper version) or 173 (computer version) or 61 (Internet version) or STEP Eiken Pre-1 level or IELTS of 5.5. Waivers are available for students who have college level English completed or who qualify for English 1A.
• Financial Statement totaling $21,500+ for one academic school year.
• If in the United States when applying, you must be in legal “status” to apply or transfer, since West Valley College does NOT accept reinstatement students.
• Transfer letter (if attending US school) with SEVIS release date sent to PDSO, Sara Patterson.
• Copy of passport front page
• Copies of I-94, I-20 and Visa page if currently attending school in the United States. DS-2019 required for J-1 visa applicants.
• Health statement including TB clearance (included in application includes immunization record).
• Application fee of $100 US Dollars and official transcripts from schools attended either in or outside the USA.

• Sara Patterson, PDSO/Counselor: (408) 741-2694 or sara.pattersonFREEWEST_VALLEY
• Terry Eppley, DSO/Program Specialist: (408) 741-4028 or terri.eppleyFREEWEST_VALLEY

• TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language; phone number: 1-800-GO-TOEFL (1-800-468-6335)
• ESL/English Placement and Assessment Tests at West Valley College (408) 741-2035
• STEP Eiken
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System

• USCIS – United States Customs and Immigration Services (local office): 1450 Coleman Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050  web site: www.uscis.gov
• English as a Second Language (ESL) - West Valley College Chair – Sylvia Ortega (408) 741-2465, email: sylvia.ortegaFREEWEST_VALLEY
• Web resource for ESL Department at West Valley College
• International Partnership Program, West Valley College - Anne Marie Wasserbauer (408) 741-2486, email: am.wasserbauerFREEWEST_VALLEY
• Career Services at West Valley College (check out different major requirements)
• IERF – Int’l Education Research Foun. – Foreign transcript evaluation towards Associates Degree. Phone: (310) 258-9451 Fax: (310) 342-7086 email: information@ierf.org
• ECE – San Jose State University foreign transcript evaluations for transfer advising. Phone: (414) 289-3400 Fax: (414) 289-3411 email: eval@ece.org
• Homestay: ISP - International Student Placements – Phone: (650) 947-8879 fax: (650) 969-9857 email: info@isphomestays.com

The current tuition and fees as of Fall 2018 semester $258 per unit (12 units minimum required for all F-1 visa holders), not including the $46 enrollment – all fees and tuition are required to be paid by F-1 and students changing their status to F-1 from any other visa status. Basic registration fees include:

• Health Services fee: $40.00 per year
• Associated Student Body Card: $8.00 per year
• Campus Center fee: $30.00 per year
• Parking Permit: $50.00 per semester

12 units constitute full time "status" per Immigration requirements for undergraduate students in a Fall or Spring semester ONLY.

This is called “concurrent enrollment” and requires permission from your home school that issued your I-20. You need to fill out a West Valley College application, in the Admissions office (or online) and bring a letter of permission from your International Student Advisor from your college to the Admissions office. You will be  limited to take 6 semester units (or less) at West Valley College.

Your application does not need to be filed through the International Student Office, since this is only for students wishing to attend our college full time.

Students planning to use transcripts towards a degree at West Valley College from a foreign country's university or college will need to have that transcript evaluated by a service.This evaluation counts only towards a West Valley College Associates Degree. If you plan to transfer, contact the transfer college or university to see what requirements are needed for foreign transcript evaluation. West Valley College only accepts evaluation services from the NACES list (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). The NACES website may be found at National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)

They include the following programs:

• Financial Aid - Federal or State are only available to residents and citizens (limited scholarships are available to International Students once they attend West Valley College starting their second semester of full time attendance).
• Work Study programs are only available to residents and citizens
• EOPS - limited to residents and citizens of the United States only
• TRiO - a federally funded program limited to residents and Citizens of the US only