International Students

Welcome to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. We are excited you have chosen us! This page is for applicants who are entering or already residing in the United States under F visas for Associate Degree programs of study. Below are detailed instructions to help you enroll. Please see our FAQ page or email onestop@wiregrass.edu with any questions.

NOTE: Users may not have access to Okta (which includes Blackboard and other college resources accessed through Okta) outside of the United States of America. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) with server connectivity in the United States will be needed for access to Wiregrass resources while outside of the country. For more information on accessing Okta out of the country, email the IT department at ithelpdesk@wiregrass.edu or call 229-293-6240.

Step One – WGTC Application and Application Fee

Submit a completed application online or to the One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center at the campus you will be attending. Pay a one-time, $25 non-refundable application fee in U.S. currency by credit card, money order, or check drawn on a U.S. bank payable to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Apply Online – Must complete BOTH of the following:
- Complete Online Application
- Complete Online Signature page
Paper Application – Must complete and submit to One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center:
- Download/Print Paper Application

Step Two – Lawful Presence and Georgia Residency

Fully and accurately answer all residency questions on the application. Submit one or more of the required documents to complete verification of lawful presence and/or Georgia residency requirements to the One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center.

For a list of acceptable items, see Verification of Lawful Presence and Georgia Residency.

Step Three – Proof of Secondary Education

Submit official, sealed high school or high school equivalency (such as GED©) transcript. The final transcript should include the graduation date. Opened transcripts are not official and therefore invalid.

Transfer students who have successfully completed 30 or more semester hours, or 45 or more quarter hours, at the degree-level are not required to submit high school or high school equivalency transcripts.

Students from secondary schools outside of the United States must have transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved outside evaluation agency.

Step Four

Submit official, sealed transcripts from ALL colleges and universities previously attended. Opened transcripts are not official and therefore invalid.

Students from postsecondary schools outside the United States must have transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved outside evaluation agency.

Step Five

Complete the ACCUPLACER placement test or submit valid Compass, ACT, SAT, GED®, ELA, or Georgia Milestone test scores. Applicants must have a valid picture ID to test. Transfer students with appropriate English and Math courses may not be required to test.

Step Six

If English is NOT your first language, and you are abroad, submit official score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of 500 or higher on the written test, 173 or higher on the computerized version, or a score of 61 on the internet version of TOEFL is required. The school institutional code for TOEFL is 6358. A valid SAT critical reading score of 460 or higher will be accepted in lieu of a TOEFL score.

Step Seven

Submit original financial documentation as required by the U.S. government. The school estimates it will cost $21,121 U.S. dollars to study at WGTC for one academic year consisting of two 16-week semesters.

Tuition and Fees (estimated cost): $13,120 USD
Books and Supplies (estimated cost): $1,276 USD
Room and Board (estimated cost): $4,659 USD
Transportation (estimated cost): $1,760 USD
Miscellaneous (estimated cost): $306 USD

The student or sponsor must provide a bank letter verifying a minimum of $21,121 USD is available to finance the first year of education. All bank correspondence should be written on official bank stationery and certified or notarized by an officer of the bank with the bank address and telephone number printed clearly. Financial documentation must be dated within the last three months, and funds must be stated in the U.S. currency equivalent. U.S. sponsors must complete the Form I-134 Affidavit of Support and have it properly notarized. Sponsors abroad are required to submit a Certificate of Finances form.

Important Information: Wiregrass Georgia Technical College will not accept faxed or photocopied documents as "official" documents.

Transfer Students

If you are currently attending a college or university in the United States and wish to transfer to WGTC, notify your school’s International Office of your desire to transfer. Ask them to fill out and sign the WGTC Transfer Clearance Form and send it to WGTC’s One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center, International Department. The transfer clearance form is a notification procedure important to the process of transferring your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records to WGTC and the maintenance of your student status. Follow all admission procedures previously listed.

Change of Status

Students who need change-of-status or adjustment of immigration status to comply with government regulations should contact the One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center, International Department, for advisement. The office can assist the eligible student with the change-of-status process and/or issue documents that enable the student to apply for a student visa.

Obtaining a Student VISA

When all academic and visa requirements are met, follow these steps to obtain a student visa:

Obtain Form I-20 and a letter of acceptance from the school.
Pay SEVIS I-901 Fee. Fee must be paid prior to the visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy. For payment options and further information, visit http://www.fmjfee.com/index.html.
Find the U.S. Embassy closest to your home at http://www.usembassy.gov/. Check the consular site to see if there are any special instructions for the consulate you will be visiting.
Make an appointment with the embassy for the visa interview.

Arrival Information

At the port-of-entry to the U.S., the student will be interviewed again and the Arrival/Departure Form I-94 will be issued. The earliest date of entry into the U.S. that is allowed is typically 30 days prior to the start date indicated on your Form I-20. The student will not be allowed entry into the U.S. beyond the start date. The student is required to notify the One-Stop Office, International Department, of arrival and make an appointment to complete U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service requirements. An international student orientation will be provided before the term begins.

The One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center, International Department, is the resource center for international students to obtain information and student services that are specific to international students. Questions concerning international admissions, visa advisement and documents, orientation, and any other issues related to the international student can be addressed to:

One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center, International Department
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, GA 31602 USA
Telephone: 229-333-2100 ext. 4837
nicole.west@wiregrass.edu

All documents for admissions should be sent to the address above. Admission status of an applicant cannot be determined until the One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center, International Department, has received all official documentation and has approved all documents for admission.

Housing Information for Students

WGTC does not maintain student housing. Please visit the Georgia Chamber of Commerce website to locate housing within our service area.

International Students