International Student Admission Requirements

WGTC is approved to accept international students entering, or already residing in, the United States under F visas for associate degree programs of study. Program offerings and approved campus locations are subject to change. Please check with the Admissions Office for updated information.

General Requirements

Submit a completed Application for Admission and non-refundable $25 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.

Submit official transcripts from your high school (or High School Equivalency) and all colleges attended. All transcripts must be received in envelopes sealed by the sending institution. Applicants with a college degree are not required to submit a high school or high school equivalency transcript. All international transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluation service and sent directly to WGTC. We recommend the following evaluation agencies:

High school transcripts or diplomas should be evaluated by the document-by-document evaluation method.
Students with college credit or a degree from a college or university outside the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the transcript. Documents not in English need to be translated. Submit official scores from one of the following placement tests: PSAT, SAT, ACT, Compass, ACCUPLACER, or Companion.

If you are applying for or have an F1 student visa, supply the following additional documentation:
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 or a score of 173 or higher on the computerized 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.

Submit original financial documentation as required by the U.S. government. The school estimates it will cost $21,813 USD to study at WGTC for one academic year. One academic year equals two 16-week semesters and one 10- week semester.

For one academic year:

• Tuition and Fees (estimated cost): $13,809 USD
• Books and Supplies (estimated cost): $1,276 USD
• Room and Board (estimated cost): $4,660 USD
• Transportation (estimated cost): $2,068 USD
• Miscellaneous (estimated cost): $474 USD

The student or sponsor must provide a bank letter verifying a minimum of $21,813 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.

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 Transfer Clearance Form and send it to WGTC’s International Student 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.

All of the aforementioned forms may be downloaded from the WGTC webpage at https://www.wiregrass.edu/admissions/apply-to-wiregrass/international-students.

Change of Status: Students who need change of status or adjustment of immigration status to comply with government regulations should contact the International Student 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 general 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/i901fee/index.html. Student is required to bring a copy of the SEVIS fee payment receipt (showing proof of payment) to the visa interview.
• 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 is required to notify the International Center 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.

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

The International Student 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 issue related to the international student can be addressed to:

International Student Department, ATTN: Nicole West
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, GA 31602 USA
Telephone: 229-249-4836
Email: nicole.west@wiregrass.edu

All admission documents should be sent to the address above. Admission status of an applicant cannot be determined until the International Student 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 www.realtor.com to locate housing within our service area.