main photo
About HCCC HCCC Admissions HCCC Academic Programs HCCC Student Services HCCC Athletics HCCC Library HCCC Human Resources HCCC Alumni and Foundation
International Students
Academic Programs
ESL Programs
Admissions
spacer_arrowApply for a Visa
Immigration Services
Activities and Services
Tuition and Fees
Our Students
FAQs
Housing Services
Campus
Transfer Counseling
Location
Travel
Contact Us
spacer
About HCCC
Student Online Services
International Students
Internet Academy
Community Education
College Now
Prospective Students
Current Students
HCCC > International Students > Admissions > Apply for a Visa 

Coming to America

After you have been officially accepted to attend HCCC, we will mail you an I-20 ( Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 student status, prepared initially by Herkimer County Community College Office of International Programs, which shows program of study, dates of eligibility, financial information, etc.). 

Apply for your student visa

Please follow the following steps to obtain your F-1 Student Visa:

1) SEVIS Fee
Upon receiving HCCC I-20, you are required to pay a SEVIS fee of US$100.00 before applying for your F-1 student with the U.S. Embassy in your home country.  SEVIS (I-901) is the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a networked computer system set up in the United States to track information on non-immigrant international and foreign exchange students attending school in the U.S. The SEVIS system requires schools to maintain attendance records for foreign students. Students who do not show up for classes will be investigated and possibly deported.  You can either pay the SEVIS fee online or download the form and follow the instruction.

2) Apply for F-1 Student Visa
If you are currently outside the United States, you should apply for an F-1 Student Visa at the
U.S. Embassy or Consulate near you.  United States Government regulations require you to attend the college which issues the I-20 which you use to enter the United States. Since you plan to attend Herkimer County Community College, please use the I-20 that we send you.  If you are currently inside the United States on an F-1 Student Visa and plan to enroll at Herkimer County Community College and do not plan to leave the United States before starting to study at our college, you will be sent an I-20 from HCCC that will allow you to attend our college.
The following items will be required for your visa application:

  • SEVIS receipt
  • I-20 Form issued by Herkimer County Community College
  • A current, valid passport
  • Bank statement/financial documentation for the period of time indicated on your I-20 Form
  • Two passport size photographs
  • A non-immigrant visa application form
  • Official high school diploma or transcript

If you encounter any problems obtaining your visa, please contact Herkimer County Community College.

Traveling to the United States

When you arrive at your United States port of entry, you will be directed to the Immigration Station/United States Customs. The immigration inspector will ask to see your passport and I-20. The inspector will stamp your I-20 and give you an arrival/ departure document (card) called an I-94 Form. You must keep these documents in a safe place as they are evidence that you are permitted to be in the United States.

When you come to the United States, you will probably arrive in New York City, San Francisco, Detroit or Houston. Once you have gone through immigration/customs, you will need to connect with your next flight to Central New York. The closest airport to Herkimer County Community College is in Syracuse (SYR), NY or Albany (ALB), NY.  If you plan to travel to Central New York by train or bus, Union Station (UTI) in nearby Utica, NY. is the most convenient. 

When you make your final travel arrangements, please send us a copy of your flight arrangements.  If you need to be picked up at the airport or at the train station, please notify us at least one week prior to your arrival.

Expenses

You should bring enough money with you (travelers' checks) to cover your expenses for at least the first two months of your stay in the United States. You may need to pay for transportation, food and housing before you begin your studies at Herkimer County Community College. Once you arrive on campus, your expenses will include many of the items included in the following list. You may want to bring some of these items with you from home, or you may wish to purchase them after you arrive in the United States.

1. Blankets, sheets and towels.
2. Personal and bathroom items.
3. Small appliances and a radio-alarm clock.
4. Small kitchen or cooking items.
5. Clothing for both warm and cold weather.

For questions or further information, please contact the Office of International Programs: international@herkimer.edu