Thank you for your interest in applying to Gwinnett Technical College as an F-1 Student. Gwinnett Technical College is certified to offer Associate Degree programs for F-1 Students. GTC’s Diplomas, Certificates, and English Language programs are not available to F-1 Students.
GTC’s Office of International Student Services can help you with questions about applying for an F-1 Visa and maintaining your status. We will be happy to guide you through the admissions process, serve as your Designated School Officials (DSO) for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and advise you on your transition into the college and the community.
We offer appointments by phone, WebEx, and on campus Monday-Friday.
Prospective F-1 Students
Admissions Requirements
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
Accepted F-1 Students
FAQs
Welcome to Gwinnett Tech! We are so glad you are considering our institution to pursue your higher education goals. Our campuses are located North and Northeast of Atlanta in the Cities of Alpharetta and Lawrenceville. These cities offer vibrant, highly diversified communities with access to great restaurants, parks, museums, and entertainment venues, among other things. We are certain that you will love being part of our communities and being a part of Gwinnett Tech.
As you work on completing your admission requirements, we recommend you to keep the following information in mind:
- Not all programs offered at Gwinnett Technical College are certified for F-1 Status. Thus, you want to pay close attention to the list of programs which are available in the Admission Requirements section.
- Due to the requirements needed for F-1 students to maintain their status, students who select the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus as their home campus may be required to complete some of their classes at the Lawrenceville campus.
- Gwinnett Technical College does not have access to dorms. Therefore, you will need to make living arrangements on your own. Please contact ISS@GwinnettTech.edu for additional information.
- Dates and Deadlines should be kept in mind. Due to the amount of time required for gathering, preparing, and processing immigration paperwork, Gwinnett Technical College encourages international applicants to apply a minimum of 3 months prior to their desired start date. For example, if you want to attend classes for the fall semester, we recommend you to complete your application and submit all required documents by May.
- Processing of submitted documentation can take 10-14 business days to be completed.
- All admissions requirements must be submitted and completed to be accepted to Gwinnett Technical College. Once you have been accepted, we will issue your I-20 and provide you with next steps.
You can learn more about the requirements to study in the U.S. at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students
Choose your program of study
F-1 Visa Student Eligible Programs
| Program | Campus |
|---|---|
| Accounting Technology, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| A. S. General Business | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Business Management, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| A. S. Criminal Justice | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Culinary Arts, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Interiors, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Marketing Management, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Computer Programming, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Cybersecurity, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Game Development, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Networking Specialist, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Web Site Design/Development, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Air Conditioning Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Residential Construction Management, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Commercial Construction Management, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Drafting Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Engineering Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Environmental Horticulture, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Mechatronics Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Automotive Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Interdisciplinary Studies, AAS | Alpharetta-North Fulton & Lawrenceville |
| Early Childhood Care and Education, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Bioscience Technology, AAS | Lawrenceville |
| Competitive Health Programs |
|---|
| Cardiovascular Technology, AAS |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS |
| Echocardiography Technology, AAS |
| Paramedicine, AAS |
| Radiologic Technology, AAS |
| Respiratory Care, AAS |
| Surgical Technology, AAS |
| Veterinary Technology, AAS |
| Registered Nursing Program, ADN |
Submit Online Application
- Visit Gwinnett Technical College’s Application and select the “Click Here to Register” option to create a user account, complete and submit your online application to one of the degree level programs listed above, and pay the one-time non-refundable Application Fee. Please remember the email address and password you used to create your account.
- Please select Fall or Spring for your application term. Due to the Summer term being a Mini-Mester (8 weeks long) and F-1 students needing to comply with specific enrollment requirements (12 credit hours or more) Limited exceptions for a Summer start may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Track the status of your application by logging into your application portal. Received and processed documents will show in green.
Submit Official Transcripts
- Official document-by-document translation and evaluation of your High School Diploma or official General Education Development Test (GED) transcript. Transfer applicants who have earned an associate or bachelor’s degree are not required to submit a high school diploma or a GED transcript.
- Submit course-by-course translation and evaluation of transcripts from post-secondary colleges, universities, and other institutions attended.
- Translations and evaluations must be completed by an approved NACES evaluation company. View a list of approved evaluation companies.
- Please notice that some agencies are able to provide electronic transcripts and this can significantly expedite the processing time.
- Official transcript evaluations may also be received in person by GTC’s Recruitment Office in the original sealed envelope provided by the evaluation company.
- Evaluations may also be mailed from the evaluation company to:
- Gwinnett Technical College
Admissions Office
5150 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30024
- Gwinnett Technical College
Submit Official Placement Test Scores
- Regardless of your current level of education, you will be required to take the NEXT GENERATION ACCUPLACER test unless you have acceptable SAT or ACT scores taken within the past 5 years.
- SAT scores: Reading/Writing 340-410
- ACT scores: Reading 16, English 14, Math 17
- You will be exempted from this requirement if you have completed a higher education degree or successfully completed ENGL 1101 and a degree level Mathematics course (with a grade of C or better) at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.
- The NEXT GENERATION ACCUPLACER test is available virtually for students outside the U.S. This option is proctored by a third party and students will incur an additional fee.
- For information regarding the NEXT GENERATION ACCUPLACER test please visit: https://gwinnetttech.edu/programs/assessment-testing-center/accuplacer-exams/
- The first attempt of the NEXT GENERATION ACCUPLACER test is free for Gwinnett Tech applicants.
- One retake per section is allowed. Students who wish to retest must wait 14 days from the date of the first attempt. The cost for a retest is $25 per section.
Submit Proof of English Proficiency
- If English is NOT the first language for your country of origin, you will be required to provide proof of English proficiency. Students can do this by providing official TOEFL IBT or IELTS scores.
- Students who have completed TOEFL IBT must have received a Total Score of 72 or higher to be accepted to the college.
- Students who have completed the IELTS Test must have received an Overall Band Score of 6.5 or higher to be accepted to the college.
- Scores provided cannot be more than 2 years old by the date of submission.
- Students will be exempted from this requirement if they meet one of the following criteria:
- English is the native language for your country of origin.
- You have successfully completed ENGL 1101 with a grade of C or better at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S.
- You have the following SAT scores: Reading/Writing 340 or higher.
- You have the following ACT scores: Reading 16 or higher, English 14 or higher
- SAT, and ACT scores cannot be more than 5 years old by the date of submission.
Submit F-1 Student Information Worksheet
- The F-1 Student Information Worksheet can be submitted via email at FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu or in person in the International Student Services Office.
- Students applying from outside of the U.S. must include the following document with this form:
- Copy or picture of their unexpired passport’s biographical page.
- Current F-1 students seeking to transfer to Gwinnett Technical College must include the following documents with this form:
- Copy or picture of their unexpired passport’s biographical page.
- Copy or picture of their latest Visa.
- Copy or picture of their most recent I-94.
- Current I-20 signed by a Designated School Official (DSO) and the student at the bottom of the first page.
- Your latest I-20 will include your most recent enrollment dates in the second page of the form under the section titled Current Session Dates
- Please make sure to notify your current Designated School Official (DSO) of your intention to transfer to Gwinnett Technical College before completing Gwinnett Technical College’s admission process.
- If your current I-20 is not eligible to transfer, you may be required to return to your home country and apply for a new I-20 from there. Gwinnett Technical College will not make a recommendation for reinstatement on a terminated or completed I-20.
- F-1 students cannot be without enrollment more than five months. Thus, the enrollment gap from the last date of attendance at your previous school to the first day of classes at Gwinnett Technical College cannot exceed five months.
- Students already in the U.S. seeking to change their nonimmigrant status to F-1 must include the following documents with this form:
- Copy or picture of their unexpired passport’s biographical page.
- Copy or picture of their latest Visa.
- Copy or picture of their most recent I-94.
- Please be aware that people who have entered the United States under a C Visa, D Visa, K Visa, S Visa, or Visa Waiver may not apply to change their status to F-1. Also, according to USCIS “you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the United States in an eligible nonimmigrant status, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible.”
Submit F-1 Student Affidavit of Financial Support
- The F-1 Student Affidavit of Financial Support can be submitted via email at FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu or in person in the International Student Services Office.
- This document must include supporting documentation demonstrating that the student or his/her sponsor can financially support the tuition, fees, and living expenses of the student for a full year or the entire length of the program, at least $35,678.
- For students with dependents, documentation must show they have an additional $5,000 for each dependent.
- These documents cannot be more than 3 months old by the date of submission.
- Acceptable documents must be official and in English. They may include bank statements and official letters issued by a bank or financial institution. An official letter must be issued on bank letterhead, stamped by the financial institution, and include contact information. This document needs to certify the owner and balance of the account, the equivalency to U.S. Dollars, and the exchange rate on the date the letter was issued.
- The owner of the account must match either the name of the student or the name of the sponsor listed on the F-1 Student Affidavit of Financial Support form.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requires F-1 students to take a full-time course load each academic term, which at Gwinnett Technical College is 12 credit hours or more.
| Estimated Cost for One Academic Year (2 Full-Time Terms) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $10,272 (USD) |
| Fees | $956 (USD) |
| Books | $1,750 (USD) |
| Living Expenses | $22,700 (USD) |
| Total Cost (estimated cost) | $35,678 (USD) |
- F-1 Students pay the Foreign Student Tuition Rate. One credit hour for a Foreign Student is $428
- Fees are capped at 15 credit hours, meaning that any credit hours above 15 are no additional tuition cost to students.
- Foreign Student tuition and fees for 12 credit hours is $5614, which is broken down as follows:
- Tuition is $5,136
- Registration Fee is $92.00
- Student Activity Fee is $30.00
- Accident Insurance Fee is $6.00
- Technology Fee is $110.00
- Facility Access Fee is $85.00
- Instructional Fee is $60.00
- Campus Safety Fee is $45.00
- Campus Fee is $50.00
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not available to Foreign students.
- Students are welcome to apply for Gwinnett Technical College’s institutional scholarships.
- Students are welcome to search for external scholarships using the U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool.
- Students are expected to pay their tuition and fees in full by the Fee Payment Deadline listed in Gwinnett Technical College’s Academic Calendar.
* The cost of tuition and fees is subject to increase annually., but. Students are expected to pay their tuition and fees in full when they register for classes.
Congratulations!! You have been accepted to Gwinnett Technical College. What’s next?
- All new F-1 Students are required to meet in person with their Designated School Official (DSO) at Gwinnett Technical College before the first day of classes. Thus, you will be required to attend a mandatory new student orientation specific for F-1
- Students at the Lawrenceville Campus the Thursday before the first day of classes. This mandatory orientation runs from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.. Light refreshments are provided and we encourage students to not bring guests with them due to space restrictions.
- Students unable to attend the F-1 Students Mandatory New Student Orientation must schedule an appointment with the office of International Student Services before the first day of classes
- Newly accepted students should also keep in mind the following information…
Students applying from outside the U.S.
- After you have been accepted to the college, GTC’s Office of International Student Services (ISS) will send your I-20 via email to you. Please review this document for accuracy and pay close attention to your program of study and dates. Then, sign it (with a wet signature), date it, and return it to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu. The Office of International Student Services will also provide you with instructions to pay your SEVIS I-901 Fee and steps to apply for your F-1 Visa.
- After you have paid your I-901 SEVIS fee, please send a copy of your receipt* to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu within two months of the date your I-20 was issued. Otherwise, we will assume you are no longer interested in attending Gwinnett Technical College and your I-20 will be canceled.
- You can apply for an F-1 Visa at the closest U.S. embassy or consulate to you. Instructions to apply for your visa can be found on the website of the embassy or consulate.
- You can check the estimated time that you will need to wait for your Visa appointment here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html
- You will be interviewed at your closest embassy or consulate. Please make sure to take with you the following documents to your interview:
- Your original I-20 form (wet signed by you and dated)
- Passport valid to travel to the United States
- Department of State visa application fee payment receipt
- Photograph that meets all photograph requirements for a U.S. Visa. You can learn more about this requirement here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
- We recommend for you to review “Visa Interview” at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov for additional information.
- We also recommend for you to bring copies of all documentation related to your admission and registration to Gwinnett Technical College to your visa interview in case you are asked for any of it.
- If you are approved for an F-1 Visa, please send a copy of it to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu as soon as possible. The Office of International Student Services will contact you to assist you with course registration for your first semester.
- 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. Please email ISS@GwinnettTech.edu within five business days of your arrival and provide a copy of your most recent I-94.
- The earliest allowable date of entry into the U.S. is 30 days prior to the start date indicated on the I-20 form.
- The student will not be allowed entry into the U.S. beyond the start date listed on the I-20.
Students in the U.S. seeking to change their nonimmigrant status to F-1.
After you have been accepted to Gwinnett Technical College, the Office of International Student Services will send your I-20 via email to you. They will also provide you with instructions to pay your SEVIS I-901 Fee and to file a Form I-539 – Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status with USCIS.
Please be aware that people who have entered the United States under a C Visa, D Visa, K Visa, S Visa, or Visa Waiver may not apply to change their status to F-1. Also, according to USCIS “you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the United States in an eligible nonimmigrant status, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible.”
After you have paid your I-901 SEVIS fee, please send a copy of your receipt* to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu within two months of the date your I-20 was issued. Otherwise, we will assume you are no longer interested in attending Gwinnett Technical College and your I-20 will be canceled.
If you entered the U.S. as a Visitor (B status), you will not be able to start classes until USCIS has approved your request for an F-1 status.
Once your request for a change of status has been granted, please send a copy of your I-797 Approval Notice to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu. The Office of International Student Services will contact you to assist you with course registration for your first semester.
Current F-1 students seeking to transfer to Gwinnett Tech
- After you have been accepted to Gwinnett Technical College, you will need to send a completed F-1 Student Transfer In Form to your current college or university with a copy of your acceptance letter for them to transfer your current I-20 to GTC. This form can be found at https://gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/
- Gwinnett Technical College’s SEVIS School Codes are:
- Lawrenceville Campus: ATL214F57662000
- Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus: ATL214F57662001
- Your I-20 needs to be transferred to Gwinnett Technical College before the first day of classes. Once the record has been received in SEVIS, we will provide you with an updated I-20 within 10 business days of the record being received.
- If your current I-20 is in a Terminated or Completed status, please do not request for it to be transferred as Gwinnett Technical College will not make a recommendation for reinstatement.
- F-1 students cannot be without enrollment more than five months. Thus, the enrollment gap from the last date of attendance at your previous school to the first day of classes at Gwinnett Technical College cannot exceed five months.
What should I do with my I-20?
- Please keep a copy of your most recent I-20 with you at all times. You should also maintain copies of all the I-20s that you receive in case you need to use them as a reference at a later time.
- The I-20 should be signed by the student and the DSO that generated it.
What can cause my I-20 to be terminated?
- Failure to maintain a valid passport.
- Dropping below 12 credit hours of enrollment without previous authorization from your DSO.
- Engaging in unauthorized employment.
What documentation should I keep with me to demonstrate my status within the U.S.?
- Valid passport.
- Copy of your most recent I-94.
- Copy of your most recent I-20.
Why should I review my I-94 every time a new one is issued?
I-94s are generated after a manual process is completed. Thus, accidentally this document could contain errors. If this is the case, you will want to address/correct the error as soon as possible.
Where can I find my most recent I-94?
- Through the Department of Homeland Security’s website https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home
- If your current status was granted to you through the approval of a change of status request with USCIS, your most recent I-94 will be at the bottom of your I-797 Approval Notice.
I am traveling outside the U.S., what should I keep in mind?
- Speak with your DSO to obtain a Travel Endorsement in your I-20 before leaving the U.S.
- Make sure that your visa and passport are still valid. Otherwise, they will need to be renewed before returning to the U.S.
- You might not be able to access your Student Dashboard while traveling since GwinnettTech.edu is not accessible from all geographic locations. Thus, please check with the Student IT Help Desk before traveling. They can be reached at StuHelpDesk@GwinnettTech.edu or at 678-226-6407.
What is a DSO?
DSO stands for Designated School Official. This person will be able to assist you with maintaining your record up to date in the Student Exchange and Visitors Information System (SEVIS) and providing recommendations to help you maintain your nonimmigrant status.
When should I contact my DSO at Gwinnett Technical College?
At Gwinnett Technical College, your DSOs also serve as your Enrollment Advisors. The list below is not exhaustive but it will give you an idea of when you should contact your DSO.
- Any time that you have questions about maintaining your F-1 status.
- If you are planning to travel outside the U.S.
- If you are interested in changing your major.
- To update your address.
- To update your contact information (phone number and e-mail).
- If you are not doing well in your classes.
- To report information for Curricular Practicum Training.
- If interested in completing Optional Practicum Training.
- If your would like to transfer to another school.
- To inquire about GTC’s policies and resources available to students.
- If you have questions about program completion.
- If you need to register for classes
How can I contact my DSO?
Gwinnett Technical College’s DSOs are located in the International Student Services Office. You can contact them via email at ISS@GwinnettTech.edu or by phone at 678-226-6765. You are also welcome to schedule an appointment using the Qless app or following the instructions here: https://gwinnetttech.edu/qless/
How can I keep my information in SEVIS up to date?
By notifying changes to your DSO.
How often should I check my student email?
- Students should check their student e-mail periodically throughout the week.
- This is the main form of communication between the college and the students. Thus, you can expect to receive notifications from your instructors, the International Student Services Department (ISS), and any other GTC related news.
How many courses am I required to take as an F-1 student?
As a F-1 student you are required to enroll in school full-time, at least 12 credit hours per semester, and at least 9 of these credit hours must require on campus presence.
During the first week of classes, what should I keep in mind?
Completing first week class assignments that verifies your attendance in class. Failure to complete first week assignments can result in being dropped from your class due to “No Show”
When can I take a semester off?
F-1 students are authorized to take a break in their studies after two semesters of consecutive full-time enrollment. This authorized break is knows as an Annual Vacation.
What does CPT stand for?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) refers to mandatory training that is required for the completion of your program of study, such as internship courses within the curriculum for your program or clinical hours.
What should I do if my program of study requires CPT for graduation?
- You must secure the training opportunity and then contact your DSO for authorization. CPT must be authorized before the student can begin work.
- Please notice that one year of full-time CPT eliminates a student’s eligibility for OPT as per the regulations of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
What is OPT?
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) provides students the opportunity to gain experience in their field of study. It can take place before the program’s end date (Pre-Completion OPT) or after the program’s end date (Post-Completion OPT).
- Students interested in this opportunity should speak with their DSO as previous authorization is required and strict rules apply.
I am in my last semester, what should I keep in mind?
- Make an appointment with your Enrollment Advisor or DSO to complete a degree audit.
- Apply to graduate.
- Are you going to transfer, apply for OPT, or return to your home country upon the completion of your program?
- Depending on the option that you are choosing, you will have specific dates and deadlines to adhere to.
What should I do if I need to transfer to another school?
- Notify my DSO.
- Verify that the school you want to transfer to is certified to support your F-1 status.
- Complete the admission process for your school of interest.
- Send email to FVisaDocs@GwinnettTech.edu requesting the transfer of your I-20 to your new school. This email should include your acceptance letter to your new school and their SEVIS School Code.
Am I allowed to work while in the U.S. under an F-1 status?
- Employment opportunities for F-1 students are limited, and strict rules apply as explained in studyinthestates.dhs.gov
- Please schedule an appointment with your current DSO to review the options available to you.
- How can I obtain an enrollment verification?
- Please complete a Special Request form here: https://gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/
If you are applying for an F-1 Visa outside the U.S., please maintain a copy of all submitted documents and your acceptance letter for your Visa interview.