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Welcome, Prospective International Students!

We're pleased that you're considering becoming a part of the Middle Georgia College community. We want to do everything we can to answer your questions, guide you through the application process, and introduce you to MGC.

Middle Georgia College (MGC) is a co-educational, residential institution with approximately 3,450 undergraduate students enrolled. Located in Cochran, Georgia, MGC is 40 miles south of Macon, Georgia. Our student body consists of students from over 12 countries! With a friendly atmosphere, over 40 programs of study at the undergraduate level, and a beautiful campus, MGC is a great place for international students.

Classification of International Students

At Middle Georgia College, applicant files are classified as "international" if they meet any of the criteria listed below. Supplemental application materials are needed for each of the following criteria, so review this Web site carefully to see what is needed in your specific case.

• You are not a U.S. citizen and are currently in the United States on an F-1 (student) visa.
• You will require an F-1 visa to enter and study in the United States. You are currently in the United States on some other class of visa. Please submit a copy of the visa from your passport.

If you have permanent legal residency, then you will be asked to submit the items below that pertain to you.

• If you are a Permanent Legal Resident of the United States, please submit a copy of the front and back of your card for inspection.
• If you are in the process of obtaining permanent legal residency, please submit all documentation related to this process. This would include, but not be limited to, an Employment Authorization Document, the form I-485, or your I-94 departure record, any notices of action from the INS (less than 6 months old), a letter from the lawyer who filed your application for permanent residency. The letter should state the current status of your application
• If you hold refugee or asylum status, please forward all documentation related to this status.

Applicants who cannot provide documentation of status should make an appointment to discuss options with an international student counselor in the Office of Admissions.

Requirements of Admission

At MGC, admission of international students is based on academic admissibility, English proficiency, and proof of financial means to study in the United States. The required documents, listed below, help our office to determine if an applicant meets these standards. Financial verification is required in order to issue an accepted applicant an I-20. The I-20 is a document used by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to issue visas. This documentation must be obtained in order for a student to enter the United States.

Documents Required for Completing an International Application

1. Application: Completed application with $20 non-refundable application fee. You may apply online at www.mgc.edu/admissions
2. Transcripts: Official records sent directly from each secondary school, university and/or professional school ( additional information needed for universities or professional schools, see #9), showing courses taken and marks earned. All school documents must be originals, signed by the school official, carry the school seal, and be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Admissions in an unopened envelope with official seals. (A certified English translation must be included, if necessary. No photocopies or faxes will be accepted.)
3. Financial Verification: Applicants pursuing an F-1Visa must provide evidence of sufficient funds available for education at Middle Georgia College. A completed Certificate of Financial Support is required, and all applicants requesting a Form I-20 for student (F-1) visas must provide an affidavit of support showing that a minimum $19,000 (USD) per college year is available to defray college expenses including matriculation fees, non-resident fees, school supplies, living costs, and related expenses (This amount is subject to change due to increase in fees and living expenses.). A certified letter (signed by a bank officer) from the sponsor's bank showing that the required funds are available must be submitted. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. Federal Financial Aid is not available to F-1 visa students. ALL BANK DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINALS! We will not accept any photocopies or faxes. Bank documents which do not appear to be valid will be verified with the bank listed. We will not accept any bank document that appears to have been falsified or counterfeited. If the applicant's sponsor resides inside the United States, he/she must fill out and have notarized INS form I-134 Affidavit of Support. If the applicant's sponsor resides outside the United States, he/she must fill out and sign the Certificate of Financial Support, and include a bank letter (signed by an officer of the bank) that is less than 6 months old, is written in English, or has a certified English translation attached, AND clearly states the account balance in numbers, and clearly states the type of currency upon which the account is based.
4. Test Scores: Applicants with a native language other than English must submit minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of 525 on the paper-based version, or 197 on the computer-based version, or 71 on the internet-based version. Official scores must be sent directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the Office of Admissions. For more information on TOEFL, visit their web site at www.toefl.org. (No photocopies or faxes will be accepted.) MGC's TOEFL Test Number is 5411. Non-native speakers of English who have attained a minimum SAT critical reading score of 430 or ACT English 17 may exempt the TOEFL. SAT math score of 400 or an ACT score of 17 may exempt the students from our COMPASS placement exam in math. Exceptions to this rule include: the student earned a college preparatory American high school diploma or GED in English; the student successfully completed secondary education from a school outside the U.S. that teaches the entire secondary education in English (students from those countries that follow the British system need proof of successful completion of their particular testing requirements); the student successfully completed an Intensive English Program from a U.S. college or university or from one of the ELS Language Centers at level nine; the student successfully completed an associate degree or higher from a U.S. college or university.
5. Immunizations: Completed Certificate of Immunization Form. All immunization documentation must be recorded and submitted on a Certificate of Immunization Form. This form is found at www.mgc.edu/admissions under Immunizations.
6. Other documents: If applicable, submit a copy of your Visa, I-94, Form I-20 and American Social Security Card.
7. Tranferring: If transferring from an institution within the United States, a completed "Transfer Clearance Form" is required.
8. Foreign Credentials: Foreign Credential Evaluation for all course work (secondary and/or university) obtained outside of the United States by an independent credential evaluation service is required. Upon receipt of completed application, additional information will be sent to the applicant. Evaluations from the following agencies are accepted by Middle Georgia College.

Lisano International PO Box 407 Auburn, AL 36831-0407 Tel: (334) 745-0425 Fax: (334) 745-0425 e-mail: LisanoINTL@AOL.com website: www.lisano-intl.com

Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. 7101 SW 102 Avenue Miami, FL 33173 Tel: (305) 273-1616 Fax: (305) 273-1338 Translation Fax: (305) 273-1984 e-mail: info@jsilny.com website: www.jsilny.com/

World Education Services PO Box 745, Old Chelsea Station New York, NY 10113-0745 Tel: (800) 937-3895 Fax: (212) 966-6311 e-mail: info@wes.org website: www.wes.org

Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. PO Box 9203 College Station, TX 77842 Tel: (979) 690-8912 Fax: (512) 528-9293 website: www.gcevaluators.com

Please note that "Official" is defined as an original document with signatures/seals and translated into English, if necessary. No photocopies or faxes will be accepted. All educational records must be sent directly to the College from the previous institution(s) in an unopened envelope with the official seal.

Other Important Information

Health Insurance: International students are also required by the University System of Georgia to purchase additional health insurance. Information regarding this insurance policy may be accessed at www.usg.edu/student_affairs/faq/health. MGC requires you to purchase health insurance at the time of registration. If you are already protected by an insurance policy, you must have it approved by the insurance company before registration. (Insurance verification must be in the English language) You may check our insurance at www.studentinsurance.com and enter Middle Georgia College. For further information concerning our insurance requirements, please contact Alan Chastain at 478-934-3023.

Immigration/Visa Information: Eligibility for admission to MGC cannot be determined until all of your credentials have been received and evaluated. If you are arriving from a foreign country, present your I-20 form to the nearest United States Consulate to apply for a Visa. You are required to be enrolled full-time (12 semester hours or more) during each semester.

Cost of Attendance: This cost is based on a 2 semester year and is subject to change (2007-08)

On-campus Housing/Residence Halls: On-campus housing is available.

Catalog: Unfortunately we can not mail catalogs, but you may view it online at www.mgc.edu/academics.

Contact information:

Embassy Information: IMPORTANT! Before you go to the embassy or consulate IMPORTANT!

Effective September 1, 2004, you will have to pay a US$ 100.00 SEVIS fee before you can get an F1 visa. You can pay the fee by mail, or online. The Department of Homeland Security has a website to help you understand this fee.

Fill out the form I-901. There are two ways to do this:

1. Fill out the I-901 and pay online with a major credit card. Click here to fill out and pay online. You will be able to print out an I-901 receipt immediately, and the DHS will mail you a printed receipt.

OR

2. Print, fill out, and mail the form I-901 with a check or money order payable to "I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee". Mail the I-901 and check or money order to:

The DHS will mail you a printed receipt once it is received. Please be advised that it may take up to four weeks to receive your receipt by mail. You will not be able to obtain your visa unless you have the I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt with you!!!

Arriving at the Embassy: You will need to have several things with you:

• A completed application for non-immigrant visa (form DS-0156). Please note: some US Embassies and Consulates require additional or supplementary application forms. Please check with the US Embassy or Consulate you plan to visit. Also, Even though form DS-0156 is available in other languages, we suggest that you use the ENGLISH version of the form. After all, you will be studying in English!
• Your I-20 form from Middle Georgia College
• Your letter of admission to Middle Georgia College
• Your I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
• Financial certificates, bank letters, proof of financial support for your studies in the United States.
• Evidence that you intend to return to your home country following your studies in the United States. Appropriate evidence could include offers of employment following your studies, marriage certificate showing that you are leaving a husband or wife behind, land or property deeds showing that you own property in your home country.

Visa Links: Here are some links to some information that may be helpful for you in obtaining a visa

US Embassies Abroad http://travel.state.gov/links.html
Visa Process Guide http://www.uga.edu/gaie/gettingavisa.pdf
Special Visa Processing for citizens of North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan,.Iran, Iraq, and Libya http://travel.state.gov/section306.html
Fees for Visa Services http://travel.state.gov/vofees.html
Visa Photo Requirements http://travel.state.gov/photorequirements.html
Visa Denials http://travel.state.gov/visadenials.html
Visas for Third Country Nationals in Canada or Mexico http://travel.state.gov/tcn.html
HS Special Notice http://travel.state.gov/specialnotice.html

Special information for citizens of Canada and the Bahamas: If you will be arriving in the United States directly from Canada or the Bahamas, it is not necessary to obtain an F1 visa prior to arrival. However, you must present your I-20 to the immigration officer at the US port of entry, whether you arrive by sea, air or from Canada by automobile. Do not leave the border area/port of entry until the immigration official has marked your I-20, and you have obtained an I-94 card which has been annotated with"F1 D/S"

Transferring to another school: It is very important that you attend the school that issued you the I-20 form. BEFORE YOU GO TO THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE, MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SCHOOL YOU WILL ATTEND IN THE US! The embassy will print the name of that school on your visa, and you will be required to present the I-20 from that school to immigration on arrival to the US.

If you arrive in the United States on MGC's I-20, you will be required to attend at least one semester full-time at MGC before you will be allowed to transfer to another school. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Conversely, if you arrive on another school's I-20, you will not be able to transfer to MGC until you have completed at least one academic term at the school which issued your I-20

Travel Plans: Please note: F1 students may arrive in the United States NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS before the date listed in section 5 of your I-20 form. Please keep this in mind as you make your travel plans.

ARRIVING IN THE US AFTER THE DATE LISTED ON YOUR I-20 IS A VERY POOR IDEA! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES!