Becoming an International Student

If you are a non-US citizenship holder looking to attend Colby, follow the steps below before arriving in the United States. 

Steps: 

1. Pay $350 I-901 SEVIS FEE using www.fmjfee.com. Complete the I-901 form online because the process goes much faster. If you are on financial aid, Colby will pay the I-901 fee for you and include the receipt when you are mailed your I-20.

(If you are in need of financial assistance for the SEVIS fee, please contact mbeltguz@colby.edu).

2. After making the payment, print the receipt and take it along with the I-20 form and other supporting documents to your US consulate visa appointment. 

3. Check that your passport is valid with at least 1 empty page of the U.S. visa. 

4. After receiving the visa, keep all supporting documents, I-20, and visa with you as you travel to the US. 

5. Keep the original I-20 form as long as you are a student in the U.S., even if you obtain a new one or transfer to another school. 

6. You are expected to keep the original I-20 form as long as you are a student in the US, even if you obtain a new one for any reason or if you transfer to another school. You will have an individual meeting with Aura Moreno within the first 2 weeks of the semester to discuss with you your immigration situation and visa regulations and requirements.

**Canadian citizens are not required to get a F-1 visa stamp into the U.S., but will have to pay the SEVIS FEE and print out and bring the receipt.**

As an International student, you are required to renew your I-20 every year. This can be done by meeting with Aura Moreno, Colby's visa specialist, to get the needed signatures for your documentation. 

Maintaining F-1 Visa Status

All International students must maintain their F-1 visa status to stay in the United States. To maintain your status, you must abide by the following: 

1. unexpired passport 

2. valid I-20 with current travel signature

3. full-time student course load (12 credits minimum at Colby)

4. maximum 20 hours a week of on-campus paid work per term

5. OPT (Optional Practical Training) or CPT (Curricular Practical Training) authorization for any off-campus work 

Five Month Rule

International students are expected to stay in classes to maintain their status. The five-month rule refers to terminating a student's record in SEVIS due to 1.) being out of status for more than five months, and 2.) being outside of the United States for over five months during an absence from school, excluding participation in an approved study abroad program. 

If your student record is terminated under the five-month rule and you wish to return to the United States as a student, you must obtain a new/initial I-20 with a new SEVIS ID and pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee again. You may also have to apply for a new student visa if your current student visa is no longer valid. 

**Please inform Aura Moreno (Colby's DSO) if you are leaving the US for any reason. She will be able to give you detailed instructions on visa requirements and instructions for your specific circumstance for re-admission to Colby College.**

Questions?