Admitted International Students – Next Steps

It is very important to enter the United States (US) with the proper Visa. You must apply for an entry Visa stamp in your passport. F and J Entry Visas can only be obtained outside the U.S. at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.

To help you with applying for a Visa, the following steps will outline what you need to do:

1. Pay the SEVIS fee
   • Most new students must pay the SEVIS fee before applying for an entry Visa or entering the U.S. This fee is assessed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is not administered by Hennepin Technical College. For details, visit the website
   • Send a copy of your SEVIS payment with your STARID or TECH ID attached to International@Hennepintech.edu
2. Locate the Nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
   • Must be completed in your home country
   • Embassy/consulate information is available on the www.travel.state.gov website
3. Schedule an Appointment for Visa Interview
   • Your local embassy or consulate has specific instructions for scheduling an appointment. An appointment wait time can be several weeks or longer. Schedule your appointment as soon as possible after receiving your I-20. For more information, you can find it at www.travel.state.gov website.
4. Prepare Documents for Your Visa Interview
   All Visa applicants must provide the following documents:
   • Valid Passport
   • I-20 document
   • Documented proof of financial support for at least one year (Bank Statements and I-134 Form)Proof of SEVIS fee payment (Receipt)
   • Visa application forms (available from the embassy/consulate)
   • Any other documents required by the embassy/consulate
5. Practice for your Visa Interview
   • When applying for a non-immigrant Visa, the U.S. Consular officer interviewing you will assume that you plan to immigrate to the U.S. permanently unless you prove otherwise. During the interview you will need to prove you will only study temporarily in the U.S. and plan to return home after your studies are completed. Answer all questions truthfully but only provide information related to the question asked.
6. Decision/Actions
   • If your Visa is approved, you will be informed when and when your passport and Visa will be returned to you.
   • In addition, send a copy of your Visa acceptance with your STARID or TECH ID to International@Hennepintech.edu
   • If denied, you will be informed why you are ineligible to receive a Visa. You can gather more information at www.travel.state.gov. Please contact a Hennepin Tech Designated Official immediately if you have received a denial letter at International@Hennepintech.edu
7. Other Things to Consider:
   • Name Consistency
     To avoid problems or delays in obtaining your Visa and entering the U.S., ensure that all of your immigration documents reflect the same name, exactly as it appears in your passport. Do not use “nicknames” or shortened names on any of your documents, including your passport, I-20, entry Visa stamp, I-94 card (completed in the airplane before your arrival) and any additional documents that you acquire after your arrival in the U.S.
   • Security Clearance Checks
     Many Visa applicants are subject to additional security clearance checks that will delay the issuance of your Visa by one or two months. This is NOT a denial. Most applicants who are subject to clearance will eventually receive the Visa. You cannot prevent a security clearance nor can Hennepin Technical College intervene to speed up the process.

Upon Your Arrival

Students are expected to arrive in the United States a month before the first day of the semester.

For Fall, students are to arrive at least by July 20th

For Spring, students are to arrive at least by December 10^th

Documents you must bring to the United States:

• I-20
• Passport
• Vaccination Card within the Year and in English
  • Required Vaccinations: MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and Tuberculosis
  • Recommended Vaccinations: Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis within the last 10 years)

When you arrive in the United States at a Port of Entry, you are expected to fill out the I-94 form

• A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will issue the I-94 electronically. For land border crossings, travelers can apply for an I-94 online or in person at the port of entry.
• Make sure to notify the International Student Department at Hennepin Technical College of your Arrival and send a copy of your I-94 with your STARID or TECHID attached to International@Hennepintech.edu

Preparing For College

• Pay for Tuition for the semester or set up payment plan
  • If you need in-person assistance with setting up your payment plan, please stop in the Onestop Center
    • Brooklyn Park Hours are Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm
    • Eden Prairie Hours are:
      • Monday – Thursday from 9 am – 3 pm
      • Fridays from 9 am – 1 pm
• Purchase, rent and gather school supplies
  • Textbooks and Toolkits
    • On campus Bookstore Hours are Monday – Thursday from 8 am – 4 pm
  • If needed, request to check out laptop from library for the following semester
• Set-up your Hennepin Technical College Email
  • Brooklyn Park Hours are Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm
  • Eden Prairie Hours are Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm
• Sign up and attend a D2L Bootcamp Session
• Attend Mandatory International Student Orientation
  • Calendar invites will be sent by your DSO to your personal and Hennepin Technical College email.

For any other questions or concerns, please contact your PDSO/DSO

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am in the process of getting a Green Card?

If you are in the process of getting your Green Card and apply for an F1 academic student visa, your green card status may be halted. Please reach out to the International Admissions Team if you have any further questions or concerns at International@Hennepintech.edu

What other visas may be eligible to enroll at Hennepin Technical College?

International students who are not F1 visa holders, (H1, H3, H4, J1, K1, or R1 visa holders) may qualify to study at Hennepin Tech. See details below for requirements. Other visa types not listed will be reviewed. Please reach out to the International Admissions Team if you have any further questions or concerns at International@Hennepintech.edu

Who is not considered an International Student?

U.S. permanent residents or dual nationals with U.S. citizenship and refugee/asylum seeker visa holders are not considered international students.

What Programs are Eligible for F1 Visa students

Architecture, HVAC & Construction

• Cabinet Making and Wood Product Design
• Carpentry
• Facilities Maintenance

Horticulture & Landscaping

• Greenhouse Management Technician
• Landscape/Horticulture
• Landscape Design & Construction
• Urban Forestry Technician

Healthcare

• Dental Assistant

Manufacturing and Engineering Technology

• Automation Robotics Engineering
• Fluid Power Engineering and Motion Control
• CNC Machining
• Tool/Die Mold-making
• Electronics Technology
• Engineering CAD Technology
• Manufacturing Engineering and Technology
• Welding and Metal Fabrication

Media & Communications

• Audio Production
• Graphic and Web Design

Culinary & Hospitality Program

• Culinary Arts
• Baking and Pastry

Transportation Program

• Auto Body Collision Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Marine Engine Repair

Am I considered a New or Transfer F1 Visa Holder?

New is considered as a person who has not studied in the United States and is hoping to apply and obtain an F1 Student Visa with the intentions of studying in the United States.

Transfer is considered an international student who already has their F1 Student Visa approved and their SEVIS account through another institution in the United States but has the intention to leave their institution and pursue Hennepin Technical College instead.

Important Note for M-1 Students

If you are an M-1 student, you may not change to F or H status while you are in the United States. If you would like to attend Hennepin Technical College as an F-1 student, you will need to leave the United States, apply to a SEVP-certified school, and receive a new Form I-20. You will also need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, if applicable.

Is my application canceled?

• After the semester deadline for receipt of application materials has passed, incomplete applications will be canceled.
• If the documents required for the I-20 are not turned in within 6 months of the application, your application will be canceled.
• Prospective International students may reapply and turn in updated documents to Hennepin Tech for the following semester if desired.
• If you are not accepted into the following semester, you will have to wait a year to reapply.

Are there dorms or housing on campus?

• No, Hennepin Technical College does not provide housing or a dorm system. Students are expected and responsible to find and pay for their own housing prior to being a student at the college. If students need assistance with housing, please check our Basic Care Needs Page.

What services are provided to International Students?

• Tutoring
• Health Insurance
• Basic needs
  • Food pantry
  • Clothing & shoes
  • Mental Health Resources
• Career Development
  • Resume Help
  • Interview Help
  • Looking for job/internships for CPT and OPT opportunities
• Transportation Resources
• Laptop Lending
• Non-Fafsa Required Scholarships

Are International Students Eligible for Work Study or Financial Aid?

• No, F1 Visa and most International Students are not eligible for Work Study or Financial Aid. Financial aid is typically eligible for U.S Citizens, Permanent Residents, non-citizens with Reguee/Asylum seekers listed on their I-94 form, or non-citizens with a T immigration visa.