Admitted International Students

Once you have been accepted and have received your I-20 you can begin the process of applying for a student visa.

You will need to complete a fee payment of $350 at https://www.fmjfee.com to pay your SEVIS fee

You will reference your SEVIS number (top left of your I-20) to complete the form. Once you complete the payment you can schedule your visa interview.

Please note: Admitted students from Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and those who hold Palestinian Authority Travel Documents are currently unable to have student visas issued. Please contact us at international@butte.edu to discuss your options.  

Once your I-901 fee is paid you can schedule your F-1 visa interview.

We encourage you to schedule your visa appointment at your local US embassy or consulate as soon as possible. 

The International Program is here to help you with this process. Please contact us at international@butte.edu for questions and to review your personalized process.

Please note: Please consult the US Visa Reciprocity Chart to check on your country's current visa validity limits. Certain countries are only eligible for single-entry F-1 visas with a limited entry period. A "single-entry" means your visa can only be used once. After entering the U.S. on a single-entry visa, you would need to apply for a new visa upon travel outside of the U.S. 

Please note: Admitted students from Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and those who hold Palestinian Authority Travel Documents are currently unable to have student visas issued. Please contact us at international@butte.edu to discuss your options.  

Please note: Social Media is being used in the vetting of students for visas. Please review this article for more information.

• Be sure to print out your I-901 fee receipt.
• You must print your I-20 document.  Make sure to sign on the bottom of page 1 above where you see your name printed. 

10 Tips to help you when applying for student F-1 visa

1. Demonstrating Ties To Your Home Country Be ready to demonstrate to the Consular Officer that you will return home after you complete your studies in the US. A student F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa so you must prove to the visa officer that you plan to return to your home country after your studies and prove you have ties to your country. "Ties" to your home country are the things that connect you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence such as: job, family, owning a house or apartment, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc.
2. Practice Your English You will be expected to communicate in English during the interview.  Practicing your responses to possible questions will help you feel more at ease. If you do not understand a question that you are asked, it is ok to ask the officer to repeat. You do not need to prepare or memorize answers. Think about your responses before the interview and let your answers come naturally.
3. Speak For Yourself Family members are not preferred to join the applicants to the interview. But if you are a minor and need your parents to be there in case there are questions, like finances, then check with the consulate about the consulate's waiting area and any special rules or procedures for non-applicant family members to accompany a visa applicant.
4.  Know Your Academic Program &  How It Supports Your Career Plans  Be ready to clearly explain why you want to come to the U.S. to study at Butte College. You are expected to explain why you chose your major and how if matches your career plans. If you are not able to do that, you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study.
   • Possible questions are:
     • Why  did you choose your academic program?
     • Why did you choose to study in the United States and Butte College?
     • How will your academics prepare you for your future career?
     • What are your plans after you complete your studies at Butte College?
     • Will you transfer to a university to complete a bachelor's degree after Butte College?
5. Be Brief And Maintain A Positive Attitude  Consular officers receive many visa applications, so they must conduct interviews very quickly - generally 3-5 minutes. That being said, you will need to be brief and to the point. Remember that first impression you create are critical to your success and decisions could be made during the first couple minutes of the interview. Answer the officer's questions clearly, briefly, and directly. Be positive and confident.
6. Bring Supporting Documentation (Know Your Specific Situation Or History)   The documents that you will need to bring to your visa interview will be shared by the embassy website when you schedule your appointment. Documents that you will need to bring are specific to you however, there are a few supporting documents which are common among all students such as financial documentation, admission letter, I-20, and I-901 payment receipt.
7. Know That There Are Different Requirements For Different Countries  Visa processing times might vary from one country to another so the key is to plan ahead. Check with the embassy in your home country for processing times to schedule your visa interview accordingly. Take into consideration that applicants from countries having economic issues or where many students have violated the student visa regulations and remained in the US might have difficulty getting visa. Usually, these applicants will be more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the United States.
8. Employment Remember that your main goal is to study in the US and not work! Employment is very restricted for international students. Some students work off-campus during their studies but not guaranteed. You must prove that you or your sponsor can support the costs of studying and living in the U.S.
9. Dependents Remaining at Home  If your spouse and children are remaining in your country, be prepared to explain how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be difficult to explain especially if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gains the impression that you intend to support your family with money you may earn during your studies in the United States, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied.
10. Be Honest And Confident!  Be honest. Providing false information can lead to the denial of your application and will also affect your US visa applications in the future. As explained in the earlier steps, it is better to prepare for the interview as that will give you confidence. Nervousness will influence the way you answer thus will impact the judgment of the Consular officer who conducts the interview. So be honest and relax!

This list was compiled with the support of  NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Additional F-1 Visa Support Resources

Education USA – Apply for your Student Visa
Study in the States

As you continue with the visa process please let us know your progress:

• Date visa interview is scheduled
• Outcome of visa appointment

Let us know by e-mailing us international@butte.edu

Apartment Living
This option is popular for students who are independent.  It offers the most flexibility in price and style of living. You can seek a space of your own or find roommates to share the apartment. Most students choose this option after they have established connections in the area and have made friends during their first year. Most rental agreements are for six-months to one-year with an option to extend.

The Social Chico / Student Dormitory
This is popular for many first-time students. The Social Chico dorms are located in the city of Chico and buses are available to take you to the Butte College campus. Some rooms are private and others are shared with two or more students. The rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser and computer desk while some have even more options. Freshly prepared meals are served to students on location in a dining facility with meal plans available to choose from. There are frequent, planned social activities like movie nights and adventure outings to participate in along with a recreation room and fitness center on-site. For more information, please contact The Social Chico directly.

Flights

Make the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) your final destination. It is the closest airport to Chico, CA. It is approximately 1.5 hours south of Chico.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) can sometimes be a less expensive final destination for flight.  However, the cost to then get to Chico (approximately 3.5 hours) will exceed the additional cost to make SMF your final destination. 

We highly recommend SMF airport at least for your initial travel.

Airport Pick Up 

You will need to arrange your pick up from the airport. Below are the options available from SMF to bring you to Chico:

UBER and LYFT serve as ride-sharing alternative to traditional taxi cabs. Download the app. and get your ride in minutes. 

Transportation to Campus

The college provides a free bus system to all students that is accessible from the community to the college.

• Butte College Bus Schedule

Community Transportation

Butte County has a regional public transit system called the B-line. You can use B-Line to travel locally in Chico, Oroville, Paradise, or to travel between communities throughout Butte County. This transportation system requires a ride fare.

Average taxi fare around Chico is $15.00 to $20.00.

Taxis: There are a few taxi companies in Chico for you to choose from, a couple of them are Chico Yellow Cab at +1.530.893.4444 or Black and White Cab Co. at +1.530.321.1406.

Students can also utilize UBER or LYFT

Personal Transportation

Most international students are able to get around town by walking or riding a bike.  You can take the Butte College bus to the main campus. Students that wish to drive a car would need to apply for a California Drivers License.

Online Orientation

International students are required to complete on online class prior to their arrival. The class will teach information that will be helpful for pre-arrival.

Students will receive email instructions with details about how to access the online class and dates and deadlines. 

Questions? Please contact international@butte.edu 

In Person Orientation

We look forward to welcoming students to our mandatory orientation day.  It will be a day filled with information and fun.  There will be opportunities to meet other students, become familiar with the campus and student services. Students will also take a campus tour with one of our exceptional international student orientation leaders.

Students will receive an email with details about the event.

Questions? Please contact international@butte.edu 

Personal health insurance is required while you are studying at Butte College due to the high cost of medical care in the United States. Although insurance is NOT an admission requirement you will be required to show proof of coverage at the beginning of each semester or a registration hold will be placed on your record. Proof of coverage needs to be sent to international@butte.edu 

The school recommends an insurance plan with premiums and benefits directed to meet the needs of international students. This health insurance plan is required of all international students UNLESS proof of comparable insurance is provided.

HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN RECOMMENDED BY BUTTE COLLEGE
ISO Insurance (International Student Insurance)

• Students can choose from the ISO SECURE or COMPASS PPO policy. 

Minimum Coverage Requirements:

• Be in effect the full semester enrolled and be renewable for continuing coverage
• Have a minimum USD coverage of $250,000 per illness or injury
• Includes mental health care
• Includes outpatient care (doctor visit, outpatient surgery, etc.)
• Includes hospitalization
• Includes maternity
• Includes medical evacuation
• Includes repatriation

ALTERNATE INSURANCE PLAN OPTION

If you believe you have sufficient health insurance from a company other than the recommended company above, you must provide a copy of your health insurance policy, to Rachel Wood, Program Coordinator for the International Program.

The policy information that you submit for review must include:

• Student's name
• Effective term of coverage (beginning and ending date of policy)
• Maximum USD coverage for each sickness or injury
• Outline of covered services (see Min. Coverage requirements below)
• List of excluded services
• Address and telephone number of the insurance company

If your insurance policy is approved, you will not be required to purchase additional health insurance.