Admissions Requirements*
for International (F1 Visa) Students

*All admissions requirements are subject to change

Application filing periods are as follows:
Students Outside the U.S. - Priority Filing Period*
Fall Term : January 1 - June 1
Spring Term: August 1 - November 1

Students in the U.S. - Priority Filing Period*
Fall Term: January 1 - August 1
Spring Term: August 1 - November 15
Summer Term: January 1 - April 15

Students outside the U.S. should consider submitting their applications early to allow processing time, mailing time overseas, and the time required to obtain a visa in their country.
*Applications received after the priority filing period may be reviewed and considered on an individual basis.

There are 2 options for applying for admission:

OPTION 1: You may complete your application online by visiting our website at www.ivc.edu and clicking on the Admissions link, then click on "Apply to IVC". If you have not previously applied to IVC or Saddleback College, you need to create a user name and password. Once your application is processed, you will receive an email reply within a period of two days. We highly recommend that you contact our office by email at iso@ivc.edu to provide us with your newly assigned student I.D. #.

The online application may not be available on the website until April 1 if applying for Summer or Fall semester, and October 1 for Spring.

OPTION 2: You may download/print the paper application and mail it to our office. Paper applications must be original documents. Faxed or scanned copies are not acceptable. The paper application is available to download below under the heading "Forms".

Application and $54 Application Fee
A $54 nonrefundable fee must be enclosed when you submit your application. You may choose to mail a check or money order to the International Student Center, payable in U.S. currency to Irvine Valley College. The mailing address is:

You may also choose to pay this fee online at http://www.ivc.edu/bursar/Pages/payments.aspx This option is only available if your application has already been processed and you have been assigned an IVC student ID number.

If you are able to pay this fee in-person at our campus, you may also do so if you have been assigned an IVC student ID number.

Students Below 18 Years Old
If you are under the legal adult age of 18, you need to have a guardian in this country before you arrive and your guardian must be over 21 years of age. Your guardian must be the person you live with and must take full responsibility for you until you become 18 years of age, the legal age of an adult in this country.
Your guardian must provide Irvine Valley College with a typewritten U.S. Notarized letter stating:
1. His/her name, address, & telephone number.
2. Your name and birth date.
3. A statement of full responsibility for you.
4. Permission from your guardian to take a TB (tuberculosis) test at the IVC Health Center.
Legal Guardian Sample Letter

English Proficiency Requirement
To be accepted as an international student at Irvine Valley College, students must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English at a level that will allow them to complete college courses successfully. Students whose native language is not English must take either the international TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS, iTEP, or the STEP EIKEN test. The official exam scores must not be more than 2 years old.

The TOEFL score must be a minimum of 470 on the paper-based format, or a 52 on the Internet-based format. The TOEFL institutional code for Irvine Valley College is 4773. (www.toefl.org)
The IELTS score must be a minimum of 4.5. (www.ielts.org)
The iTEP score must be a minimum of 4.5. (www.itepexam.com)
The STEP EIKEN test must be passed at the grade 2A level. (www.stepeiken.org)

The above test requirement may be waived for applicants who can demonstrate that they have successfully completed the equivalent to one of the following courses at Irvine Valley College: Writing 201, Writing 1, or Speech 1. Courses must be from an accredited institution. Original and official scores are required.

As another option to completing the English proficiency requirement, students may enroll in an approved English language school from our list below. See program completion requirements for each institution:

Kaplan Aspect: Level 6 or higher with recommendation letter from school (www.kaplaninternational.com)
American Language Program (CSU Fullerton): Level 6 & recommendation letter from school (www.alp.fullerton.edu)
AAIEP (UCLA Extension): Level 105 & recommendation letter from school (www.aaiep.org/schools/show/306/american_language_center_at_ucla)
AOI College of Languages: Level 6 & recommendation letter from school (www.aoicollege.com)
GEOS English Academy: Level 6 & recommendation letter from school (www.geos.net)
LASC - Irvine, Los Angeles, or Rowland Heights: Level 6 & recommendation letter (www.lascusa.com)
Poly Languages Institute: Level 6 & recommendation letter from school (www.polylanguages.edu)
UC Irvine Extension: Level 6 & recommendation letter from school (http://unex.uci.edu/international/english)
UC Riverside Extension: Level 600 & recommendation letter (www.iep.ucr.edu)

Evidence of High School or Secondary School Graduation

All applicants must provide evidence of academic achievement equivalent to, at minimum, graduation from a U.S. high school, or completion of U.S. G.E.D (Graduation Equivalency Diploma) (www.acenet.edu). This proof must be official records (in English) from the high school (or equivalent schooling that you received) verifying that you successfully completed graduation or equivalent course requirements. Transcripts must be original documents. If documents are not in English or if your school records need further clarification by us, you may be asked to have your transcript evaluated by a foreign credential evaluator (see Foreign Credential Evaluators link on this webpage for more information).

All submitted transcripts become the property of Irvine Valley College and will not be returned.

Affidavit of Support and Bank Statement

In order to determine whether you have adequate funds to satisfy all financial obligations while attending Irvine Valley College, you must submit documents verifying that funds are available to meet the expenses required at the time of enrollment. Please complete the Affidavit of Support form (See Forms Section) and submit a recent bank statement verifying the funds available for you, from your parents, or your sponsor.

The Affidavit form may be faxed or scanned. However, the bank statement must be an original document and should be provided in English.

Additional Requirements for Students Transferring from another US Institution

1- Transfer Form (See Forms Section)
Please have your foreign student advisor complete the transfer form enclosed in the application packet.
2- Copy of I-20 (all 3 pages)
Please submit a copy of your I-20 form from your transferring institution.
3- Copy of passport, visa, and I-94 card (front and back side)
Please include copies of your F-1 visa, passport photo page, and the front and back of your I-94 white card.
4- Original transcripts from the school you are transferring from.

 We realize you may not have all of your required documents at the time that you apply. If this is the case, you may later submit additional documents as soon as they become available. However, we must receive your admissions application and fee no later than the deadlines mentioned above. Your admission to our college will not be complete until we receive all of the required documents first.

 

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 Once your application is complete and you have been admitted, you have the option of using express mail services at your expense.
Please refer to the Express Shipping page by clicking on the following link:

Mailing Your I-20

 

NOTE TO ALL STUDENTS
Upon acceptance to IVC, you will be required to purchase health insurance and complete a test for tuberculosis (TB).

Forms

All-in-one Application Packet
Admissions Application
Affidavit of Support
Transfer Form
Foreign Transcript & Credential Evaluator Agencies