International Students

If you are transferring to Tampa Medical College from another institution in the U.S., you are responsible for initiating and completing the SEVIS School Transfer Process. You must meet admissions requirements to be accepted into Tampa Medical College and pay International Admissions Processing Fees of $1000 and required Tuition Fees to receive I-20.

How to Initiate the Transfer-In Process:

Provide your current school with a copy of your Tampa Medical College acceptance letter and ask your DSO to transfer your SEVIS record to Tampa Medical College.

• SEVP School Name: Tampa Medical College
• SCHOOL CODE: MIA214F59249000

Your SEVIS record must be transferred to Tampa Medical College within 60 days after completing all degree requirements or the last day of your OPT. If your status at your current institution is ending early, for example, if you are withdrawing from your current program, you need to contact your current institution to know what is the last day they can transfer your SEVIS record.

Once Tampa Medical College receives your SEVIS record, the Office of Admissions will issue you a “Transfer Pending” Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20). If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. prior to beginning your studies at Tampa Medical College. you must use the “transfer pending” I-20 issued by Tampa Medical College to re-enter the U.S. Your Tampa Medical College I-20 will be mailed to you unless you request to pick it up in person at the Campus. You will also receive orientation dates and Class schedules, including the mandatory check-in dates for international Students. Plan to arrive 2-3 days before your earliest orientation.

Staying in the US

If you complete the SEVIS transfer within the required time frame, you are allowed to stay in the United States during the transfer period. You do not need to depart the U.S.

How to Complete the Transfer-In Process:

Register for classes and complete the New Student Check-In/Status Verification by the end of the first week of classes.

To complete the New Student Check-In/Status Verification Process, you must bring the following items to the Check-in:

• Passport
• Form I-20 issued to you by Tampa Medical College
• Form I-20(s) from all previous schools attended.
• Current local address and phone number information

1. Students must complete I-20 Request Forms
2. To complete the I-20 application you will need the following.
   • A copy of your Full Acceptance letter (an electronic version is fine)
   • A copy of the photo page of your passport
   • Pay tuition and Fees for Two (Full) semesters of $13750.
   • Financial documents that show that you have at least one year of $40 700 of the estimated expenses associated with your academic program

   VISA Application

   Documents Needed for Visa Processing (have originals and copies ready):
   • Form I-20 is needed to initiate the F-1 visa application process.
   • Full Acceptance Letter
   • Legalized school certificates and transcripts
   • Original and photocopy of birth certificate
   • Original and photocopy of your passport
   • Proof of accommodation
   • Certified Medical Clearance
   • Certified Police Clearance Certified
   • Medical travel insurance (for 1-year duration) with zero deductible
   • Student Motivation letter
   • Letter of sponsorship (notarized with apostille seal)
   • Sponsor’s passport copy
   • Proof of relationship with your sponsor
   • Bank statement accompanied (Six (6) months bank statements) Must have at least $40700 USD.
   • Scholarship letter if government-sponsored.
   • Two (2) Passport photographs
3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee of $350 directly to SEVIS.
   • To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, go to www.fmjfee.com. You will need your SEVIS number from your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. The SEVIS number is located on the upper right corner of Form DS-2019 and the upper left corner of Form I-20.
   • If you have a credit card and access to the internet you may pay the SEVIS fee online
   • Some Countries have an additional fee to pay at the embassy (find out if there are fees and if it’s paid in cash and has the exact amount of cash)
4. Set up Visa Interview and Time
   • Show up on time.
   • Make sure you are well-dressed and groomed.
   • Make sure you have ALL original and copies of documents listed in number 2.

Immigration Check-In within forty-eight (48) business hours of arrival into the USA

• Immigration Check-in is the process by which the office of the Registrar Designated School Official checks that your immigration documents show the correct status
• Immigration Check-in is a separate event from your Undergraduate Orientation

Students must complete the Immigration Check-In Form and bring the following documents:

• A valid passport, visa (stamp located inside the passport), and all I-20 forms (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student) issued throughout the duration of their studies in the United States.
• These documents will be reviewed and photocopied for the student’s file.

At that time, the Office of the Registrar will register the student in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

• Signed I-20
• Passport biographic and expiry page
• I-94 Record
• Proof of health insurance that meets program requirements.
• F-2 dependents are the spouses or minor children of a primary F-1 visa holder. The primary visa holder must notify the College that a dependent has arrived in the U.S. in F-2 status by completing an Immigration Check-in with the Office of the Registrar on their dependent’s behalf.

During check-in, Students will be provided with an Orientation and Class Schedule.

Estimated Expenses Per Year

F-1 visa regulations require that international students must declare that they have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition, books, room and board, health insurance, and personal expenses for at least one academic year prior to issuance of the Form I-20. The following costs are estimated academic and living expenses for the academic year at Tampa Medical College (three terms).

For admission purposes, you must submit financial support documentation in the minimum amount of 1 year of expenses. Acceptable documents include recent bank letters/statements and scholarship/award letters from your government/embassy.

• If your financial support includes any sponsor or other non-personal funds, you must also submit the Affidavit of Sponsorship (signed by each sponsor).
• Please note that if you plan to bring a spouse and/or children, you must provide documentation for an additional amount of $6,000 per F-2 dependent.

LINK TO DOWNLOAD FINANCIAL SUPPORT LETTER

Indicate the source of your funding for academic and living expenses and the amount in U.S. dollars in the section below. If you provide your own personal funds or are sponsored by your government/embassy, the sponsor declaration below may remain blank. If your source of funding is not 100% personal funds, you must have your sponsor(s) each complete and sign the Sponsor Financial Declaration.

Students with government sponsorships or grants/loans (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, etc.) must submit final, official financial guarantees or current financial documents for admission purposes.

Table below is estimated Expenses per year.

Tuition & Fees (One Year) three semesters	$9,375
Books and Supplies per year	$1,000
Housing, transportation, food, and entertainment per year	$12,000
Mandatory Health Insurance per year	$1,500
TOTAL	$23,875

Based on enrollment in 12 credit hours per semester for first year for first three (3) terms. The current non-resident tuition rate for one credit hour is $250per credit hour. Housing cost is based on a one-year (12 months) lease of a one-bedroom/one-bathroom unit in a Three/four-bedroom student apartment at Local private Student housing ($800 per month). Other fees may apply. Tampa Medical does not offer a meal plan.

Tuition Fees Breakdown for ASN Program

The cost per credit hour for attendance for international students is $250 per credit hour for General Education and Pre-Nursing Courses and $500 per credit hours for Core Nursing Courses. The fees below are estimated Tuition and Fees for each semester for the duration of your studies. Tuition and Fees does not include housing, transportation , books, food , insurance or other costs that are not paid directly to the College

Estimated ASN Program Tuition
Semester 1	$3,000.00
Semester 2	$3,375.00
Semester 3	$3,000.00
Semester 4	$6,250.00
Semester 5	$6,250.00
Semester 6	$6,500.00
Semester 7	$4,250.00
TOTAL HOURS	$32,625.00

Student Housing Options

Tampa Medical College does not provide student housing facilities; however, students can choose from a variety of housing options near the Campus. We recommend you make arrangements for hotels and student housing of your choice directly before arriving at the Tampa Bay Campus. Please contact student services for assistance and resource recommendations.

Short-Term Housing

For students seeking temporary housing while waiting for more permanent student housing the following Hotels are near the Campus. You can book at booking.com.

Other Short-Term Housing

• www.airbnb.com
• www.vrbo.com
• www.Hotels.com
• www.booking.com

Student Long-Term Housing

Local Requirements for Leasing Housing:

To rent housing, a student will need a valid state ID or (passport with student VISA and I-20 for an international student), and a Tampa Medical College student ID for select locations. Depending on the facility selected, pre-payment in full or evidence of sufficient funds to cover the entire rental agreement might be required. Please note that requirement varies by management and establishment and Tampa Medical College does not endorse and/or recommend any specific location over another.

Needed documentation may include but not limited to:

• Security deposit
• Social Security Card
• Proof of Income
• Co-signer
• Background Check and/or Bank statement

OPT (Optional Practical Training) Work

OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a benefit available to those Tampa Medical College. Students (F-1) that study and finish their last year of degree at our Tampa Campus. All OPT must be directly related to your major area of study. If you are a Tampa Medical College International Student (F-1), you may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways

• Pre-Completion – Before completion of studies during an annual vacation or leave term
• Post-Completion – After completion of studies.

Completion of studies is defined as the actual date that you complete all requirements for a program of study (such as the date of your final exams, or submission of your thesis or dissertation). It is not automatically considered to be the date of graduation ceremonies.This unique practical training program allows you to gain valuable hands-on experience and start contributing to your education and global mindset in a country full of prospects like the USA right away. A real experience through which to develop your skills and build relationships with potential employers while determining your future.

OPT Must Know Facts:

• A student eligible for OPT does not need a job offer to apply for OPT.
• A student eligible for OPT may not pursue a new course of full-time study while on OPT.
• The application is approved by United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS).
• The approval process for USCIS takes approximately between 1-2 months. The latest processing times, which may fluctuate, can be found here on the USCIS website: Processing Times (uscis.gov)
• A student eligible for OPT must be in a degree program to be eligible. Students in non-degree programs are not eligible for OPT.
• A student eligible for OPT must not have used OPT at a higher degree level. For example, if you complete a Phd, then use OPT, and then complete a Master’s-level program, you will not be eligible for OPT for the Master’s level.
• A student eligible for OPT must be in the U.S. to apply. Students will not be eligible to apply for OPT if they are outside of the U.S. at the time of application.
• A student us eligible for 12 months OPT per education level.
• Each segment and type of OPT requires separate, complete applications to USCIS.
• As long as each position meets the required employment criteria, you can work for multiple employers simultaneously.

Eligibility

F-1 students who have been enrolled in valid F-1 student status for a minimum of nine months may be eligible to apply to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) for up to 12 months of OPT work authorization.

To be eligible for OPT:

• The student must be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application.
• The student must be enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year in the U.S.
• The student must be physically present in the U.S. when the application is submitted.

Types of Paid Employment Allowed on OPT:

A student approved for OPT must work in field and position directly related to your studies, commensurate with your level of education, and all jobs combine for at least 20 hours/week, essentially all kinds of employment situations and employers are allowed while on OPT, including:

• Multiple employers: A student granted OPT may work for more than one employer, but all jobs must be directly related to your field.
• Short-term multiple employers (performing artists): You’re allowed to have multiple short-term jobs nurse travel contracts). Keep a list of all short-term employers, and duration of each.
• Work for hire: Referred to as 1099 employee or an Independent Contractor. The student must maintain evidence of the duration of contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
• Self-employed/business owner: A student approved for OPT may also start a business. For immigration purposes, you can start a business or be self-employed while on OPT. You should be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and that it is related to your degree program.
• Consulting/Temp Agency: Employment through an agency or consulting firm is also allowed, as long as it meets all requirements.
• Other types of employment: As long as the position/job is directly related to your studies (and, of course, is legal), the type of employer or job you have does not really matter. It can be a big or small company, start-up, internship, temporary work, full-time, post-doc, hourly, unpaid, salaried, unconventional hours, non-profit, for-profit, self-employment, NGO or any other employer situation.

OPT Increments

OPT may be used in “increments” during an annual vacation term before completion of studies, but after completion of studies it may only be used as a single block of time. Once you apply for OPT and complete your program of study, the OPT work eligibility is either used or it is not. There is no recapture of unused OPT time.

• OPT employment must be a minimum of 20 hours per week, paid or unpaid.
• If and F 1 students begins a new degree program at a higher level (e.g. Bachelor to Masters or Masters to Ph.D.), they may be eligible for an additional 12-month period of OPT

Unemployment

Student maybe permitted limited unemployment time during post-completion OPT.

• Post-Completion OPT: Students can accrue no more than 90 days of unemployment, which is cumulative.

Volunteer Work and Unpaid Internships on OPT

Volunteering or even participation in internship that is unpaid may be considered employment for purposes of the initial 12-month period of F-1 post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) and can be reported in SEVIS as valid OPT employment. The volunteer or training opportunity must comply with applicable federal and state labor laws.

• Volunteering is considered donation of time an institution whose main purpose is provide charitable or humanitarian assistance, without any kind of compensation. The Department of Labor website contains resources on what constitute legitimate volunteer activities.
• The Department of Labor applies a set of criteria when evaluating whether an activity constitutes a legitimate unpaid internship.
• Engaging in activities that would be considered employment, without the appropriate work authorization, is a violation of your immigration status, and could threaten your ability to remain in the U.S., and to obtain future U.S. immigration benefits.

OPT Application Timeline

Pre-Completion OPT (before your program ends):

• A student eligible for OPT may apply up to 90 days before your requested work start date.
• The end date must be on or before your I-20 end date.
• A student eligible for OPT may apply for pre-completion OPT before you finish your first year of study. However, the work cannot start until after you complete three (3) semesters of full-time enrollment.

Post-Completion OPT (after your program ends):

• A student can apply OPT from 90 days before your end date, until 60 days after your end date.
• USCIS must receipt (not receive) your application no later than 60 days after your I-20 end date. Allow at least 10-14 days for USCIS to assign a receipt number.
• A student’s OPT start date can be between the day after your end date and 60 days after your end date.
• If the student is outside of the U.S. or leaves the U.S. after their program end date and they have not applied for OPT, they will lose your OPT eligibility.

Other Resources

Transcript Evaluation Service

SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for Tampa Medical College that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate.

You can access their application here: https://spanside.my.salesforce-sites.com/SpantranApplication?Id=0b4585e6-c424-4696-88c8-0229e5cdfcb9

International Student Insurance

The following sites offer Travel medical insurance for International Students. Students are advised to buy policies with zero deductible. Proof of travel medical insurance confirms you will have adequate coverage for potential medical costs incurred within your destination country.

• https://lewerglobal.com/f1-student-health-insurance
• https://www.isoa.org/
• https://www.visitorguard.com/international-student-insurance/
• https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/
• https://www.worldtrips.com/student-secure-insurance#/ssq
• https://www.imglobal.com/international-student-health-insurance
• https://www.insubuy.com/international-student-insurance/
• https://www.internationalstudent.com/insurance/
• https://www.geobluestudents.com/

Transportation From Tampa International Airport

The best Airport to fly into is Tampa International Airport. Contact Student Services for Assistance with setting up transportation (they maybe an additional fee billed for transportation)

The sites below have helpful information for international students

• https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/

This site has the most accurate information for intenrational students

• https://www.studyusa.com/en

Helpful tools and resources

• https://elevateapp.com/

Elevate is an app that enables you to develop a comprehensive set of English reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills

• https://brians.wsu.edu/common-errors/

At this website, you’ll get access to detailed explanations of the common errors in English usage. When you learn how to avoid these slips, you’ll instantly become a better speaker and writer.

• https://www.cliffsnotes.com/

At this website, you’ll find effective study guides, literature notes, and test prep materials that will make your studies much easier

• https://iso.mit.edu/news-and-announcements/major-immigration-updates/

Sites has major updates on matters affecting international students

• https://www.internationalstudent.com/resources/

Resources for International Students

• https://www.whatsapp.com/

WhatsApp is available as a web-based tool and an app for Android and iOS. It will enable you catch up with your friends and family at any time.