Admitted Students

All nonimmigrant visitors are required to have a valid visa (*except Canadians) in their passport to be allowed entry into the United States. For general information, see the U.S. Department of State website.

• An appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad may be required.
• Visas cannot be issued inside the United States.

If you already have F-1 student status...

If you have attended another school in the United States within five months of your start date at NJC, you are considered a transfer student for immigration purposes. To be able to issue you a Northeastern Junior College SEVIS I-20, you will need to contact your foreign student advisor at your previous school and ask that they release your SEVIS student record to NJC, as well as fill out our Transfer-In Form. The I-20 issued to you by NJC will indicate, “Transfer Pending From…”

The F1 Visa

Do the following to get an F-1 visa:

1. Obtain I-20 from Northeastern.
2. Check the current wait times for visa appointments and issuance in your city.
3. Pay the SEVIS fee, if applicable.
4. Complete the Visa Application form DS-160
5. Make a visa appointment and go to an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

*Canadian citizens are not required to apply for a visa to enter the United States as an F-1, but must still pay the SEVIS fee and present their I-20 at the U.S. port of entry. However, if the visitor has "Landed Immigrant" status in Canada, a U.S. visa is required to enter the United States.

Visa Wait Times

Since visa appointments are limited and visa processing times can be lengthy, make your appointment as early as possible. Consulates will generally accept appointments up to 120 days prior to the start of studies. There may be long waiting period for appointments, especially May through August. However, consulates may give priority to F-1 student applicants, if requested.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Increased Visa Screening

Be mindful of your social media presence!

The DS-160 visa application includes specific questions requiring you to list all social media platforms, identifiers, and handles used in the previous 5 years.

The DS-160 may also require:

• Five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel.
• Admission of all prior immigration violations.
• Whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist activities.

The Visa Interview

Items which may be required by the embassy or consulate include:

• Passport (valid at least six months into the future)
• Certificate of Eligibility I-20
• Proof of admission (acceptance letter)
• Evidence of financial support
• Visa application forms and fees
• SEVIS fee receipt

Some consulates may require additional documentation, so check the consulate website for visa application instructions. Visa application forms and fees can be found on the consulate website.

If approved, the consular officer will place a visa in your passport. You may use it to enter and reenter the U.S. up to the date of its expiration as long as you have a valid I-20.

After receiving the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility, you must attend Northeastern Junior College for at least one semester.

Once you have your visa and are ready to travel to the U.S., you should make your travel arrangements as soon as possible. The closest airport is Denver International Airport (DIA), about a 2-hour drive away from Sterling. We will provide a shuttle available to pick up students in August for fall semester and January for spring semester, and will contact you concerning that date. If your arrival date is different from the day we provide a shuttle, you will need to coordinate transportation to Sterling.

One important fact to remember: You may enter the U.S. in initial F-1 status (meaning you are not a transfer student) up to 30 days before the program start date on your Form I-20. For example, if that date is August 20, 2020, you may enter the U.S. on July 21, 2020 or later.

The last step in the visa process will be to actually enter the U.S., and it involves the inspection at the port of entry. You must carry your documents on your person, not in your luggage. If you have a connecting flight in the U.S. to DIA, you should allow plenty of time between your arrival and connecting flight.

Regardless of where you arrive in the U.S., upon inspection of your documents, you may be sent to “secondary”, which is an additional inspection of your documents. This is often done on a random basis and may have nothing to do with specific circumstances. Generally speaking, it is important that you remain calm during the process.

Non-Athlete Students

Health insurance is mandatory and you will need to look for a provider on your own. Northeastern recommends the Student Secure plan through International Student Insurance because it provides comprehensive student health coverage designed for international students at reasonable rates. All international students should purchase either the Budget plan or higher to provide coverage for additional athletic injuries or other illnesses.

Student Athletes

Student athletes are required to purchase health insurance through our athletic department that will cover medical expenses as well as intercollegiate athletics. You can find detailed information on our Northeastern Athletics International Athletes page (scroll down to bottom).

Our campus housing provides a variety of housing options, and each room is furnished with a bed, desk, chair, and a small chest of drawers. You can find information on each of our residence halls. For the steps to apply for housing and to fill out the application.

Things to bring from home:

• Important paper documents (passport, form I-20, acceptance letter, health insurance documents). Keep these in the folder you receive with your acceptance packet.
• Mementos and items of personal significance. It's always nice to have pictures, posters, and other things to remind you of home.
• Travel adapter. If you're bringing any electronics from home, you may need an adapter for U.S. outlets.
• Pack a reasonable amount of clothing that will prepare you for our late summer temperatures or winter cold.
• Essential toiletries and prescriptions. If bringing prescription medications, be sure to have the prescription note and letter from your doctor.
• Bring at least $300 in cash in order to set up a bank account and to buy dorm supplies. You'll be able to buy bedding, towels, and other supplies once you arrive on campus.

Once you are accepted to Northeastern and receive a student number, you will be connected with a faculty advisor within your degree program who will register you for classes. If you wish to transfer any college or university credits, you must have official transcripts sent to our Office of Records. 

Foreign Credit Transfer Information

Non-U.S. transcripts must go through an evaluation service in order to be considered for transfer or to waive prerequisites. We accept evaluations through any NACES member organization. A list of these organizations can be found at NACES Org members.

It is up to the student to select an appropriate evaluation service and to pay whatever fees associated with that evaluation. Costs will vary by service and type of evaluation offered. Northeastern Junior College requires a “course-by-course” or “detailed” evaluation. Credit Official evaluations can be mailed directly to:

Northeastern Junior College

100 College Ave

Sterling, CO, 80751

If transcripts are being delivered in person, they must still be in the sealed envelope from the evaluation service.

Tuition Payments

After being registered for classes, you are obligated to pay your tuition bill. This bill will include:

• tuition for classes
• course fees and other general fees (including e-books, if required by instructor)
• room and board fees (if living on campus)

The bill does not include:

• health insurance
• cost for books and school supplies

There are several payment options available, which you can see on the Cashier page of our website.

Textbooks

It is the responsibility of the student to buy the required textbooks and supplies for classes. This is not included in your tuition billing statement. Some instructors require books, while others will require e-books. You can buy your textbooks at our campus bookstore, or you can buy or rent them from Amazon or other book-rental websites. College textbooks can be expensive, so be prepared to spend at least $100-$200 each semester.

iPad or Laptop?

Northeastern encourages you to "bring your own device". There are several programs that have integrated the iPad into their curriculum, while other programs may opt to require other technologies. It's good to have something, whether it's an iPad or laptop computer, and academic advisors can give more details on what their degree programs require. If bringing an iPad, please see our  Frequently Asked iPad Questions.