International Student

To begin your application process, you must first complete the CCCApply online application by selecting the options below.

NOTE: International student applications are accepted year-round.

Submit an Application

Important Instructions for CCCApply

View a Step-By-Step Guide for Completing the CCCApply Application

In the "Citizenship & Immigration Status" section, choose “Student Visa (F-1 or M-1)” – even if you do not currently have the F-1 visa. 

Once you have successfully submitted your CCCApply application, congratulations! You have completed Step 1. Now, proceed to Step 2 by submitting the required additional documents for international student admission and I-20 issuance.

Saddleback Application Portal

Download Fall 2025 Application Portal Instructions

After you submit an online International Application to Saddleback, you will receive an email from the International Student Office asking you to create an account on Saddleback Application Portal and upload the required documents:

• Financial Responsibility Form and Bank Statement
• Evidence of Secondary/High School Completion
• Passport Information Page
• Proof of English Proficiency (optional)
  • NOTE: Saddleback International Student Office no longer requires applicants to submit Proof of English Proficiency for admission purpose. Students without English Proficiency test will be admitted to our Intensive ESL program.

Financial Documents

Download the Financial Responsibility Form and complete it. Upload the completed Financial Responsibility Form along with your bank statement to Saddleback Application Portal. Bank statements must be dated within the last 4 months. Please see our estimate of tuition and living expenses.

Embassy sponsored students: An official Financial Guarantee from your sponsoring organization is required.

Evidence of Secondary/High School Completion

Provide academic records equivalent to an American high school diploma or a higher degree. Transcripts or academic records in languages other than English are recommended to be translated and attested by a certified translation or credential evaluation service. For those who have attended U.S. high schools or colleges, please submit your official transcripts to Saddleback so you may transfer some credits to Saddleback.

Submit Official Transcripts to Saddleback

English Proficiency Requirement

We accept students at all levels of English. 

If you have already taken an English Proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.), you may be eligible for exemption from ESL courses at Saddleback.

Below is a list of which tests we accept.

• TOEFL iBT - 52 overall (school code 4747)
• IELTS - 5.0 overall
• iTEP - 3.5
• Cambridge English: 160 overall (B2 First, C1 Advanced)
• Pearson: 41 overall
• EIKEN - Grade 2A (Original test score reports are required for the EIKEN test)
• GTEC CBT: 900
• Duolingo: 80
• SAT: 460 in Reading and Writing
• ACT: 19 in Reading and English

If you have completed two years at any U.S. high school within the last five years and earned a cumulative 2.5 GPA are exempt from this requirement.

If you have a GPA of 2.0 or higher in English 1A or its equivalent at a college or university, please submit your transcript for review.

NOTE: If we do not receive a copy of your official score report or other demonstrated proficiency at the time of admission, you will be issued an I-20 for ESL. Upon completion of ESL or demonstrating English proficiency, you will matriculate to the academic program and be issued an Associate-level I-20.

Passport

Please send a copy of the information page from your passport.

Transfer Students

F1 international students who are currently studying in the US must submit the following documents in addition to the items listed above:

1. Copy of your current I-20
2. Copy of your F1 visa
3. Copy of your I94 to be downloaded at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov 

Students, who are currently attending another institution and wish to take a few classes at Saddleback, please submit the following:

1. Submit an Application. For Educational Goal choose #16 – 4 year college student taking courses to meet 4 year college requirements.
2. A copy of your current I-20
3. A copy of your passport information page
4. A copy of your F-1 visa

High school students must submit a completed K-12 Special Admission Request Form; you must submit the completed form to the Admissions and Records’ office email:  scadmissions@saddleback.edu

Estimate of Annual Expenses for 2025-2026

The following are estimated expenses for one academic year (not including Summer sessions). International Students are required to enroll and successfully complete a minimum of 12 units per semester (fall & spring). All figures are in US dollars.

NOTE: Tuition and Fees are subject to change. Estimate expenses, actual expenses may vary.

Dependents (Spouse or Children): An additional $5,000.00 per dependent is required to cover living expenses for dependent(s). Current (no more than 3 months old) bank information showing this additional amount must be submitted in order for an I-20 to be issued.

The above fees represent the minimum established tuition and living expenses that an international student can expect to pay while attending Saddleback College. Applicants must show the above funding amount in order to receive an I-20.

Fees are subject to change by the State of California and the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees. Summer session fees are not included above as summers terms are optional for those starting in the fall and spring. Students starting in the summer must adhere to the same estimate of costs.

NOTE: The Medical Health Insurance plan must be purchased by all international students.
Fees are subject to change without prior notice. (Tuition & Fees are due and payable at the time of class enrollment)

Payment

There are multiple options for our international students to pay their tuition and fees.  We accept cash, check, credit card, and money order or you may pay using Flywire.

Payments made via Flywire would only be for those fees charged through MySite, which includes application fees and tuition related fees. The cost of books and student health insurance would not be included in the payment amount.

saddleback.flywire.com

FLYWIRE CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION:
Phone: +1 800 346 9252
Email: support@flywire.com
Web: flywire.com/help

All international students are required to purchase the South Orange County Community College District-approved health insurance plan. Outside health insurance plans are not accepted.

Students will not have access to registration until the health insurance fee is paid.  Health insurance fees should be purchased AFTER the student is admitted to Saddleback College.

Please visit the International Student Health Insurance page for information about costs and coverage. 

Each student is responsible for understanding the immigration requirements related to their status. By following the guidelines below, you can help ensure that you remain in compliance with your F-1 visa requirements and avoid any violations.

Basic Guidelines

• Keep your local address updated.
  • Keep your local residential address current through MySite student account. You must update your address every time you move.
     
• Maintain full-time enrollment.
  • International Students must enroll and complete a minimum of 12 units per semester. Out of those 12 units, only one course can be online (Absolutely NO exceptions).
     
• Get a travel endorsement.
  • Before any international travel, obtain a travel signature from the International Office. Travel endorsements are valid for one year during the program of study. ISO recommends obtaining a new signature every time you travel outside of the U.S.
  • Travel endorsements during F-1 post-completion OPT/STEM are only valid for 6 months.
     
• Be aware of your grace periods.
  • An F-1 student may enter the U.S. initially up to 30 days before, but no later than, the program start date on the I-20.
  • An F-1 student may remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days beyond:
    You have a 60-day grace period at the end of your F-1 program. The grace period ends when you depart the U.S., or no later than 60 days after the end of the I-20 or your EAD card (if on OPT), whichever comes first.
     
• Keep your I-20 valid at all times.
  • Your I-20 is only valid as long as you are a continuing, full-time student in your program, or on your approved post-completion training. If you graduate early, your I-20 will be shortened to the last day of your final semester of enrollment. You must notify the International Office of your early completion in order to avoid overstaying. If you need more time to complete your program, apply for an Extension of Program BEFORE the current completion date on your I-20. Your I-20 completion date can be found on page one of the I-20 form under "Program End Date". You must also request a new I-20 if you change your major.
     
• Get proper employment permission and follow employment-reporting rules.
  • Effective August 9, 2018, USCIS updated policy regarding Unlawful Presence, which increases potential consequences for F-1 students who violate their status. The best way to avoid these consequences is to make sure you properly maintain your F-1 status while you are a student and during any F-1 post-completion training periods. Unlawful presence days begin accruing from the day you violated status and can impact your ability to return to the US in the future, including 3 or 10 year bars on re-entry (dependent on number of days accrued).

On-Campus Employment for F-1 Students

• F-1 Visa students may get permission to work part-time during the fall and spring terms when work is available on the college campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session. 
• The employment must take place on school premises.
• Students are required to complete their first semester of studies and must maintain minimum grade point average of 2.50.
• If you were offered employment, your supervisor will need to provide you with a written job offer.
• Meet with an immigration advisor. Your advisor will need your job offer and will prepare additional documents needed for you to visit the Social Security Administration Offices. You may NOT start work without a Social Security Card.
• The International Student Office will provide our district human resource department with documentation that includes a formal approval for you to start work.
• If you fail to maintain your full-time enrollment and academic standing your employment authorization will be terminated.

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is an academic experience, and is not intended to be used for regular on-going off-campus work. Students should be mindful to keep all records of CPT and the academic work related to CPT, and how that employment is integral to the degree program. CPT is semester specific. Students must apply for each semester and enroll in proper CWE course.

To obtain CPT, a student must:

• Be in valid F-1 immigration status for at least two full-time semesters (one academic year).
• Secure an academically appropriate internship offer directly related to the student's field of study.
• Have an academic plan that includes CWE (Cooperative work experience) and you are pursuing a major that offers CWE in the current catalog.
• Obtain CPT authorization BEFORE beginning employment; authorization cannot be back-dated.

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is 12-month work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their fields of study. OPT is an employment benefit of a student's F-1 status and is generally applied for in a student's last semester.

A job offer is not required to apply for OPT. However, be aware that during your 12-month OPT period, you are only allowed a cumulative total of 90 days of unemployment. If you accumulate 90 days or more of unemployment, you are in violation of your F-1 status. You are expected to leave the U.S., transfer to another school or start studying a new program before the 90th day.

To be eligible for OPT, students must:

• Be in full-time F-1 status for at least one academic year. 
• Be seeking employment in the major field of study listed on their current I-20.
• Be completing their program of study at Saddleback College. 
• Be physically present in the United States at time of the application to USCIS.

When to Apply for OPT:

• You can apply for OPT up to 90 days before and up to 60 days after your expected program completion date.
• In addition, USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of when the DSO recommends your I-20 for OPT.
• You must be physically present in the United States at the time USCIS receives your OPT application.
• For more details, please contact the International Student Office sc-sio@saddleback.edu. 
   

All international students and their dependents present in the U.S. during any part of the previous calendar year are responsible for filing annual tax forms (often called "tax returns" because you may get some money back). Filing tax forms is required for all F visa holders, including dependents.  This is a requirement even if you did not work or earn income in the U.S.

External Tax Resources

Although Saddleback International Office does not advise on individuals' tax matters, we want to help you find the resources you need. Listed below are some additional resources to assist you:

Internal Revenue Service

• www.irs.gov

California Franchise Tax Board

• www.ftb.ca.gov

Additional Tax Services for Nonresidents

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
• IRS Telephone Tax Advice

More Information/Forms

• Tax Filing for F-1 Visa Students
• Tuition Statement Form 1098-T

Group: 

Saddleback College does not offer dormitories or on-campus housing. However, international students have two housing options: homestay or apartments. 

Our students can live with local host families. There are companies that provide host family/homestay placement services in the local area. Second, our students can find a wide variety of off-campus apartments located near the college as well as nearby communities. Please review the information below for more information regarding your housing options!

Homestay Programs

A homestay program is a great option for international students. Arrangements are made for international students to live with local hosts/ families during their studies. In a homestay program, you will typically have your own room, but join the family for meals and learn about the American culture and traditions. This accommodation is the most popular among international students as they are very welcoming and assist in an easy transition. 

View the List of Homestay Agencies.

Apartments

If you are looking to live alone or with another person where you have a more private living space an apartment is a great option. In an apartment you will have a kitchen, bathroom, your own room and many more necessities essential for being able to live comfortably while you are studying abroad. There are a wide variety of apartment complexes near Saddleback College that offer great accommodations.

View the List of Apartment Complexes.

• International FERPA Release Form - Students wishing to have their academic, immigration, or financial information released to a third party must submit this document.
• International Student Guardianship Form - For international students who are under 18 years old by the start date of the program, please complete this form.

We are available to support you via email at sc-iso@saddleback.edu. Please provide your student number and full legal name in your email.

Please email sc-iso@saddleback.edu to make an appointment to chat by zoom.

Zoom Chat Link (PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android): https://saddleback-edu.zoom.us/j/83210068266

(949) 582-4637

• Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

CC 140

• Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.