International Student Services Office (ISSO)
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Belong, Study, Graduate, Succeed.
If you are a non-U.S. native and you wish to become an international student at Broward College with an F-1 visa, please read below. Broward College offers high-quality and affordable education to students from over 150 countries globally. Broward College adheres to Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations to guide you in the application process for F-1 visa international students. We are proud to serve our diverse student population.
Broward College students enjoy many advantages and opportunities that boost their education and careers!
Choose the degree program type you wish to complete at Broward College! To review available programs in BC, please visit our college catalog.
To begin your educational journey in Broward College as an F-1 international student, you must determine how you will arrive at Broward College with your F-1 visa. Students who are physically present in the U.S. and intend to change their current immigration status to F-1 must seek legal counsel.
I want to apply for the F-1 visa at the American Embassy in my country. I will travel to the U.S. once I receive my F-1 visa.
I want to transfer my I-20 from another school to Broward College. My transfer-out school must transfer my SEVIS record to Broward College.
I want to change my immigration status to F-1 in the U.S. I am currently in the U.S. under a different immigration status and wish to change my status to F-1.
The F-1 application for the Fall 2026 term is now closed. The Spring 2027 application will open by September 1.
ISSO reviews applications in the order they are received once all supporting documents and test scores are complete. Therefore, the earlier you apply and submit all required documents and test scores, the earlier you will receive your acceptance.
| Term | Session 1 | Application Deadline Outside the U.S.^ | Application Deadline for F1 transfers in the U.S. and new applicants from Canada & Bermuda^ |
|---|---|---|---|
| FALL | mid-August to mid-December (16 weeks) |
June 25 | July 15 |
| SPRING | early-January to early-May (16 weeks) |
September 15 | November 14 |
| SUMMER | mid-May to early-August (12 weeks) |
March 15 | April 15 |
| ^ We will review applications on a rolling basis after the deadlines. | |||
Before you apply as an F-1 international student, please review some of the the Broward College academic programs below for which international students are ineligible to enroll in. Each program is categorized by its corresponding academic pathway. In addition to the programs listed below, F-1 international students are ineligible to enroll in programs for which the majority of classes are not available on-campus (face-to-face), as required by federal regulations for F-1 international students.
Business
* Students who have completed the required articulated courses for the Culinary Arts Management program at an authorized technical school may apply to the program.
Education
Health Sciences
Industry, Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation (IMCT)
Social Behavioral Sciences and Human Services (SBSHS)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
* Students who have completed the required articulated courses for the Medical Laboratory Technology program at an authorized technical school may apply to the program.
Before an applicant can be fully accepted as an international student and receive the Form I-20, which is used to apply for the F-1 student visa, the steps below must be completed.
Students whose primary language is not English and who wish to enroll in a degree program must provide proof of English proficiency in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) (PDF) Level 3 classes or above. Students with language placement scores at Level 3 or 4 will be eligible for admission to an academic program and will be required to take additional language training classes. A student placed in the Language Training program will be eligible to continue with a college degree without reapplying or getting a new visa upon program completion.
To complete Step 2, you must use the online Dynamic Forms to submit the required documents electronically.
Note for filling out Dynamic Forms: You must create a username and password using your personal email. Your Broward College (BC) email will not be active until you are enrolled. You can only use the BC username to log in to your student portal, myBC.
Forms will not be processed if they contain an invalid Broward College student ID number.
This International Student Supplemental Application is an online Dynamic Form that is used by international student applicants (F-1 or M-1 visa) to provide the personal information and documentation required during the application process to Broward College.
There are several types of documents that must be provided:
If you are an F-1 student with dependents, we also need their I-20, I-94, and F-2 visas, if applicable. A dependent must be either a spouse or a child under 21 years old.
All education records submitted in the Supplemental Application are considered unofficial and are only used for conditional admission in Broward College. To be fully accepted in Broward College, students must submit official and complete educational credentials.
Post-secondary (university) education credentials
Students who enrolled (completed classes) in a U.S. university must provide official university transcripts with complete grades. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or its equivalent is required for admission.
In addition, if the university transcripts are in any language other than English, the credentials must be translated into English by an American Translators Association (ATA) certified company. Typically, commercial evaluation companies include translation services.
The student is responsible for commercial evaluation fees, and there is no guarantee that coursework will transfer.
Placement testing determines students' readiness to succeed in university-level classes based on test scores that measure competence in certain subjects. All Broward College students who are seeking an associate degree must satisfy placement testing as part of their admissions process. Students must:
Students who have earned specific post-secondary credits from certain U.S. post-secondary institutions may be exempt from completing placement testing. An ISSO staff member will determine if a student is required to complete placement testing based on provided documentation.
F-1 students must have sufficient funds to successfully study in the U.S. without resorting to unauthorized U.S. employment for financial support. F-1 students must provide documentary evidence that sufficient funds are, or will be, immediately available to pay all expenses during the entire period of anticipated study. Students must state if they are using personal funds or if they have a financial sponsor. Students who have more than one source of financial sponsorship will need to submit the appropriate documentation for each sponsor.
Financial Sponsor: If a student declares that a financial sponsor will pay the education expenses, then that financial sponsor will be required to create an account with Dynamic Forms and complete his/her section on the form.
Requirements for Financial Documents: The account holder must be the same as the financial sponsor listed, whether the financial sponsor is the student or someone else. If using a bank statement, only summary page showing the bank name, account holder, date of the statement, available account balance, and currency, is needed. If the currency is not shown on the bank statement or letter, ISSO will calculate the conversion to USD based on the currency of the country where the bank is located. We do not accept 401K plans or other retirement accounts, life insurance policies, tax return documents, pay stubs, or other payroll documents.
Living Expenses (OPTIONAL): A student may declare a financial sponsor that will be responsible for paying the student's living expenses during the student's completion of studies while physically present in the U.S. This individual may be the financial sponsor for education expenses, or another person. The person listed as the financial sponsor for living expenses will be responsible for all living expenses (i.e., housing, transportation, food, etc.). If the student declares a financial sponsor for living expenses, the sponsor can deduct the following amounts from the total funds required: (1) $12,500 (USD) for the student and (2) $7,000 (USD) for each dependent, if applicable.
Disclaimer: Students who declare a financial sponsor for living expenses may be required to present Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) to the embassy when applying for the F-1 student visa. Students must contact the American Embassy before going for the interview to make sure he/she is bringing all the necessary financial documents. The I-134 is presented to the embassy, not Broward College.
Applications are reviewed once all required documentation and test scores are received and approved by ISSO. The estimated review time is 3-5 weeks. Priority is given to applications for the immediate upcoming term. The International Student Services Office (ISSO) endeavors to process all applications as quickly as possible.
ISSO will notify accepted applicants by email.
The Form I-20 will be processed as follows:
Students must review all acceptance documents to understand their next steps, including but not limited to paying the SEVIS fee, providing proof of health insurance coverage, and registering for classes.
Before you can register for classes, you need to demonstrate that you have adequate international student health insurance coverage, which must include coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, and medical repatriation.
The coverage MUST be for a full academic year (An academic year runs from mid-August to mid-August of the next year), and it must be renewed each year without gaps. This is a requirement for an international student to be able to register for classes at Broward College.
Health insurance coverage is required for the duration of your studies at Broward College including, but not limited to annual vacations, school breaks, and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students on OPT must contact their international student health insurance agent regarding policy requirements before buying the insurance since not all policies cover students on OPT.
COVERAGE PERIOD (students must make sure there are no gaps in coverage)
Students arriving prior to the effective date of their insurance policy must also buy travel insurance to avoid gaps in coverage.
To show proof of health insurance coverage, send your policy's visa or coverage letter to isso@broward.edu.* Note for the application fee: the term displayed is always for the current term even if you applied for a future term. Do not worry, the application fee is applied to you regardless of the term displayed. This is a one-time, non-refundable fee.
Homeland Security's regulation requires all prospective F1 and M1 students to pay the I-901 Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee. Dependents (accompanying spouse and/or child under 21) applying for F2 and M2 visas are NOT REQUIRED to pay for the I-901 SEVIS fee.
Resources:
Estimated cost of tuition for one academic year (at least 24 credits and 30 weeks) at $373 per credit hour: $8,952
Estimated cost for laboratory fees and books: $1,048
Estimated annual cost of living expenses:* $12,500
Total estimated annual cost of attendance: $22,500
Total estimated annual cost of attendance for Associate of Science in Professional Pilot Technology: $50,000 ($22,500 + $27,500 flight training costs)
* The estimated annual cost of living expenses is $12,500. Broward College does not provide housing.
Note: Students and/or their sponsor(s) must show $22,500 to be admitted to Broward College and to show the embassy to get their F1 visa. However, there are additional expenses of which students need to be aware:
Estimated cost of tuition for one academic year (at least 24 credits and 30 weeks) at $589.45 per credit hour: $14,146.80
Estimated cost for laboratory fees and books: $853.20
Estimated annual cost of living expenses:* $12,500
Total estimated annual cost of attendance: $27,500
*The estimated annual cost of living expenses is $12,500. Broward College does not provide housing.
Note: Students and/or their sponsor(s) must show $27,500 to be admitted to Broward College and to show the embassy to get their F1 visa. However, there are additional expenses of which students need to be aware:
Please note: Broward College reserves the right to increase fees at any time with the Board of Directors' approval.
Change of Status Petition Receipt Notice - This form is for a change of immigration status applicant to provide a copy of the I-539 Application to Extend-Change Nonimmigrant Status receipt notice (Form I-797C, Notice of Action) issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
International Student Supplemental Application - This form is used by international student applicants (F-1 or M-1 visa) to provide the required information and documentation during the application process.
F1 Transfer Form - This form is used by international student applicants (F1 immigration status) to determine if the Form I-20 can be transferred to Broward College (BC) upon acceptance. The Designated School Official (DSO) from the current school cannot release the SEVIS record to BC until the applicant provides the official acceptance letter from the International Student Services Office (ISSO).
Immigration Regulations Acknowledgment Form (Initial F1 Status Verification) - This form is used by new international students (F1 visa) to show proof of F1 nonimmigrant status before beginning classes at Broward College.
Change of Program for International Students - This form is for F1 international students to request a change of program to an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. The change of program request must be submitted before the start of the term. This form is not intended for limited access programs, such as Bachelor's and Health Science degrees. For those students, they are required to submit a new application.
I-20 Extension Verification - This form is used by international students (F1 visa) to extend the Form I-20 when they need additional time to complete their program of study. An updated Form I-20 will be provided if this request is approved by the student's Designated School Official (DSO).
Last Term to Graduate - This form is used by international students (F1 visa) when they are in the last term to graduate and need (1) authorization for a reduced course load or (2) a confirmation of graduation term to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). An updated Form I-20 will be provided, as needed, if this request is approved by the student's Designated School Official (DSO).
Opt-Out Credit Form - This form is OPTIONAL and used by international students (F1 visa) who do not want to receive credit for prior courses taken at accredited foreign post-secondary institutions (universities). However, transcripts and translations are still required. F1 students seeking a bachelor's degree are not eligible to opt out of the commercial evaluation of the postsecondary transcripts.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Request - This form is used by international students (F1 visa) to request an OPT recommendation in their I-20 that is granted by the student's Designated School Official (DSO). Upon confirmation of OPT eligibility, the student will request an OPT appointment with a DSO to review required documents and legal OPT requirements.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employment Information - This form is used by international students (F1 visa) to report their employment information, during pre-completion or post-completion OPT.
Request to Transfer from One BC Campus to Another - This form is for F1 international students to request a transfer from their current Broward College (BC) campus to another BC campus.
For questions about application status, email isso@broward.edu (include name and BC student ID).
For general F-1/I-20 questions, contact ISSO during regular business hours via email, the remote queue, or in person.
Office Location
Broward College Downtown Campus
111 East Las Olas Boulevard
2nd Floor - Student Services Suite
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301
Office Hours
On-campus
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Remote QLESS
Monday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Email your Designated School Official (DSO) at isso@broward.edu
A DSO will contact you and guide you through the process.
You may also receive remote assistance from a live ISSO staff member during our hours of operation.
Campus - Designated School Officials (DSOs)
Designated School Officials (DSOs) in campus Student Services Offices can provide general information on maintaining the F-1 status and signing the Form I-20 for travel.
Current students who have specific questions about their immigration status, changing their program, or extending or terminating their I-20 should contact isso@broward.edu
Central Campus
Hiromi Ninomiya
hninomiy@broward.edu
Kobitta Chopra
kchopra@broward.edu
North Campus
Claudia Forero
cforero@broward.edu
South Campus
Jacqueline Canard
jcanard@broward.edu
The Broward College International Student Services Office (ISSO) will be closed on the following days:
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