PUC is ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for diversity among National Liberal Arts Colleges, and our international students are an important part of keeping our campus culture vibrant!
International Students
Pacific Union College is dedicated to our international students and to the protection of their student visa legal status. We will meet all Homeland Security requirements to operate as an approved hybrid on-site campus for the 2020-2021 academic year. International students can feel secure that continuous adjustments will be made as government policy changes throughout the upcoming year. For additional information, please contact Crista Peterson at isa@puc.edu.
Application process
If you are a student living outside the United States, or if you are a U.S. resident with citizenship elsewhere, we invite you to explore the possibility of attending Pacific Union College as an international student. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email enroll@puc.edu if you have any questions about how to apply to PUC as an international student.
Follow these steps to complete your application:
- Apply now
- Review your personal PUC site for information about your major, scholarships, campus life, and so much more.
- Send in your transcripts, including official high school transcripts (confirming graduation), and college or university transcripts if you have attended another college. Send to: Admissions, One Angwin Avenue, Angwin, CA 94508
- Send PUC your English level exam score, outlined in the section below.
- Send PUC documentation of your financial plan, including a bank statement showing at least $52,583 USD on deposit in an international bank.
- Submit a $1,000 deposit, which must be done before an I-20 is issued. This deposit will remain on the student’s account until the student ceases to attend Pacific Union College (the deposit can be applied to the student’s final quarter at PUC).
- $200 enrollment fee, which also must be done before an I-20 is issued, outlined in the section below.
Admissions requirements
As an international student, you need to meet the following requirements to be admitted to PUC:
- Meet all requirements for regular admission status (as a first-time or transfer student).
- Provide certified English translations of all your transcripts.
- Meet all financial requirements for international students, including the $1,000 deposit, $200 room reservation fee, and bank balance. (See the Financial Information section of the General Catalog.)
- Demonstrate the ability to pursue studies in the English language by presenting a satisfactory score on one of the following exams:
- Score of 80 or higher on the TOEFL (internet based)
- Score of 15 or higher on the ACT, English section
- Score of 430 or higher on the SAT, Critical Reading section
- Score of 6.5 on the IELTS, Academic
- Score of 59 or higher on the PTE, Academic version
- Score of 76% or higher on the MELAB
- Score of 4.0 or higher on the iTEP, Academic version
When you arrive on campus, you will be required to participate in a PUC placement process to determine your placement in English coursework (ENGL 099, 100, or 101). If you demonstrate a need for additional orientation to the English language and American culture, you will also be required to enroll in ENSL 100: English for Special Purposes.
For full information regarding PUC’s admissions policies, refer to the college’s General Catalog, which outlines policies for regular admission as well as for admission on probation and for returning students.
After you’re accepted
There are several important steps you need to do to complete the process of becoming a PUC student. Visit our main Admissions Process page for more information, or you can call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email enroll@puc.edu to talk with an enrollment counselor to learn more.
International Student Advising
Pacific Union College warmly welcomes international students to become part of our learning community. International students add a valuable, enriching dimension to our campus. Just as we look forward to assisting in an international student’s American study experience, we also look forward to learning about the various cultures these students bring to our campus. Together, we can expand our worldviews and multicultural perspectives to better understand the world in which we live.
The international student advisor provides general information to assist F-1 visa students with non-immigrant questions and issues so that these students can maintain status as mandated by U.S. federal regulations. Only the international student advisor is authorized to issue and endorse I-20 forms, and update a student’s SEVIS record. Our goal is to provide regulatory support, not legal advice, so that international students may achieve their educational goals. For legal advice, you may consult with an immigration attorney.
Study in the States 10 Things You Can Do To Avoid Fraud
Non-resident Tax Preparation
Sprintax is an online IRS Federal and State tax preparation solution for international students and is a promotional partner with Pacific Union College. International students on an F-1 visa, attending Pacific Union College, will receive an email or Canvas announcement from their international student advisor each February with information and a discount code. It is important for international students studying in the United States to stay compliant with IRS Federal and State tax requirements. Failure to stay compliant can affect a student’s future. Applicable instructions and information will be updated prior to each tax season.
Instructions General Information Go to Sprintax
Tax Treaties and Form 8233
Maintaining Status
While studying in the United States, it is important to maintain your F student status. Your status relates to the purpose, or reason for why you want to come to the United States. For a summary, see Study in the States, Maintaining Status.
For F students attending Pacific Union College, view the tutorial in Canvas "Maintaining F-1 Visa Status." During New Student Orientation, international students will be able to learn and connect with other students. They will also be required to attend a specific international orientation on federal regulations and what it means to maintain their F student status.
COVID-19
As we navigate the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for educational institutions and international/nonimmigrant students to be aware of the ICE Guidance on COVID-19 accessible at https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus. Specific information can be found on the "Nonimmigrant Students and SEVP-Certified Schools" tab. International students must contact the international student advisor at Pacific Union College to discuss any temporary allowances outside of the standard federal regulations due to COVID-19, based on what our college has reported to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) – a program of the Department of Homeland Security. Failure to understand and abide by the federal regulations and misinterpret any temporary allowances due to COVID-19 can negatively impact a student's immigration status.
Driver License and Social Security Number
Find out how to apply for a California Driver License, and for those individuals who are eligible to work in the United States, see the instructions on how to apply for a Social Security Number.
Entry to the United States
Prior to your entry to the United States, contact your international student advisor to discuss your travels and to ensure you have all the required and correct documents with you.
Employment
Employment is restricted because students’ primary purpose to be in the United States is education. There are various types of employment that may require special authorization from the international student advisor and/or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
On Campus Employment
On-campus employment for F-1 visa students.
Off Campus Employment
General information about the three types of off-campus employment available for F-1 visa students.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a work authorization granted to students in F-1 visa status usually in the form of an internship.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training, also known as OPT, is defined in the regulations as “temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student’s major field of study.”
Transfer Requests
Students may request to transfer their SEVIS record to Pacific Union College or to another SEVP-approved school within the regulations.
Transfer In Request
This form is to be completed by international students in F-1 status who wish to have their SEVIS record transferred from a U.S. SEVP-approved educational institution to Pacific Union College.
Transfer Out Request
This form is to be completed by international students in F-1 status who wish to have their SEVIS record transferred from Pacific Union College to another U.S. SEVP-approved educational institution.
International Drug Policy
Pacific Union College's Office of International Student Services reminds all international visitors that they are responsible for following FEDERAL immigration regulations. Federal laws are established at national level, and Federal laws override State laws. As an international student, you are subject to FEDERAL law.
Study in the States Facebook Chatbot
This tool helps prospective students learn how to be become an F student in the United States.