International Students - How to Apply
Pima Community College is proud to host international students from about 50 countries. Our team is here to help you!
Pima offers both academic programs and English as a Second Language (ESL) training. If you don't have English proficiency for an academic program yet, you can start with our ESL courses. Once you finish the ESL training, you can directly transition to an academic program.
International students are not eligible for a Payment Plan (Payment Plan Exclusions). Pay all tuition and fees in full by the payment deadline before classes start; otherwise, your registration could be dropped/deleted.
Do you have a question about your application? Please send your inquiries and application documents to international@pima.edu and we will respond to you shortly!
You have to meet certain requirements in order to study at Pima Community College as a full-time, F-1 student. Please follow these steps to complete your application. Once admitted, a Form I-20 will be issued to you.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: July 10
- Spring Semester: November 10
All admission requirements must be satisfied by the deadlines. Please allow adequate time for obtaining your F-1 visa at a US Embassy or Consulate. If you are not able to arrive with your student visa before the program starts, your application must be deferred or canceled. You can check the estimated visa appointment wait time here: Visa Appointment Wait Times
Application Process
- Step 1: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima.
- For academic programs
- To be considered for an academic I-20 form, you must choose a specific program of study on your application. You are not allowed to choose "Undecided" or "Undeclared."
- F-1 students must take at least 9 face-to-face credits per semester on campus. If the program you select cannot offer enough on-campus credits, you may have to take additional classes outside your program of study or change your program of study to meet the requirements.
- If you plan to transfer to a 4-year university in the future, please choose one of the following three transfer degrees:
- For ESL training, you must take all classes in person.
- For academic programs
- Step 2: Provide a copy of your current passport.
- Step 3: Fill out the Affidavit of Support form. The affidavit must be submitted with official bank statement copies, including the information of the account owner's name, bank name/logo, account type, statement date, currency, and account balance.
- Step 4: English proficiency or competency
- To qualify for an academic program, Proof of English Proficiency is required.
- To qualify for the ESL training, proof of English Competency is required. Please choose one of the following.
- Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 35
- College ESL Placement Test Level 060 (You can take this placement test after you submit all the other required documents)
- Step 5: For academic programs, provide copies of high school transcripts and/or diplomas, properly translated into English. High school records are not required for the ESL training, but you must provide them when you transition to an academic program after you finish your ESL training.
You have to meet certain requirements in order to study at Pima Community College as a full-time, F-1 student. Please follow these steps to complete your application. Once admitted, a Form I-20 will be issued to you. The I-20 form is issued on a semester basis. You must request to extend your I-20 every semester.
Border commuter student eligibility
- Must enroll in a minimum of 6 credits each semester.
- Must be a resident of Mexico.
- Maintain residence in Mexico while studying with this visa type.
- Seek admission to the United States at a land border port-of-entry and depart by the end of each day.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: July 10
- Spring Semester: November 10
All admission requirements must be satisfied by the deadlines. Please allow adequate time for obtaining your F-1 visa at a US Embassy or Consulate. If you are not able to arrive with your student visa before the program starts, your application must be deferred or canceled. You can check the estimated visa appointment wait time here: Visa Appointment Wait Times
Application Process
- Step 1: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima.
- For academic programs
- To be considered for an academic I-20 form, you must choose a specific program of study on your application. You are not allowed to choose "Undecided" or "Undeclared."
- F-1 students must take at least 6 face-to-face credits per semester on campus. If the program you select cannot offer enough on-campus credits, you may have to take additional classes outside your program of study or change your program of study to meet the requirements.
- If you plan to transfer to a 4-year university in the future, please choose one of the following three transfer degrees:
- For ESL training, you must take at least two ESL courses per semester in person.
- For academic programs
- Step 2: Provide a copy of your current passport.
- Step 3: Fill out the Affidavit of Support form The affidavit must be submitted with official bank statement copies, including the information of the account owner's name, bank name/logo, account type, statement date, currency, and account balance.
- Step 4: English proficiency or competency
- To qualify for an academic program, Proof of English Proficiency is required.
- To qualify for the ESL training, proof of English Competency is required. Please choose one of the following.
- Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 35
- College ESL Placement Test Level 060 (You can take this placement test after you submit all the other required documents)
- Step 5: For academic programs, provide copies of high school transcripts and/or diplomas, properly translated into English. High school records are not required for the ESL training, but you must provide them when you transition to an academic program after you finish your ESL training.
If you are an F1 student and want to transfer to Pima Community College, you can apply to transfer your SEVIS record to Pima.
- If your current institution has completed or terminated your SEVIS record, you are no longer eligible for transfer and must apply as a new F-1 student.
- All admission requirements must be satisfied by the deadlines.
- Your SEVIS record must be transferred to Pima at least three days before the program start date, or your admission will be canceled or deferred to the next available semester.
Application Deadlines
- Academic Programs
- Fall Semester: July 20
- Spring Semester: December 20
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Training
- Fall Semester: August 20
- Spring Semester: January 20
Application Process
- Step 1: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima.
- For academic programs
- To be considered for an academic I-20 form, you must choose a specific program of study on your application. You are not allowed to choose "Undecided" or "Undeclared."
- F-1 students must take at least 9 face-to-face credits per semester on campus. If the program you select cannot offer enough on-campus credits, you may have to take additional classes outside your program of study or change your program of study to meet the requirements.
- If you plan to transfer to a 4-year university in the future, please choose one of the following three transfer degrees:
- For ESL training, you must take all classes in person.
- For academic programs
- Step 2: Provide a copy of your current passport.
- Step 3: Fill out the Affidavit of Support form. The affidavit must be submitted with official bank statement copies, including the information of the account owner's name, bank name/logo, account type, statement date, currency, and account balance.
- Step 4: Provide a copy of your current F-1 student visa
- Step 5: Provide copies of all your I-20 form(s)
- Step 6: Provide a copy of your previous and current unofficial transcript(s)
- Step 7: English proficiency or competency
- To qualify for an academic program, Proof of English Proficiency is required.
- To qualify for the ESL training, proof of English Competency is required. Please choose one of the following.
- Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 35
- College ESL Placement Test Level 060 (You can take this placement test after you submit all the other required documents)
- Step 8: Provide your current DSO’s name and email address
- Step 9: Provide your US address. If you have your Tucson address, please provide it.
- Step 1: Receive DSO approval if applicable
- If you are an F-1 international student enrolled at the University of Arizona (UA) and want to take classes concurrently at Pima, you must first obtain approval from UA's International Student Services office (ISSO). To apply for approval, please visit the University of Arizona's website and search for "Concurrent Enrollment." Once your application is approved, the UA ISSO will notify PCC's International Center. If you would like more details, please contact the UA ISSO directly. It's important to note that this authorization is granted on a per-semester basis, so you must request it through your UA ISSO every semester before enrolling in classes at Pima.
- If you are an F-1 international student at a university/college other than the University of Arizona, your home institution may require you to receive authorization before you can take a class at Pima. Please contact your DSO to confirm before you take a class at Pima.
- Step 2: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima
- Step 3: Provide a copy of your current passport
- Step 4: Provide a copy of your current F-1 student visa
- Step 5: Provide a copy of your current I-20 Form
- Step 6: Provide a copy of your most recent unofficial transcript
Other than F-1 status, some non-immigrants with certain visa statuses may attend school either full-time or part-time. Please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Guidance for more information on which visas are allowed for study. If you plan to take classes at Pima under an eligible non-immigrant status other than F-1, please follow the steps below to complete your application.
- Step 1: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima
- Step 2: Provide a copy of your current passport.
- Step 3: Provide a copy of your current visa.
- Step 1: Complete the online application: Apply to Pima
- Step 2: Provide a copy of your current passport.
- Step 3: Proof of English Proficiency is required for students interested in an Academic/Degree-Seeking program.
Please note: Please feel free to contact us via email at International@pima.edu or by calling 520-206-6732 with any questions or need for assistance.