International Students Office

As you prepare for study in the United States, you will have many questions. You will need to learn about U.S. customs and values, academic requirements for your studies and community facilities for medical care, banking, shopping and amusement. You will obtain some information before you leave for the United States, but most of the important questions can only be answered once you have arrived on a U.S. Campus.

The International Students Office will assist you while you are in the United States. You should visit the office when you have questions and concerns. The person in the International Students Office is known as the Foreign Student Adviser (FSA). The duties of FSA's vary from one campus to another, but most advisers are responsible for providing assistance on immigration matters, coordinating all campus and community services available to foreign students, providing liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments and promoting interaction between foreign students and the college and local community.

Questions you have about academic procedures, expectations and requirements can be discussed with the FSA, who can help you understand the differences between the U.S. educational system and that of your country's system. The FSA can also help you get involved in activities on or off campus. Assistance is also provided on such U.S. immigration matters as visa requirements and regulations, school transfers, extensions of stay, travel outside the United States, work permission, and practical training. General or specific questions on immigration may be referred to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS); you will be told how to contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concerning the taxes you may have to pay. For all of these reasons and more the International Students Office will be an important place to you during your stay here.

International Students contact:
Maureen Rauchfuss, Matriculation Specialist, Office of Outreach and Admissions
Administration Bldg., Room FH-113
Phone: (805) 378-1414
Fax: (805) 378-1567
email: mrauchfuss@vcccd.edu