Current Students
Congratulations on being accepted to the College for Creative Studies! The Global Engagement Office (GEO) will assist you in obtaining your student visa to attend CCS. We hope to make your transition here as smooth as possible.
Here’s a quick rundown of your next steps as an international student at CCS. For more details on required documents and links visit GEO Documents & Forms.
Be sure to check out our general admissions Incoming Students page for additional information.
Step 1: Submit documents needed to receive an I-20.
Provide a statement of financial feasibility (financial statement(s), scholarship letters, loan statements for approved loans).
Submit a copy of your passport. If you are already inside the U.S., please also provide a copy of your visa and I-94.
Submit the results of your English proficiency test.
Step 2: Once all the required documents are collected, you will receive your I-20 form from the Global Engagement Office. Afterwards, you will have to follow these next steps to secure your visa:
Pay the SEVIS 1901 fee.
Complete the DS-160 to apply for a student visa.
Schedule and attend your visa interview at your local U.S. consulate or embassy.
Maintaining Status
Your Responsibilities
While CCS is ever eager to support you and your studies here in the U.S., always remember that maintaining your immigration status is ultimately your responsibility.
As non-immigrant visa holders, you are required by federal law to have a valid passport. Keep an eye on the expiration date attached to your passport and make sure you don’t lose it. Reach out to your embassy or consulate to renew or replace a lost or stolen passport.
If the end date for your program of study on your I-20 or DS-2019 is approaching but you will not complete your program by this date, contact our designated school official (DSO) in the Global Engagement Office at least 30 days before the end date.
Whether you have an F-1 visa or a J-1 visa, make sure you keep all versions of your I-20 or DS-2019 that have been issued to you over the course of your studies.
Maintaining a Full-Course of Study
If you have an F-1 visa and I-20, you must be registered for a “full course of study” each fall and spring semester to maintain your immigration status.
A “full course of study” for undergraduate students is defined as enrolling in at least 12 credits per semester.
A “full course of study” for graduate students is defined as enrolling in at least 8 credits per semester OR enrolling in a course or section categorized as having “full time status”.
If you are in a visa status other than F-1, please check with a designated school official (DSO) about the number of credits you need to take each semester.
On-Campus Employment
International students are eligible to take advantage of on-campus employment opportunities.
On-campus employment does not require a special work authorization, and does not need to appear on your I-20. Unlike off-campus employment:
- You do not need special permission
- The work does not need to relate to your field of study
- There is no waiting period, and you may begin working on-campus as soon as you arrive at CCS
On-campus employment criteria:
- Employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week
- On-campus employment must be performed on-campus, and must be paid by CCS
- You may not work past your program end-date
- Examples of qualifying on-campus employment options:
- Academic departments, academic support offices, library, shops, computer labs, book store
- Teaching and Facilities positions do not qualify for on-campus employment ***
Canadian border-commuter students are not eligible for on-campus employment.
International students cannot work off campus unless they are authorized to do so. The two main categories of off-campus employment authorization are Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Check out the separate tabs below for more information.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is available to F-1 visa status students. CPT allows students to train in their field of study off campus via a paid internship or other arranged off-campus learning experience.
Special authorization is needed from a designated school official (DSO) in the Global Engagement Office before the CPT begins. If a student begins off-campus employment before CPT is authorized by a DSO, the employment will be considered unauthorized by the Department of Homeland Security.
In order for CPT to be authorized, a DSO will need to determine the following:
- The internship or other arranged off-campus learning experience is required by or integral to the student’s program of study (this means that the student cannot complete the program of study without also completing the CPT)
- The CPT is directly connected to a specific course that requires the CPT, and the student is registered for this course while in CPT
- The student’s academic advisor verifies that the CPT is required by or integral to the student’s program of study and the employer at the off-campus site verifies the specific dates of the CPT correspond with the specific course taken that requires the CPT
You can begin the CPT authorization process by completing the CPT Approval Form with your academic advisor — please follow all of the directions to avoid delays in the process.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment authorization directly related to an F-1 student’s field of study. OPT is authorized once an F-1 student has done both of the following: (1) studied in the U.S. for at least one year without changing the I-20, and (2) completed the program of study listed on the I-20. Students can apply for OPT beginning 90 days before the program of study end date or up to 60 days after the program of study end date.
Standard OPT is authorized for one calendar year.
If you believe you are ready to apply for OPT, please do the following:
- Complete and submit the OPT Application Form to the GEO
- Follow all of the remaining online or mailing steps according to the GEO
- Please note the OPT application filing fees: $470 (online filing) and $520 (paper filing)
For more information on dates and timing, review the OPT timeline PDF.
Health Insurance
As a CCS international student, you are automatically enrolled with our healthcare policy provided by Wellfleet.
Every year, you will receive a new healthcare insurance card. Be sure to bring it with you and present it when receiving health services.
In case of a medical emergency, call 911 for an ambulance to take you to an emergency room.
Keep in mind that the insurance may not cover 100% of your medical costs. You must pay a deductible prior to receiving treatment and your medical provider will then work with the insurance company and mail you a bill at a later date.
Social Security Number (SSN)
To apply for a Social Security Number (SSN), you must first have a job offer. Among other things, SSNs are required for tax-reporting purposes. If you have accepted a job, and will receive taxable income, then you will have to obtain a SSN.
Applications for SSNs are made through the Social Security Administration (SSA). To apply, you must present the following documents at the SSA:
- I-20 or DS-2019
- Passport
- I-94. I-94s can be downloaded and printed online.
- Offer letter from employer (as proof of employment)
- The completed Social Security Card Application form (SS-5)
- GEO verification letter to support SSN application
You must make an appointment with the GEO so that your verification letter can be prepared ahead of your visit. In order to prepare your verification letter, the GEO will require a copy of your job offer letter. The most convenient SSA office location for CCS students is in the McNamara Federal Building.
Driver’s License
To apply for a Michigan driver’s license, you must visit a Secretary of State (SoS) office, with the following documents:
- I-20 or DS-2019
- I-94 I-94s can be downloaded and printed online
- Passport
- Proof of residence
- If living on campus, students should visit Student Life to obtain a student housing verification letter.
- If living off-campus, students should be prepared to present at least two documents from the following: lease, utility bill, bank statement, college transcript.
- Social security card
- If the student does not have, and is ineligible for, a social security then they must first visit the Social Security Administration Office to obtain a “letter of ineligibility.” At the Social Security Administration they should present their I-20 or DS-2019, passport, and I-94. The letter of ineligibility will be issued on the same visit.
In addition to the application materials listed above, students applying for a Michigan driver’s license will have to complete a vision test, road signs test, and written test at the SoS, followed by a road test. You can learn more about these tests at the SoS website, here: https://www.michigan.gov/som.
The SoS office location that is most convenient to campus is located in Cadillac Place, just north of the Taubman Center.
U.S. Taxes
Every international student is required to file the 8843 Form.
If you are employed in an on-campus job, you will be required to fill out the 1040 Form.
While the GEO are not tax professionals and cannot provide tax information, check out this helpful guide for your viewing.
Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Current students may seek a reduced course load for one of the following reasons: Academic Difficulties, Medical Conditions, or Completion of Course Study. A student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of the DSO will be considered out of status.
I-20 Extension
F-1 students have a program start and end date on their I-20. If you are unable to finish your program by the end date, you will need to request for an I-20 extension before the program end date. CCS recommends that you submit this form at least 30 days prior.
If you let the program of study end date pass without completion and subsequently extend your program of status, you will be out of status. You will likely have to temporarily leave the U.S., repay the SEVIS fee, and then return to the U.S. with a new I-20 (and possibly a new F-1 visa) before you can enroll for more classes.
While You’re Here, Keep a Few Things in Mind!
Breaks and Travel
Here at CCS, our traditional academic year operates on a two semester system: fall and winter. If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. while enrolled during the winter or summer break, you must obtain a signature from the Global Engagement Office (GEO) that authorizes travel on your SEVIS form. To re-enter the U.S., you will need a valid non-immigrant visa, a passport valid for at least six months, and your SEVIS form.