Requirements for International Student Admission
*Federal Law authorizes this school to enroll non-immigrant students.
Thank you for your interest in Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC). OTC is a comprehensive community college offering two-year associate degree programs in both academic and technical areas.
If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and are considering pursuing a full course of study as an international student at OTC, the government requires you to meet the following requirements before we can issue an I-20 form for the F-1 or M-1 visa. Please consider these requirements for international student admission carefully before submitting a formal application.
Admission Requirements
This form is available from the OTC International Program Office (IPO). Or, you can access the Online Application for Admissions here. Please be sure to include your home country address, country of birth as well as country of citizenship. The IPO must receive all information and payments prior to the admission deadlines.
- For students applying from outside the U.S., we must receive the application, and you must complete admission requirements by the following deadlines: June 30th for the Fall Semester and October 31st for the Spring Semester.
Ozarks Technical Community College requires a U.S. $75 processing and application fee (plus $3 for credit card payment) for all international admissions. This fee is non-refundable and also applies to guest students who take classes at OTC without transferring. The IPO must receive this fee before application processing can begin. Please pay the processing and application fee here.
For us to consider admission to OTC, international students must graduate from the equivalent of a U.S. high school (secondary school). You must submit official copies of academic records for all course work completed in secondary schools, colleges and universities within and outside the United States (faxed copies are acceptable for records outside the U.S.). All documents must have English translations, including your full name on each document. All records become OTC property and will not be returned.
Records
Records should provide detailed information including courses studied and grades received. The grading scale and number of course hours attempted should be noted when possible. A cumulative GPA equivalent to a 2.5 is required for first-time college students. Transcripts from American and Canadian institutions should be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the institution to the IPO.
Agencies
Students who wish to have foreign coursework accepted for credit or as a prerequisite at OTC must have their foreign credits evaluated by an independent agency such as:
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (www.ece.org)
- Education Evaluators International, Inc. (www.educei.com)
- Educational Perspectives (www.educational-perspectives.org)
- Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. (www.gceus.com)
- International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc. (www.iacei.net)
- SpanTran Educational Services (www.spantran-edu.org)
- World Education Services (www.wes.org)
We require a hand-signed affidavit of support from the student’s sponsor verifying financial support. The statement must both include your name and be in English. It must also be dated within six months of the start of classes.
We require a certified bank statement dated within six months of the start of classes showing the equivalent of $21,812 to demonstrate the student’s ability to afford one full year of living and educational expenses in Springfield, Missouri. This is the estimated one year cost for tuition, books, fees, housing and living expenses. To simplify transactions, we recommend prospective students establish a local account with a branch of any of the national or international banks in the Springfield area.
Beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year, we no longer require a deposit prior to admission; however, all students are required to set up a payment plan the same day as registration. All tuition and fees will be due in accordance with OTC’s payment plan and schedule. Students wishing to pay their entire balance at once may do so at anytime beginning the day they register for classes.
English Proficiency Documentation
Students whose first language is not English must document their English proficiency in one of the following ways:
(1) OTC requires a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) total score of 61. You must submit TOEFL scores directly to OTC. The OTC institutional code for TOEFL is 8570. Check the TOEFL website. The TOEFL report scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
(2) OTC requires a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 5.5. You must submit scores directly to OTC. Check the IELTS website. The IELTS report scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
(3) OTC requires a minimum Duolingo English Test score of 90. You must submit scores directly to OTC. Check the Duolingo website. The Duolingo report scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
(4) OTC requires a minimum GTEC score of 1096. You must submit scores directly to OTC. Check the GTEC website. The GTEC report scores are valid for 2 years after the test date.
(5) Academic credit of 15 hours or more from a U.S. college or university with a 2.25 cumulative grade point average.
(6) Successful completion of the English for Academics program at the English Language Institute (ELI) of Missouri State University with a letter of recommendation from the ELI Director’s office. Click here for details about the English Language Institute.
Students attending other English language institutes must submit transcripts and a recommendation letter from the language institute director indicating a high-intermediate level (CEFR: B2) in English.
(7) Proof of satisfactory completion of the US Department of State, J-1 visa Student Exchange Program at an American high school for at least one academic year.
What is insurance?
Medical insurance is mandatory for international students attending OTC. We require that you use the pre-approved insurance plan available to OTC students. You must pay in advance the first year of coverage ($708) to the ISO health insurance organization. After which, you will be issued your I-20. After the first year of studies at OTC, the student must provide the IPO with proof of coverage through the end of each new semester. You will not be able to register for classes until you have done so. For more information concerning the medical insurance plan for international students, contact the IPO. You can access the International Student Health Insurance brochure here. Here is a brief description of the current plan benefits:
| Compass for OTC | |
| Annual Maximum | Unlimited |
| Lifetime medical maximum | Unlimited |
| Deductible | $150 per policy year |
| Co-pay | $25 at JVCHC / $50 at Urgent care |
| Co-insurance in-network | 80% of preferred allowance (student is responsible for 20%) |
| Co-insurance out-of-network | 80% of usual reasonable & customary charge |
| Student monthly rate | $59 |
Additional Information
To pay for health insurance, please click here. Follow the steps and make the payment.
This video contains some useful information for international students studying in the U.S.:
Before arriving at OTC, you must obtain copies of your immunization records demonstrating proof of vaccination for following:
- Measles (rubeola)
- Mumps and rubella (MMR)
Bring these records with you to the U.S. The IPO will copy the documents for your fileIf you are going to renew your MMR vaccine at home, please do so at least six weeks prior to your arrival at OTC.
Additional Requirements
OTC also requires prospective international students obtain a negative TB test within the U.S. and on file at the IPO before enrollment. TB skin tests are valid for 12 months. If your test results have expired, you must retest before enrolling.
Once we receive the above payments and documents, the IPO will review them and determine whether or not OTC will admit you. If admitted, OTC will send an I-20. The program then requires you to take your SEVIS receipt, your passport and your I-20 to the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy to apply for your student visa. If OTC does not select you for admission, OTC will notify you by mail. Processing an application may take six weeks or more to complete, so please start early.
Contact Information:
International Programs Office
Ozarks Technical Community College
1001 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
Phone: (417) 447-6941
E-mail: IPO@otc.edu
The U.S. government requires the payment of a non-refundable $350 SEVIS fee for all international students before issuing a visa. There are two methods of payment. You can either (1) electronically complete Form I-901 obtained from website www.FMJfee.com, using a credit card or (2) submit Form I-901 through the mail with a check or money order drawn on a US bank and payable in US currency. Go to www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm for more information concerning SEVIS.
Prospective students must submit the fee at least three business days before the scheduled visa interview either electronically or by mail to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security address listed on the Form I-901. Students should bring a paper receipt (Form I-797) with them to the visa interview.