International Applicants

The Admissions Office must receive all application materials by the following deadlines to allow time for processing and for you to complete paperwork needed to travel to the U.S.

Application Deadlines

The final application must include all documentation.

First time U.S. college student:

• Fall term (August through December): July 1^st by 12 AM CST
• Spring term (January through May): November 1^st by 12 AM CST

Transfer student coming from a college or university within the United States:

• Fall term (August through December): July 15^th by 12 AM CST
• Spring term (January through May): November 15^th by 12 AM CST

All students must be on campus and attend the first day of class.

VISA Appointment Deadlines

To ensure timely arrival for Orientation and the first day of classes at Northeast, you must schedule your VISA appointment no later than the deadlines listed below. This timeline allows sufficient time for travel planning and visa processing.

It is your responsibility to notify the PDSO (Primary Designated School Official) once your appointment is scheduled and to provide an update on the outcome.

Failure to communicate your appointment status will be interpreted as either:

• You have not scheduled a VISA appointment, or
• You were unable to obtain a VISA.

In either case, your I-20 will be subject to cancellation.

VISA Appointment Deadlines by Term:

• Fall Term (August–December): July 28th
• Spring Term (January–May): December 15th

Proof of Medical Insurance Deadline

Proof of valid medical insurance must be submitted at Orientation or earlier.

No exceptions will be made.

The Spring (January) 2026 application is now closed. Please check back in March 2026 for updates regarding the Fall (August) 2026 application period. Please do not send application materials until the Fall (August) application opens.

In one email, submit the following documents to: intladmissions@northeast.edu

Students will not be considered for an I-20 if these steps are not completed by given dates.

• International Student Application completed in full and signed (please print legibly or type and complete in full. We are unable to process illegible or incomplete applications)
• Financial Affidavit along with the supporting documents
• F-1 Student Transfer Form

• Copy of Current I-20

• Copy or Picture of Passport/Visa (not expiring within 6 months) 
• Copy or Picture of Language scores from either: TOEFL (61) IELTS (6.5), Duolingo English Test (95) and/or appropriate ACT/SAT test scores
  • NECC’s codes are: TOEFL: 6473 (original TOEFL document required)
  • Students from the following countries do not need to submit scores: Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Common Wealth of Caribbean, Ireland, New Zealand or United Kingdom
• All academic transcripts and proof of completion of high school, including official SAT/ACT scores.

All documents must be professionally translated to English/USD

New international students are not eligible for our trade programs, such as automotive or heating and cooling, as these programs have a long wait list.

New international students who are not recruited athletes are not eligible for scholarships.

See Next Steps after completing application

Form I-20

When all documentation has been received, we review each application to determine if admission can be granted. If admission is granted, the ISA will issue a form I-20 and email to the recipient.

Prior to beginning classes, you must attend an Orientation/Registration session and complete a placement test. You should make travel plans accordingly and plan to arrive on campus at least 5 days prior to the first day of classes.

All application materials must be emailed to: intladmissions@northeast.edu

Medical Insurance

All international students must provide proof of health insurance before enrolling in classes. Northeast does not provide health insurance coverage or healthcare for its students. You are liable for your own medical expenses.

Northeast does not advocate any one health insurance provider but here is information for a provider used by past students: Insurance Information

VISA Information for F-1 Students

After you have received your I-20, you will need to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee before the Department of State will issue you a visa. You must print off your receipt and present it at your visa interview.

901 Fee information and payment details:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/paying-the-i-901-sevis-fee

https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html

Visa interview topics

Visa denial information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-denials.html

All application materials must be sent to:

Students in F-1 status are responsible for understanding and complying with U.S. federal laws and regulations governing the F-1 visa.

As an international student, you are expected to

• make housing arrangements prior to arriving in Norfolk
• arrive on campus before the first day of orientation, attend orientation and take placement tests. Make travel plans accordingly.
• pay all tuition, fees, and room & board costs prior to or upon arrival.
• purchase all books and electronic access codes for your courses.
• If you plan to transfer college credit from a previous international university, you must have your college transcripts evaluated, course-by course, by an international transcript evaluation company, one example is World Education Services- www.WES.org.

Maintain F-1 Status

It is your responsibility to keep all records associated with your I-20 up to date by contacting your International Student Advisor (ISA). The Global and Multicultural Engagement Office is not notified of changes to address and program of study by other departments, so it is your responsibility to contact your ISA.

To stay in status

• enroll in a full course load of 12 or more credit hours per semester.
• do NOT enroll in more than one online course (maximum of 3 credits) per semester.
• contact your ISA prior to withdrawing from a course that places you below full-time enrollment. There are limited exceptions that require authorization for an allowable academic or medical reason.
• report all changes to your legal name to your ISA.
• report changes to your address to your ISA (even if it is just a different dorm room).
• report changes to your program of study to your ISA.
• note the “Program End Date” on your I-20. If you will need additional time to complete your degree, you must contact your ISA.
• never work off campus without prior approval from the ISA.
• have your I-20 signed by the ISA before traveling out of the U.S. if you plan to return to Northeast Community College.
• keep your passport and other immigration documents current.
• keep all of your old original I-20s.
• never allow your I-20 to expire if you haven’t completed your program of study.
• attend only the college or university that USCIS has authorized you to attend.
• notify the ISA of your future plans before your final semester at Northeast is complete.
• know the immigration regulations that relate to the F-1 visa.

Campus Housing

• There are three residence halls and two apartment buildings available for students to live on campus. These facilities often fill to capacity
• All athletes are required to live on campus.
• Housing information- Northeast Campus Housing
• Housing Costs- Northeast Housing Costs
• For further information, please contact Residence Life at (402) 844-7155 or housing@northeast.edu

Off-Campus Housing

Students who wish to live off campus are responsible for finding their own housing. We require proof of housing submitted prior to arrival in the states. This proof can be submitted as a signed and dated lease, or a letter from the landlord or property owner. Proof of housing is a requirement.

All international students must be in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Please contact the Student Accounts office at ars@northeast.edu or 402-844-7001 to discuss charges and payments.

Cost and Tuition

Please note that travel expenses are not included in the cost and tuition.

Payment MUST be arranged in advance. There are three payment options:

1. FLYWIRE: --- This is a secure and easy way to pay from your bank accounts and in your currency. You can find further information by following the link below and instructions are attached to this sheet. www.Flywire.com
2. Northeast's Payment Plan system: --- This is a secure way to pay in monthly installments over the course of the semester. Please follow the link below to create an account and get signed up.Northeast Payment Plans
3. Call the Business Office at Northeast Community College: --- Call (402) 844-7001 and provide a credit or debit card for payment.

Please have payment arranged as soon as student is granted a visa to study.

Additional Required Expenses:

• HEALTH INSURANCE: All international students are required to have health insurance. We will be asking for PROOF of insurance at orientation and making a copy of your documents for your file. You may NOT register for classes until proof is provided.
• BOOKS AND SUPPLIES: Textbooks and access codes can easily add up to $1,000 or more, depending on which courses you take. Most students also have a backpack, notebooks, pens, and pencils.

** After a student shows proof of medical insurance and enrolls in at least 12 credits, an active Form I-20 is issued. If a student is unable to offer proof of medical insurance and pay tuition, then he/she will not be issued an Active I-20 and be forced to return to his/her home country.

As an international student, you are only allowed to work on campus in part-time (less than 20 hours a week), non-work study jobs. Employment is not guaranteed.

Steps to attain on-campus employment:

1. Receive valid job offer from on-campus supervisor for PT employment and meet with ISA.
2. Complete Employment Certification Form and obtain supervisor's signature.
3. Upon approval, ISA will prepare documentation allowing the student to apply for a Social Security number.
4. Contact the Human Resources Department after you have received your Social Security Card.

It is against the law to work off campus while in F-1 status without authorization/permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the ISA. If a student uses his/her social security number to become employed by an unauthorized employer, then his/her F-1 student Visa status is void.

After the student has been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year, an F-1 student may qualify for an authorized paid training position that is off-campus. The paid position MUST relate directly to his/her course of study. The student is required to obtain permission before he/she can begin work and complete all required steps. There are restrictions on the hours he/she may work during the school year. There are two types of practical training available for F-1 students: curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Student must provide an official employment offer that directly relates to his or her program of study. CPT requires a signed cooperative agreement or a letter from your employer. The DSO must authorize CPT in SEVIS and issue the student an updated Form I-20.Authorization is for one specific employer and for a specific period of time. While school is in session, you may only work 20 hours per week.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Training relates directly to the student's major area of study. The DSO must authorize OPT in SEVIS and issue the student an updated Form I-20. You can apply for 12 months of OPT at each education level, (i.e., you may have 12 months of OPT at the bachelor's level and another 12 months of OPT at the master's level). For work authorization, you must mail a completed Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and pay a filing fee. USCIS will send you a Form I-766, “Employment Authorization Document,” (EAD) upon approving your Form I-765. ---Wait to start work until after you receive your EAD.

Norfolk, Nebraska is located in the northeast corner of the state of Nebraska.

The population is 26,162 (2024 U.S. Census Figures).

The closest major airport, Eppley Airfield, is located in Omaha, NE which is 113 miles (182 km) from Norfolk.

Northeast Nebraska's major industries include agriculture, agriculture-related businesses, steel manufacturing, food processing and healthcare.

The climate of Norfolk consists of four distinct seasons. Summer days in July warm up to an average of 87° Fahrenheit (30.5 Celsius) while January brings colder temperatures, averaging 31° Fahrenheit (-.5 Celsius).

Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau - www.visitnorfolkne.com
Norfolk Daily News (daily newspaper)-www.norfolkdailynews.com
City of Norfolk- norfolkne.gov/
Travel Northeast Nebraska- www.travelnenebraska.com

When you have finished your program of study at Northeast, you will have 60 days until your I-20 will be deactivated. You have the following options:

1. Continue studies at Northeast in another program. An updated I-20 must be issued to reflect these changes; make an appointment to speak to the ISA.
2. Transfer to another college or university. You will need to provide a letter of acceptance and a SEVIS transfer form from the transfer college or university. These must be given to the Northeast ISA before your I-20 will be transferred.
3. Apply for Optional Practical Training at least three months prior to completing your degree. Make an appointment to speak to the ISA.
4. Return home (leave the U.S.) within 60 days of the Program End Date.