Pre Arrival Information for Mission College and IIS
We have two sets of deadlines: Mission College degree program deadlines and deadlines for our Intensive English Program, IIS. The deadlines are for students outside the U.S. They give you enough time for us to process your application, send your documents to you, give you enough time apply for an F-1 visa and buy an airline ticket. We occasionally accept late applications. Please contact our office if your application will be late.
If you are already in the US and are transferring from another school, we will accept your application after the deadline. Our Intensive English Program, IIS, has five (5) start dates per year. Therefore, if your application is too late for one session, it is on-time for the next session!
Preparing for the Visa Interview
When we send you your admission documents, we send a paper called "Tips for Passing the Interview." Please read that paper very carefully. We cannot tell you enough: Prepare for the visa interview. Why do you want to study in the United States? At Mission College? What do you know about Mission College? (The visa examiner might ask you!) How will a degree from the U.S. help you prepare for a career in your country? What four-year university will you attend after you finish at Mission College?
If you think about these questions ahead of time, they will help you develop a plan for your future. You need to tell the visa officer about your plan, so preparing for your interview by thinking about what you will do after you finish at Mission College is essential. You should be prepared to speak in English.
The staff in the International Student Center at Mission College is happy to discuss your plans with you before you apply for a visa. Please email us at: iis@wvm.edu
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) serve Mission College. SFO is 45-minutes away by car. SJC is ten minutes away!
Getting here from the airports: We do not have airport pickup. Visit Super Shuttle at http://www.supershuttle.com/ for transportation from SFO to the Santa Clara/San Jose area if you need a ride. You can also contact our office if you need assistance in arranging for a ride. If you choose a host family, your family will pick you up.
Mission College does not have dormitories, on-campus housing or a housing coordinator.
However, all of our students find a place to live! If you do not have a friend or relative in this area when you arrive, we recommend a host family for one semester. That way, you will learn about the area and make new friends. After that, you may continue to stay with a host family or find a place to share with your friends.
Also, nearby universities sometimes has dormitory space for our students in the summer. If you will arrive for our intensive language program in June, contact the Director for information about possible dormitory rooms.
There is an independent host-family coordinator in our area. For detailed information, please contact: www.isphomestays.com or send an e-mail to: jeanikeda@yahoo.com. ISP Homestays can also be reached at 4966 El Camino Real, #225, Los Altos, CA, 94022, USA; phone (650) 947-8879; fax (650) 969-9857.
However, all of our students find a place to live! If you do not have a friend or relative in this area when you arrive, we recommend a host family for one semester. That way, you will learn about the area and make new friends. After that, you may continue to stay with a host family or find a place to share with your friends.
Also, nearby universities sometimes has dormitory space for our students in the summer. If you will arrive for our intensive language program in June, contact the Director for information about possible dormitory rooms.
Metro-Rent is a company that can help you to find an apartment or roommate over the internet. It will charge you a small fee. You tell them your budget and your needs. The website is: www.metrorent.com
There are many residence hotels in our area. Some are very close to Mission College, and they are good choices especially on a short-term basis. They have kitchens, laundry, shuttle bus rides and other facilities and services. Our office can occasionally negotiate a special price, so tell us if you are interested in this option. The Marriott Residence Inn is located close to Mission College. Contact them at www.residenceinnsiliconvalley2.com/html/contact_us.html
If you plan to drive in California, you must get a California Driver License. We will give you more information when you arrive. So that you can drive here until that time, you should get an International Driver License in your country. This will allow you to legally drive in California until you have a time to take the tests.
The current rule states that international students on F-1 Visas may not apply for a Social Security Number. The only exception is: If students receive a written job offer for a part-time student assistant's job from an office on the college or university campus where they attend school, then they can apply for and receive a Social Security Number.
We know that many students want a Social Security Number because the numbers are commonly used in the U.S., and we are sorry about the inconvenience. However, we will give you tips on how you can do business in the U.S. without a number. In fact, you can get a California Driver' License, bank account, etc., without one! We will explain when you arrive.
Federal immigration rules allow F-1 International students to work part-time on the campus where they attend school. However, there are limited job opportunities for students and international students at Mission College, so there is no guarantee of a job. Also, we ask intensive English language students to wait at least one semester to make sure they are making good progress in their studies before they look for a campus job. On-campus jobs are a way for students to improve their English and get experience. They do not pay enough to support students, however.
We require all students to have health insurance because we do not have free health care in the U.S. We cannot tell you strongly enough: You must have health insurance. If you get sick or get hurt and do not have insurance, the hospital will give you a large bill or even refuse to treat you! We can tell you many sad stories about students who did not have insurance and had to return to their countries for surgery and medical care.
We recommend that you get Travel Insurance in your country to cover you until classes begin here, and you have purchased health insurance in our office. Or, you may get a health insurance policy from your country, but be careful because foreign policies are sometimes difficult to use here. That is, US doctors and hospitals do not want to call another country to find out if your insurance is valid. You need at least $250,000 worth of coverage. Also, you need "evacuation and repatriation." This means you will be returned to your country by the insurance company if you get very sick or pass away.
Unless you have proof in English of health insurance from your country, you must purchase an excellent, low-cost health insurance policy in our office when you arrive. It costs approximately $54 per month and is from a well-known company that all U.S. doctors and hospitals recognize. We will give you the details on your arrival.
All students, faculty and staff at Mission College are required to take a tuberculosis test when they arrive here. It will cost you a very small amount of money out-of-pocket. Also, bring your inoculation and measles, mumps and Rubella records in English from your doctor when you come. Our Student Health Services Center will review your health record with you. A physical examination is not required!
- Mission College: phone 408-988-2200 | 3000 Mission College Boulevard Santa Clara, CA 95054-1897
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