International Students

Welcome to TCS Education System’s Resource for International Students. Community and Global Engagement supports international students studying within our affiliated system of schools. We welcome you and support you on your journey at your home away from home.

o   U.S. Department of Homeland Security COVID 19 Resources

Site maintained by the Department of Homeland Security in the United States, contains information for international students in the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) in the United States who are affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

o   U.S. Food Bank and Assistance Information

• • Maryland
  • DC
  • Virginia
  • Chicago
  • Orange County
  • L.A. County
  • Dallas County
  • San Diego County
  • Pasadena

o   IELTS: COVID-19: Information for our global test taker community (updated 4.21.2020)

o   U.S Postal Service notification on international mail service suspension (updated 4.21.2020)

o   ETS is temporarily offering the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test (updated 4.02.2020)

International students sponsored in F-1 or J-1 status should contact their Designated School Official for information related to their non-immigrant status. If you need assistance in identifying your Designated School Official (DSO), please contact Global Engagement or find your college’s contact information below:

• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• Pacific Oaks College
• Saybrook University

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • USCIS Case Status
  • InfoPass – Making an appointment with a USCIS Office
  • USCIS’s I-9 fact sheet for F-1 students

• U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
  • Customs and Border Patrol: I94 information  

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • SEVIS Portal Log In
  • SEVIS Fee Payment – I-901​​
  • Travel Information and Information for Re-Entry​
  • Applying for an F-1 visa in Canada or Mexico
  • Fees for Visa Services
  • Non-immigrant Visa Photos Requirements​
  • Visa denials
  • Visa Wait Times (In addition to the time posted, factor in the time it will take for you to receive the document and physically have it in your hand)
  • DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP)

• U.S. Department of State
  • S. Visa Application Portal
  • NAFSA: 10 Points to Remember when Applying for a Student Visa:
  • How to Navigate the U.S. Immigration System
  • Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions
• Social Security
  • Social Security fact sheet for employers when hiring foreign workers
  • International Students & Social Security Numbers (SSN)
• Government Sites to Monitor
  • CDC.gov
  • Travel.state.gov
  • U.S. Visas
  • US Embassies
  • City of Chicago Public Health
  • Washington, DC Health
  • Los Angeles County Public Health
  • Orange County Public Health
  • San Diego County Public Health
  • Dallas County Health and Human Services
• International Student Loan Services
  • Private Loan Lenders

• OPT Employment & Major Area of Study Explanation

• If you hear of someone on campus who needs help regarding immigration, please share this resource page with them. Community & Global Engagement is serving as the central hub for tracking these issues and supporting campus leaders on related actions and policy.
• If you are not sure whom to contact, please reach out to Emily Karem, Vice President of Community & Global Engagement or 312-379-1610. Please feel free to share this information broadly.
• If you are aware of a resource not shared here, please contact Community & Global Engagement to let us know.