International Applicants
Contact Us
Room: C-Building, C-760
Phone: (718) 482-5145
fsinformation@lagcc.cuny.edu
Office Hours
Monday & Thursday: 9 – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 – 5 p.m.
Friday Virtual One Stop Hours
ISS: 10 – 3 p.m.
Academic Advising: 10 – 1 p.m.
Virtual Office Link
International Students
With 133 countries represented and 62 native languages spoken by our students, faculty, and staff, there is no better place than LaGuardia for you to explore, experiment, and learn.
We understand that being away from home and studying in a different country can be challenging. Our primary goal is your success. Our Office of International Student Services (ISS) will provide you with advising and support services with immigration, academic, financial, personal, and cross-cultural matters to help your reach your educational goals.
Apply to LaGuardia
International students follow the same application process as our first-year freshman and transfer applicants. Please review the eligibility & requirements below before you Apply.
If you are interested in taking English as a Second Language as an International Student, please visit The English Language Center (TELC) page for more information.
Eligibility & Requirements
You are considered an international student if you have been admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa, either an F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange visitor in the student category), for the purpose of enrolling in an entire course of study at a U.S. accredited higher education institution.
Please Note: If you are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, a permanent resident of the Northern Mariana Islands, or a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or under political asylum or a refugee, you are not considered an International student.
Changing F-1 Status
Please get in touch with LaGuardia’s International Student Services office at fsinformation@lagcc.cuny.edu.
Please note that we no longer process requests for change of status to F-1 students within the United States. If you are a potential F-1 student, we can explain the process of changing your status leaving the United States, and applying for an F-1 visa at the American Embassy. Potential F-1 students must be careful when they decide to apply for a change of status within the United States, as rules and regulations have changed and you could compromise your current Non-Immigrant status.
Applying for I-20
If you plan to study at LaGuardia on an F-1 visa, you’ll need a Form I-20 to begin your student visa process. Follow the steps below to get started:
- Apply for Admission: Complete Your Application
Once you are admitted, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete the International Student Questionnaire. - Complete the Questionnaire
The questionnaire helps our office gather important information needed to prepare your I-20. Be sure to complete it carefully. This will help us identify and confirm your immigration status. - Receive Your I-20 Packet
After you submit the questionnaire, you’ll receive an I-20 packet that includes detailed instructions and all required forms to complete your I-20 application. The packet will also include LaGuardia’s SEVIS School Code for your records. - Transfer Students
If you are transferring from another U.S. school, you must first be admitted to LaGuardia before your SEVIS record can be released by your previous institution. Our office will guide you through this process once your admission is confirmed.
Department Contacts
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Rosana Keshawarz | International Student Services Director |
| Devina Anavitate | Office Assistant |