International Students

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Pratt Community College is a student-centered public institution of higher education that grants associate degrees and occupational certificates. Our mission is to seek maximum student learning through high-quality instruction and services that meet the educational and occupational training needs of our students. We provide activities for the lifetime enrichment of our students and the citizens in south central Kansas and beyond.

For more information, please contact the Associate Director of Special Program Admissions, at 620-450-2114, international@prattcc.edu.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS (pdf)

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS MUST BE PROVIDED UPON ARRIVAL/ENROLLMENT

Student copy of PCC I-20
Copy of I-20 from transferring school (if applicable)
Passport, F-1 Visa, and I-94 card
Admissions requirements and procedures for international students are subject to change according to the recognized needs of students and the college.

July 29, 2020

F-1 Visa International Student Update Regarding Fall 2020

We understand this is an extremely challenging time for students filled with uncertainty and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we finalize plans for the fall semester. The safety of students, faculty and staff is our top priority. Our decisions are made as we confer with federal, state, and local officials. Please view the information below as well as the attachments, and contact international@prattcc.edu with any questions or concerns.

NOTE: Due to the fluid nature of this situation, the guidance outlined below is subject to change. This update includes information from many sources as of the date of this update and also includes some PCC interpretations of news. It is strongly recommended that all students check with their local Embassy and Consulate as well as airlines regarding their specific situations prior to making any travel arrangements.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, students should be flexible and be prepared to leave college and/or move out of the residence hall upon short notice due to unforeseen action taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This may require immediate action by students with little notification due to the nature of the situation. All students, whether living on campus or off, are expected to abide by all federal, state, local, and PCC guidelines and regulations implemented to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Prior to leaving your country and arriving at Pratt Community College, International students should have a plan in place to return to their country or an alternative location, should they be required to leave campus and the residence hall. All dates, including start/end, holiday, etc. are SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON COVID-19 SITUATION.

Important Immigration Update:
SEVP released new guidance and FAQs on Friday, July 24 (attached and links below). This update will allow F-1 students at schools such as PCC that are fully face-to-face and then moving online after Thanksgiving to remain in the U.S. legally. Please see the updated Learning Calendar and Press Release attachments.

FAQs and Travel Information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/phased-resum…
https://www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/covid19faq.pdf

Will new international students be able to start in the fall?
At this point in time, U.S. Embassies and Consulates suspended the routine issuance of visas. They are just now beginning to resume routine visa services (see link above). We do not know when all visa services will resume and what the wait times will be. We anticipate backlogs and delays. Unfortunately, because of these delays, we believe not everyone planning to be in Pratt for the fall semester will be able to arrive on time.

I am a new student that is part of a fall sport that has been moved to spring and/or I am a new student from a country on the travel ban list, can I move my start date to the spring semester?
1. Check with your coach and ask what they suggest is best for your situation.
2. If you and your coach decide you would like to begin in the spring, please contact international@prattcc.edu stating your full name, country of citizenship, athletic team, and that you would like to defer your start to spring 2021. The PDSO/DSO will update your SEVIS record and email you a new Form I-20 reflecting the date changes.
3. If you and your coach decide it is not in your best interest to attend PCC during this academic year, please contact international@prattcc.edu stating your full name, country of citizenship, athletic team, and that you would like your SEVIS record terminated or updated. The PDSO/DSO will update your SEVIS record accordingly and notify you once the action is complete. For I-901 fee reimbursement information, review the ice.gov link above and also visit: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq#_Toc81222150

I am a returning student from a country on the travel ban list, what are my options?
1. If you wish to continue your studies and remain in active F-1 Visa status, please first contact your coach to discuss your specific situation/ confirm your financial situation / check to see if your scholarship will be affected; and then contact ssc@prattcc.edu to request an advising session to adjust your schedule to all online courses for the fall semester. As of the date of this update, EduKan online classes are not covered by scholarships, but Pratt Online courses are. This, like the other information contained in this update, is subject to change due to the fluidity of this situation.
2. If you do not wish to remain enrolled, please notify international@prattcc.edu stating that you do not wish to continue your courses and would like your SEVIS record terminated or transferred to another U.S college or university. You will need to submit the Complete Exit Form through your E-Central account to drop all of your classes.

Will students be able to return to the United States if they live in or have visited a country on the travel ban list?
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/presidential… The United States has imposed a travel ban for many countries. The federally imposed entry restrictions apply to all non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents, even those with valid U.S. visas. The restrictions also apply to new students, current students, faculty, and staff who may have traveled to these locations. These restrictions could be lifted at any time, so travel is precarious and it is strongly recommended that you check the website above as well as your local embassy and airlines for the most up-to-date information regarding your personal travel.

July 16, 2020 Update from the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs regarding student travel from the Schengen area of Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The text of the update is below. The URL is here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/national-int…

National Interest Exceptions for Certain Travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland
Last Updated: July 16, 2020
Certain business travelers, investors, treaty traders, academics, and students may qualify for National Interest Exceptions under Presidential Proclamations (PPs) 9993 (Schengen Area) and 9996 (United Kingdom and Ireland). Qualified business and student travelers who are applying for or have valid visas or ESTA authorization may travel to the United States even as PPs 9993 and 9996 remain in effect.

Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas, do not need to seek a national interest exception to travel. Students from those areas who are traveling on a J-1 may contact the nearest embassy or consulate to initiate an exception request.

The Department of State also continues to grant National Interest Exceptions for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security.

Granting national interest exceptions for this travel to the United States from the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland, will assist with the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and bolster key components of our transatlantic relationship.

We appreciate the transparency and concerted efforts of our European partners and allies to combat this pandemic and welcome the EU’s reciprocal action to allow key categories of essential travel to continue.

Inbound Travel- CDC Recommendations
International travelers arriving from areas identified as Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention61 or Level 4 by the U.S. Department of State⁴⁷are required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival and before taking part in university activities or using university spaces.

PCC Specific Guidelines Regarding Travel/Quarantine:
JULY 29, 2020 UPDATE:
All International students and KDHE travel-restricted US states will need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. They will attend classes via distance/alternative delivery mode and must stay in their designated quarantine location until the 14 days are exhausted. It has been confirmed with the Health Department a person cannot present a negative test to be exempt from the 14-day quarantine - no alternatives.

Students approved to live on campus and having to quarantine will be relocated to a quarantine location designated by the College. Students will attend classes through alternate delivery/distance learning modes during the quarantine period and will not be allowed to leave the designated quarantine location until released by the College Health Nurse. Students who are quarantined should contact their instructors and advisor as soon as possible so that instructors know which students will be participating via alternate delivery mode.

Parents of International Students:
Where can I go to find information on COVID-19 in Pratt, Kansas?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) provides regular updates on the number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas and each of its counties. Pratt is the county seat of Pratt County. The KDHE, which is the state organization tasked with responding to COVID-19, also holds regular press conferences and issues state-wide health notices.
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/
http://prattcounty.org/336/COVID-19-UPDATES
/college-health/coronavirus-information

Additional Resources & Contact Information:
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/covid-19-resources
sevp@ice.dhs.gov
SEVP Response Center Phone: 703-603-3400

Attachments:
Updated 2020-2021 Learning Calendar
July 16, 2020 Pratt CC Fall 2020 Semester Information Press Release
July 24, 2020 SEVP Releases- https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/fall2020faq.pdf & https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bcmFall2020guidance.pdf