OC International Education - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: Where is Olympic College located?
A: Olympic College is in the United States Pacific Northwest region in Washington State in the town of Bremerton. It is located on the Olympic Peninsula across the Puget Sound from Bremerton, Washington. It is 30 minutes by ferry to Seattle, Washington. [Click for information on location and campus map]
Q: What courses can I study at Olympic College?
A: Olympic College offers 70+ programs of study for Associate's degree and professional certifications. There are also six (6) Bachelor's degrees offered. International students who do not meet English placement requirements to enter an Associate's degree program will be required to take Intensive English courses. [Click for academic pathways | Click for full academic catalog | Click for Intensive English information]
Q: What English language proficiency do I need to place into English 101 and other college-level courses?
A: Students must meet the English proficiency level requirements to attend English 101 and other college-level courses. International students may show their exam scores for accepted English language evaluation tests such as TOEFL and IELTS, or they may take an Accuplacer exam before or after they arrive on OC campus. Students who do not reach the requirements will be placed into the appropriate level of OC's Intensive English (IE) program. [Click to view English language placement requirements]
Q: What are the important dates and deadlines for enrolling at Olympic College?
A: You can view our academic calendar to view our International student airport pickup/move-in dates, orientation dates, course registration deadlines, last days to drop courses, etc. [Click for 2025-2026 Academic Calendar]
Q: What does it cost for international students to attend Olympic College?
A: The cost of tuition is based on the current rates for non-residents. The cost of a Quarter of 15 credits for an Associate's degree will be $3,637 and the cost for a Quarter of 18 credits of Intensive English (IE) will be $3,851. Based on these tuition costs, plus fees, books & supplies, insurance, housing & food, transportation, and other expenses, the total cost for a Quarter of Associate's courses is $7,302 and a Quarter of IE is $7,716. The total cost for a Year (3 Quarters) of Associate's courses is $2,401 and a Year of IE is $23,402. In order to obtain an I-20 form from Olympic College to get an F-1 Visa, international students must provide an Affidavit of Support to show proof of having funds to cover one year (3 quarters) college expenses. [Click for 2025-2026 Costs]
Q: How do international students pay for fees at Olympic College?
A: Fees that are due before you arrive at Olympic College, such as the $50 application fee and $100 airport pickup fee can use the online PayMyTuition payment platform. or fees that are due after you arrive on campus, you will pay at the Olympic College Cashier's Office. Students who are registered will have a ctcLink account and will be able to make payments online using ctcLink. [Click for directions on how to use PayMyTuition]
STUDENT VISAS AND IMMIGRATION
Q: What
are the different types of immigration statuses in the United States?
A: There
are four types of immigration statuses for the United States.
Q: What
are the different types of visas to enter the United State and how do they
different from each other?
A: There are
many types of visas used to enter the United States. We will list the most
relevant for international students who want to study in the USA.
Q: How can
students be employed?
A: F-1
students may only work on-campus during their first academic year. After their
first academic year, F-1 students may work in one of three types of off-campus
employment. These jobs must be related to their area of study and must be
authorized by the school’s Designated School Official (DSO). These types of jobs
include:
M-1
vocational students may have an off-campus job related to their area of study
only after completing their studies.
Q: How are
CPT and OPT different?
A: Career
Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) are both work
authorization options for F-1 students which are related to the student’s area
of study, but the main difference is when they can be used. CPT needs to be
used before graduation and OPT can be used before or after graduation.
Updated 2/25/2025
- Citizens – There are two types of citizens. People born in the United States are called birthright citizens and those who are naturalized after residing in the USA for 3-5 years are called naturalized citizens.
- Green Card Holders - Conditional Residents receive a green card after completing 2 years of marriage. Legal Permanent Residents earn a green card when having an employer or family member sponsor them. They can also earn a green card because of refugee status.
- Non-Immigrant Status – People who enter the USA temporarily to legally live and work (or study). This includes people who visit on a F-1 visa, J-1 visas, spouses with a K-1 visa, tourist visas, business (B1 or B2) visas, or special temporary protective status.
- Undocumented Status – People who are in the country illegally, without documentation of entry.
- F Visa – For students at universities, colleges, academies, high schools, and language schools.
- J Visa – For participants of exchange programs. Au pairs, job trainees.
- M Visa – For trainees and students of non-academic training programs (vocational).
- N Visa – For parents and children of certain green card holders.
- Q Visa – For participants of cultural exchange programs.
- V Visa – For spouses and children of green card holders.
Q: Why is it important to know the different types of visas when recruiting international students?
A: This depends on the types of courses that the institution offers. If the institution offers academic or language courses, they need to submit an F-1 Form I-20. If they offer vocational courses, they need to submit an M-1 Form I-20.
Q: How do rules governing visas affect the way an institution recruits students?
A: US Immigration Policy, focusing on national security and international relations, often have an impact on immigration policies and visa approvals for international student. SEVIS changes could alter or complicate the requirements of student applications. The regulations may change, and some regulations may be very clear, but some may have ambiguity that could require subjective creativity in the application process. This means that the institutions need to stay on top of the changes in regulations, and communicate in a timely manner to agencies, parents, and students.
A: This depends on the types of courses that the institution offers. If the institution offers academic or language courses, they need to submit an F-1 Form I-20. If they offer vocational courses, they need to submit an M-1 Form I-20.
Q: How do rules governing visas affect the way an institution recruits students?
A: US Immigration Policy, focusing on national security and international relations, often have an impact on immigration policies and visa approvals for international student. SEVIS changes could alter or complicate the requirements of student applications. The regulations may change, and some regulations may be very clear, but some may have ambiguity that could require subjective creativity in the application process. This means that the institutions need to stay on top of the changes in regulations, and communicate in a timely manner to agencies, parents, and students.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
- Current Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension
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