Deferred Attendance F-1 International Student Admissions
Unable to get your F-1 student visa in time for the semester? Then we'll show you how to defer your attendance.
If you are unable to obtain a F-1 student visa or, for any other reason, are unable to report on time for the semester you initially applied for and wish to defer your attendance to the next available semester, you must submit a deferred attendance request to process a new SEVIS Form I-20 for the next term.
The deferred attendance request and documents should be received no later than 50 days from the original program start date on your SEVIS Form I-20 to avoid having the I-20 canceled in the system. If the SEVIS Form I-20 has been canceled, you will need to apply again and submit the documentation as a new student.
We’ll walk you through the steps of deferring here:
- Submit Deferment Request Form
- Prepare Required Documents
- Receive your SEVIS Form I-20
- Confirm I-901 SEVIS Fee
Read on for more details.
Steps for Deferred Attendance
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Submit Deferment Request Form
Complete, sign, and save the SEVIS-I-20-Application-(Revised_05.2021)SEVIS Form I-20 Application as a PDF file. Send it as an attachment to oiss.international@hccs.edu. Write “DEFERMENT” and your HCC ID number in the subject line.
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Submit Additional Required Documents
We have temporarily waived the deferment application fee to assist you with the admissions process.
Make sure to monitor your F-1 Student Checklist for updates and prepare any required documents needed for upload:
- Log in to your account on the HCC Student System using your HCC W number and password.
- Under Student Homepage, click on Checklists.
- Click on the F-1 Student Checklist to upload the required documents.
- If you do not see an F-1 Student Checklist, please send an email to oiss.international@hccs.edu with your HCC student ID, "DEFERMENT," and the semester you're applying for, written in the subject line. Check your account again within 3 business days, and the F-1 Student Checklist should now be available.
- All financial documents must be dated within the past six months. However, if your previous documents on the record are dated within the past six months, no new documents are required.
Continue to monitor your F-1 Student Checklist for any additional documents that may be required.
Follow this tutorial for more detailed instructions.
How to Submit Your Documents
All documents must be combined and submitted in a single PDF file. The file name must be 30 characters or fewer and cannot include special characters. Bad-quality or upside-down documents will be rejected.
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Receive your SEVIS Form I-20
Once the office receives all of your documents, you should wait at least 10 business days for the processing of the SEVIS Form I-20. This time will vary depending on when the application is submitted and how many applicants there are at that time.
Applications are processed in the order they are received.
Check Your Email!
We are now sending the I-20 form electronically via your preferred email address listed in your student account.
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Confirm I-901 SEVIS Fee
As long as you maintain the same SEVIS record (same N number on the for I-20), there is no need to transfer your I-901 SEVIS Fee payment.
Students who are unable to enroll in the next session may defer their enrollment to the next available session. Fee transfers (in case of Form I-20 with new N number) are available for F students who have already paid the I-901 SEVIS Fee and who:
- Reapply for a visa within 12 months of the date of their initial I-901 SEVIS Fee payment, or
- Are from a Visa Waiver Program country and reapply for status as a student at the port of entry within 12 months of the date of their initial I-901SEVIS Fee payment. Refer to the I-901 SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Questions on the ICE.gov website for additional information about reapplying fees.
Additional Resources
Get prepared for your first day of class with these helpful links.
Contact Us
We are excited to welcome all international students to Houston City College. We're ready to answer your questions about the admissions process, choosing your program, or anything else you may need. To get help online, visit our Virtual Lobby.