In order to attend DVC, you need to be approved for an F1 visa. It is important to apply as soon as possible. EducationUSA offices are the best place to get help obtaining an F1 visa. Visit the EducationUSA website to find an office near you. 

To attend DVC, you must show the visa officer a SEVIS 1-20 from Diablo Valley College. You cannot apply for a visa using a different school's 1-20 and attend DVC. This is considered fraudulent entry by the U.S. immigration authorities. 

Review the SEVIS fee requirements.

Visa delay or denial

If your visa is delayed or denied, please send an email to isas@dvc.edu with the date and location of your visa interview and details about why your visa is delayed or denied. 

If you are told your record does not appear in the visa officer's SEVIS system, immediately email isas@dvc.edu and provide the date and location of your visa interview. We will have your SEVIS record re-submitted directly to the location where you have applied for your visa.

Please note, if your visa is delayed and you will not be able to enter the US by the first day of class you will be REQUIRED to DEFER your attendance at DVC to the next semester.

For more information regarding student visas and more please visit the U.S. State Department.

English proficiency

Students must understand a certain level of English in order to succeed at DVC. To meet this requirement, you must submit official scores from one of the following tests: 

Test	Minimum score
Internet based TOEFL (IBT)	61
Paper based TOEFL (PBT)*	500
IELTS - academic test	5.5
iTEP	3.5
International Education Center (IEC)	Completion of advanced B level certificate
ELS Centers	Completion of EAP level 109 certificate

*Only paper based TOEFL tests taken in the United States will be accepted, if you take the TOEFL outside the United States, it must be IBT. 

TOEFL institutional school code for DVC is 4295. Only official scores sent directly from the testing center will be accepted.

Official transcripts

In order to be admitted to DVC, you must have graduated from high school (or have a high school graduation equivalent) or be 18 years of age by the beginning of your first semester. Official high school transcripts are required if you will be under 18 years of age at the beginning of your first semester. We recommend everyone submit high school and college transcripts regardless of age as you may have already met specific academic requirements. 

High school graduation

• DVC does not offer a high school completion program. California State law clarifies that a student must be 18 years of age or a high school graduate by the time their first semester begins.
• The minimum age to attend DVC as an international student is 16. Any international student under 18 must be a high school graduate. 
• Students who are applying from a high school in China who will not be 18 years of age when their first semester begins must complete the 12 years of high school study. 

If you are entering DVC by completing the Cambridge O Levels or the IGCSE, you must be in an O Level or IGCSE curriculum. You must also pass five of the IGCSE exams including English, math, social studies, mother tongue (or second language), and one science class. DVC will not accept students who take these as independent or private candidates. Examination results must be submitted before you can be admitted to the school, we may accept preliminary results. Once the official results are available, you must submit them to the International Students Admissions and Services office.

Transfer process

If you are an international student with F1 status attending another school, college or university who wishes to transfer to DVC, review the following steps: 

• Submit a DVC international student application with all required documents before the deadline listed in step three.
• We will let you know by e-mail the status of your application. You will later receive the transfer acceptance information and instructions by e-mail. 
• Follow the transfer out procedures at your current school in order for them to transfer your SEVIS record to DVC. Once we receive your SEVIS record we will be able to issue DVC I-20.

Please read the instructions for admission carefully and complete all the necessary documents. On page 6 of this application you will find a checklist included to help you complete this application. Please be sure to sign your name in all of the required places. Your application will be considered complete only when we have received official documents. 
(Get Acrobat PDF Reader) 

• DVC International Student Admissions Application
• Authorization for Students under age 18
• Student Consent for Release of Information

Send completed application and requirements by postal mail to:

         International Student Admissions (ISAS) office
         Diablo Valley College
         321 Golf Club Road
         Pleasant Hill, California 94523

Or,  you may send clear scanned copies of application and all requirements by email to: intlapp@dvc.edu (please include your complete name and date of birth in the email subject line).

Acceptance emails will be sent on a rolling basis as complete applications are received and processed. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for processing from the day we receive your application. The email will include information on when the I-20 form will be completed and delivery options. 

DVC application deadlines

Fall semester:	June 1 for all applicants; semester begins in August
Spring semester:	November 1 for all applicants; semester begins in January
Bridge programs:	Visit the International Education Center at DVC for more information

After your application is accepted, you will be emailed information for beginning studies. This information will include dates and times for your orientation, assessment, academic advising, and class registration, which all take place before the beginning of your first semester. Orientations and academic advising are mandatory. 

You will receive a link to the Online International Orientation which will give you information on how to complete the Student Educational Plan (SEP). Completing the online orientation and the SEP will result in getting an earlier class registration date, this is called priority registration. The Online International Orientation will also show you how to register for classes. 

It is very important that we have your correct and personal email address on file at all times.