The process of entering a degree-granting major and transitioning to primary enrollment at the Texas A&M University College Station campus typically occurs after 1-2 years of co-enrollment at the partner institution. Each semester, ISS receives a list of international students who are ready to complete this process. Upon reviewing this list, ISS will re-add the ISS Check-In registration hold to each of these students’ University records as a reminder to complete the full ISS Check-In process. The required steps are outlined below.
All international students going through the process to enter a degree-granting major are encourged to review the ISS Online
New International Student Orientation, accessible at http://iss.tamu.edu/Prospective-Students/Check-in-Orientation/Online-Orientation for helpful information about attending the College Station campus. F-1 and J-1 students should pay particular attention to the policies pertaining to maintaining legal F-1/J-1 status.
Failure to complete all steps of the ISS Check-in may result in a registration hold being placed on your University record by ISS until all steps are resolved. In addition, failure to comply with the SEVIS Transfer process may negatively impact F-1/J-1 nonimmigrant status.
F-1 Students
- Engineering Academy and TEAM international students currently in F-1 status should first consult the international office at your current/partner two-year institution to determine the procedures for having your SEVIS record transferred to Texas A&M University so that ISS can issue your Form I-20. (For Blinn College, international students should email international@blinn.edu for assistance.)
- Next, apply for the new I-20 from ISS by submitting a complete “New Student I-20 Request” program through Terra Dotta. For more information about this process, please visit the New F-1 Students Needing I-20 from ISS section of the ISS website.
- A new Form I-20 will be issued for you that will reflect your new major and, if applicable, the change from the partner institution to the Texas A&M College Station campus.
- The length of time granted on the Form I-20 that you receive from ISS will depend upon the amount of time spent co-enrolled at the partner institution. ISS typically issues a newly admitted Bachelor’s degree student a four-year Form I-20. Therefore, if you were co-enrolled at the partner institution for one year, you will receive an I-20 from Texas A&M valid for up to three years. If you were co-enrolled at the partner institution for two years, you will receive an I-20 from Texas A&M valid up to two years.
- ISS will not issue a Form I-20 unless the individual has met the University requirements for English proficiency, as explained at http://admissions.tamu.edu/international/transfer.
- After receiving the Form I-20 from ISS, and before the first class day of the semester during which you will begin full-time enrollment at the Texas A&M College Station campus, you will need to submit a complete “New F-1/J-1 Student Check-In” through Terra Dotta in order to have the ISS Check-In registration hold removed. For detailed information about the ISS Check-In process, please visit http://iss.tamu.edu/Prospective-Students/Check-in-Orientation/Check-in.
J-1 Students
It is not anticipated that there will be any students in J-1 status enrolling in one of the co-enrollment partnership programs. However, if you are currently in J-1 status, please follow the steps outlined for F-1 students above but also schedule an appointment to discuss your case with an ISS advisor. This can be done by telephone. ISS will then follow-up with you to determine whether we can issue your DS-2019.
International Students Not in F-1 or J-1 Status
Engineering Academy and TEAM international students not in F-1 or J-1 status who are still considered international students (i.e. not U.S. Citizens or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents) will need to submit a “New Students Other Immigration Status Check-In” program through Terra Dotta in order to have the ISS Check-In registration hold removed. For more information about this process, please visit the
New Students with Statuses Other than F-1 or J-1 section of the ISS website.