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Steps for Enrolling at IEC@OCC

IEC Application and Required Documents
1. IEC@OCC application (or submit PDF version: 2026)
2. Pay the $100 non-refundable IEC@OCC application fee online.
3. Proof of financial support: Federal regulations require that the applicant provide proof of financial support in a liquid fund (typically a checking or savings account) to obtain the F-1 I-20 document
  - What is a bank statement?
    
    The bank statement must show (1) the available funds with (2) the account holder name from (3) a reputable bank that (4) translated into English and (5) dated within the last 5 month.
  - Required amount
    
    If you do not plan to transfer after completing IEC@OCC, you must submit a bank statement equivalent to $6,800 for one session (8 weeks) at IEC@OCC.
    
    If you plan to transfer to Orange Coast College’s (OCC) credit program after completing IEC@OCC, you must submit a bank statement equivalent to $29,459.
4. Minor Authorization form (for all applicants under 18 years old)
5. Identification
  - Initial Student: Copy of passport
  - Transfer students: who are currently in the U.S. under a student (F-1) visa and attending another school will also need to submit the following documents:
    
    Copy of student visa
    
    Copy of all pages of all I-20s
    
    Copy of I-94
Send the IEC application, required documents, and proof of IEC application fee payment to the following email: iec@occ.cccd.edu.

OCC Conditional Admission: Click here to learn more about the process for applying for OCC conditional acceptance.

Processing time: IEC@OCC staff will review your application upon receipt, notify you of the application status, and issue the IEC@OCC I-20 (if accepted) within 7-10 business days.

Deadline to apply:
- New students (currently overseas and need to apply for an F-1 student visa): estimate 2-3 months before the session starts.
- Transfer students (who already had an F-1 student visa and are attending another school in the U.S.) can apply until a week before the session starts.
Take the IEC Placement Test Online
After you submit your IEC@OCC application, staff will process it and send you an invitation to take the IEC@OCC placement test.
- How does the placement test work?
  
  The placement test takes place over Zoom.
  
  There are 4 parts to the test:
  
  Writing
  
  Listening
  
  Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading
  
  And Speaking
  
  The test will take approximately 1.5-2 hours.
- How should I prepare?
  
  Please download Zoom on your computer and practice using it before the test to make sure there are no technical issues.
  
  Plan to take the test in a location with a strong internet connection.
- Why should I take it early?
  
  Taking the test early will allow us to ensure that your class and level will be available for you.
- For questions about the placement test, please email: iec@occ.cccd.edu
Get IEC I-20 and acceptance letter
Apply for a student visa
- Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee immediately after receiving the I-20 form. Print the receipt, you will need to bring it with you to your visa interview.
- Find your U.S. Consulate or Embassy and schedule your visa interview appointment. Please notify the Global Engagement Center with information on your appointment date and tell us when you receive your visa.
- Review the Apply for an F-1 Visa: Helpful Tips website for more information to prepare for obtaining your visa.
Notify IEC@OCC about your visa status

Notify us if your visa is approved. If you decide to change your study plans and not attend IEC@OCC, please notify us so we can take appropriate action with your I-20 form and SEVIS record.
After receiving a student visa
Arrange Travel
Plan your travel to the U.S. and find housing.

The earliest day you can enter the U.S. is the “Earliest Admission Date” indicated on the first page of your IEC I-20.
- Do not book your flight if you have not received your F-1 student visa.
- Do not plan to enter the U.S. earlier than the “Earliest Admission Date” indicated on the first page of your IEC I-20. You can enter after that day, but not before. You may be denied entry to the U.S. at the point of entry if you travel sooner than the “Earliest Admission Date.”
Find Housing

Students will need to arrange their own housing. Below are some resources:

OCC On-campus Housing at the Harbour is now open!* Visit the student housing page for information and application.

If you prefer to search for off-campus housing or a homestay, you can find plenty of resources on our Housing & Homestay webpage.

*IEC@OCC students can apply to stay at on-campus housing, The Harbour, if they will attend Orange Coast College (OCC) after finishing at IEC@OCC. Students will need to stay for at least an academic year to apply to stay at The Harbour.
Pay IEC@OCC tuition fee and mandatory insurance
Insurance
- All F-1 visa international students must purchase medical insurance from OCC each session. Medical insurance is added to the cost of tuition and must be paid within the first week of the session.
- Insurance waivers are available for students with an F-1 visa studying on a scholarship from their home country, including medical insurance. For more information, visit the OCC Student Health Center Website.
- Please visit the IEC@OCC insurance brochure for the insurance coverage details.
- Insurance should be purchased as soon as you receive your F-1 visa and before entering the U.S. Transfer students MUST purchase health insurance before enrolling in classes.
IEC tuition fee
- Download:
  
  2026 Tuition Payment Form & Instructions
- You can pay the IEC tuition fee online or via wire transfer.
- Deadline to pay: the first Thursday when the session starts.
Notify the office when you plan to arrive in the U.S.
- Check in with the Global Engagement Center after arriving in the U.S.
- Email the F-1 documents (copy of student visa, I-94, passport) to iec@occ.cccd.edu.
Attend IEC orientation
Students will learn about:
- Class schedule
  
  Activities and workshops
  
  Important apps and websites (Discord, Canvas)
  
  Attendance
  
  Medical Insurance
- Review regulations to maintain status in the U.S.
- Check orientation dates
Attend classes
- Location: Legacy Hall
  - Downloadable OCC Campus Map
  - Interactive Virtual Map
- View Class Schedule here.

OCC Conditional Admission

IEC to OCC Conditional Admission

Students who do not have proof of English proficiency may receive conditional admission to OCC degree or certificate programs. GEC admissions will review both the IEC@OCC Application and the OCC International Student Application. If the applicant is a high school graduate or 18 years of age and meets the academic requirements for admission to OCC degree or certificate programs, a "Letter of Conditional Admission" will be issued.

The student will be fully admitted to the OCC degree or certificate program once the English language proficiency requirement has been met. This condition may be met by completing Advanced B, the highest level of English at IEC. In this case, the Advanced B level will be accepted in lieu of other acceptable methods of English proficiency demonstration. A student who is not eligible for conditional admission will be notified and have the option to attend IEC@OCC without conditional admission to OCC degree or certificate programs. Click here to learn more about applying to OCC.
1. APPLICATION FORM
Orange Coast College offers more than 135 degree and certificate programs, and a complete list can be found on our Academic Divisions. These are the requirements for applying for conditional admission:
1. Submit an OCC International Student Online Application. An incomplete application form will not be accepted. Please leave the OCC ID# blank if you do not know your ID#.
2. Provide a workable email address such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc. Please include your WeChat ID or Line, if applicable.
3. Complete the OCC Third Party Authorization (PDF) (if applicable). This form is to be used exclusively by international students only. If you are not an international student, please visit the OCC Enrollment Center -FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) for more information.
4. Restricted Majors for International Students:
  - All Allied Health programs except for Nutrition.
2. APPLICATION FEE
3. FINANCIAL SUPPORT DOCUMENTS
The current cost of attendance is $29,459 per year. Fees are subject to change without prior notice. Visit Estimated Annual Tuition & Fee for detailed information about our current requirements.
Required documents

All subject for review and verification
- Sponsorship Form (PDF)
- Bank Statement in either the name of the applicant and/or the applicant's sponsor(s) showing a minimum amount $29,459 in available funds and dated within the last five (5) months. Submit one of the following documents:
  - An official bank statement from an account where assets can be easily liquidated, such as a checking or savings account. Additionally, you can submit multiple bank statements from different sponsors, as long as the combined amount equals or exceeds our cost of attendance for one year.
  - Bank letter signed by the financial institution showing an exact amount in U.S. dollars of available funds, not estimated.
  - A sponsored letter from a Government, Embassy, Cultural Mission or Private Company. This letter or affidavit must be on the sponsoring institution's official letterhead.
4. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS
Submission of academic transcripts is a mandatory requirement for:
1. Demonstrating English Proficiency.
2. Verifying high school completion for applicants under 18 years of age entering OCC.
Please include copies of your academic transcripts when submitting your admissions application. These transcripts may encompass records from high school, secondary school, college, university, or ESL programs.

It's important to note that translating the transcripts into English or sending them directly to the attended institution is not necessary during the initial admissions review. However, the admission staff might request these additional steps after the initial application review.
5. DEMONSTRATION OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
6. IMMIGRATION RELATED DOCUMENTS
- Initial Applicant: Copy of your biographical passport page
- Transfer Applicant: Students who are currently studying in the U.S. on an F-1 visa
  1. Copy of your biographical passport page, F-1 Visa, and most recent I-94 document
  2. Copy of all pages of all the I-20's you have from all schools you have attended in the U.S.
  3. Copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card (if applicable)

For additional information about our short term program, Partnership Opportunities, Change of Status, etc., please feel free to contact Shane Liliedahl, IEC Program Director.

Contact Us

(714) 432-5940

iec@occ.cccd.edu

Global Engagement Center

Office Hours

Mon to Thu, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fri, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, closed

In This Section

Steps for Enrolling at IEC@OCC

OCC Conditional Admission

Contact Us

Office Hours