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Once you are accepted into your program, you will be contacted by St. Catherine’s Designated School Official (DSO) to submit your financial information. International applicants can be admitted academically but must also show the information necessary to obtain a visa. You can calculate your expected tuition expenses via this link (Note: for graduate and adult students, expenses vary for each degree program.)

F-2 Visas for spouse and dependents 

You will also need to consider the cost associated with dependents (F-2 visas). To qualify for F-2 status, a spouse or unmarried minor (under age 21) child must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer and the immigration officer at the port of entry that:

• The person is the spouse (as evidenced by a valid marriage certificate) or child (as evidenced by a valid birth certificate) of the F-1 principal;
• The person has sufficient funds to cover the dependents’ expenses or that other arrangements have been made to provide for such expenses once in the United States;
• The person "will be accompanying or following to join the principal alien [F-1 student]"
  • If the dependents are following to join the student, "the F-1 student is, or will be within 30 days, enrolled in a full course of study or engaged in approved practical training following completion of studies"
  • He or she intends to leave the United States upon the termination of the status of the principal F-1 student

• Complete Residence Hall and Dining Services Contract if you plan to live at the university
• Make your travel plans and email the information to your DSO.
• Complete immunization form and bring it with you to the U.S. See St. Kate’s immunization requirements.
• Plan to have about $300 USD available for immediate expenses when you arrive. 
• Pack necessary personal items

F-1 students must maintain a full course load for all Fall and Spring semesters.

• 12 credits for undergraduates
• 6 credits for graduates

If you need to drop below full-time, contact your DSO. **Always consult with your DSO before dropping a class. Reasons for dropping below full-time within the first year:

Do not work off campus without authorization from your DSO and/or USCIS. 

Do not let your passport and/or I-20 expire.

Maintain good standing with your academics.

• Undergraduates should maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
• Graduate students should maintain at least a 3.0 GPA

On-campus Employment:
International students are allowed to work in on-campus positions as long as they follow the guidelines below.

• A student may be able to work on-campus in one or more positions that are paid by ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â. This does not require a new I-20 nor DSO intervention unless the student needs a SSN (see information below on how to acquire a Social Security Number).
• On-campus employment can include positions that are off-campus, but educationally affiliated with the university.
• On-campus employment does not include work with contractors such as building maintenance or construction.
• Students new to the university may not begin working more than 30 days before the actual start of classes.
• During the Fall and Spring semesters, students are allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 total hours per week. During semester breaks, students are allowed to work over 20 hours per week. Recognized semester breaks include Winter break, Thanksgiving/Fall break, Spring break, and Summer break.
• International students cannot work in jobs considered federal work-study positions.
• Once the program end date on a student’s I-20 has passed, they are no longer eligible to work.

Find on-campus employment through

Off-campus Employment:
All international students must obtain work authorization from their DSO to be employed off-campus. These descriptions apply to any type of off-campus employment:

• Paid internships (including those required by an academic program).
• Employment during the summer, winter break, or spring break.
• Employment that receives a stipend, bonus, etc.
• Positions where the individual receives a benefit instead of pay (for example, getting free rent in exchange for babysitting or being a caretaker of an apartment building).

For international students who plan to work, they will need a Social Security Number (SSN) to be used on their I-9. SSNs are used to track income for tax and benefit purposes.

F-1 or J-1, applicant should submit the following as part of their application for a SSN:

• A completed Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card;
• At least two documents that establish the applicant's age and identity including a passport and one additional document establishing identity
• Form I-94 (or CBP I-94 record printout if admitted with an electronic I-94)
• Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
• Proof of employment authorization, depending on the source of authorization
• A letter from their DSO
• A letter from their employer confirming their position.

Letter from the DSO:

A letter - typed or handwritten - on school letterhead from the designated school official (DSO). The letter must identify:

• Student by name
• On-campus employer and nature of the on-campus employment (e.g., waiting tables in the cafeteria, stocking shelves in the library, monitoring lab experiments, receiving a scholarship or reduced tuition fees in exchange for teaching or other services, etc.)
• Must include the DSO's original signature, printed/typed name, telephone number, and date. The Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot accept a letter that does not have an original DSO signature or that lists more than one student.
• In lieu of this separate letter, a DSO may sign off on the information provided in the letter from the employer (described below). The sign-off must contain the DSO's signature, printed name, telephone number, and date.

Letter or documentation from the on-campus employer:

• A recently issued pay slip or pay stub from the F-1 student's employer; or
• Letter from the on-campus employer on the employer's letterhead that provides employment verification, namely:
  • Identity of student employee
  • Nature of the job the student is, or will be, engaged in
  • Anticipated or actual employment start date
  • Number of hours the student is expected to work
  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • Employer contact information, including the telephone number and the name of the F-1 student's immediate supervisor
  • Original signature and signatory's title
  • Date
  • If the employer is the DSO, the letter verifying employment must come from a separate source, e.g., the department or payroll official that issues the paycheck and is responsible for wage reporting.

International student process .

Social Security Administration