International Students

Here are some online forms for our current F-1 VISA Students:

• Change of Address Form
• Enrollment Verification Request Form
• Notification of Overseas Travel Form
• I-20 Reprint Request Form

Current students can also find many more forms related to enrollment status in the Populi student information system.

• Maintain Your Status
• Study in the States
  • Enroll
    • Need to be enrolled for full time each term.
    • Only one online course (up to 3 credits) is allowed per term. NOTE: Due to the pandemic, SEVP has made a temporary allowance for more online coursework. Please check with the DSO for further details.
    • Students needing a reduced course load due to medical or academic reasons, should request an RCL from the DSO.
    • NOTE: your I-20 needs to be activated at the beginning of every term (after your registration is verified).
    • I-20 documents will only be emailed to the student’s CBTS email address.
  • Moving
    • Needs to submit a Change of Address online form within ten days of change. This updates SEVIS & CBTS records.
  • Traveling
    • Before each travel outside of the U.S.
      • Receive a Travel Approval Letter by submitting an Overseas Travel Notification online form
      • Check your I-20 to see if the last travel signature is not older than one year and not older than 6 months for OPT students (you can ask for a new travel signature on the Overseas Travel Notification Online Form)
      • Check to make sure that your travel dates cannot overlap with your class day(s)
    • THINGS TO NOTE to maintain your status:
      • DO register as a full time student each term
      • DO keep your passport & I-20 valid
      • DO report any changes to CBTS WITHIN 10 DAYS
        • Address Changes
        • Academic Changes
        • Finance Changes
        • Name Changes
        • Dependent(F-2) Changes
      • DO NOT work on-campus or off-campus without authorization from the CBTS International Student Office (see Employment section below)
        • Department of Homeland Security – “Working in the United States” resource

The I-20 is a US government document that verifies your status as a student at a school in the US. It must be updated anytime there are changes to your information and enrollment status. The I-20 is required for visa appointment and should be kept with the student at all times. NOTE: I-20 documents will only be emailed to CBTS email addresses.

• I-20 Reprint Request online form
• Transfer your I-20 to CBTS
  • Get accepted at Central Seminary (CBTS) (Apply Now)
  • Submit your Admission Letter & Foreign Student Advisor Report to your current school
  • After your current school’s International Student Advisor submits the International Student Transfer Form & your I-20 released by your current school, you will be required to register for full time at CBTS to maintain your VISA.
• Transfer your I-20 out of CBTS
  • Get accepted to another SEVP certified school
  • Submit your new Admission Letter and any other documents required by your new school to CBTS
  • Submit anF-1 SEVIS Transfer Out Request form to indicate your transfer & to drop your remaining courses
• Obtain an F-1 VISA from out of the U.S.
  • Get accepted at CBTS (Apply Now)
  • Receive CBTS I-20 and admission letter for submission to your consulate or embassy in the U.S. (Click here for Embassy Links) & wait to receive your F-1 VISA.
  • When you receive your F-1 VISA, please note your program start date; you are allowed entrance to the U.S. 30 days or less before your program start date.
  • After you arrive in the U.S., please notify CBTS of your arrival and complete the following:
    • Submit your most recent I-94 to CBTS
    • Submit a copy of your approved VISA and Passport to CBTS
    • Inform CBTS of your address in the U.S.
    • Enroll for full-time at CBTS
• Reinstatement
  • After your I-20 gets terminated (when you fail to maintain your F-1 Status, or due to no fault of your own), you have two options to regain your F-1 Status:
    • Depart the U.S. and receive a new I-20 (see ‘Obtain an F-1 VISA from out of the U.S.’ above) *no guarantee of approval*
    • Apply for reinstatement while staying in the U.S.

• It is a good idea to have a plan for after you complete your program. Here are some of the options you have:
  • Apply for Post-Completion OPT (see Employment section below)
  • Apply and be admitted to another program at CBTS
  • Be admitted and transfer to another institution in the U.S.
  • Depart the U.S. (grace period is 60 days after your degree completion or OPT completion)
  • Apply & receive approval for change of status from USCIS (Click Here)

The employment opportunities for F-1 visa holders is restricted. Working without prior authorization is not allowed. Here are the employment options for international students:

• OPT (Optional Practical Training)
  • Contact ISO@cbts.edu for more information
  • Here are some OPT documents for our current F-1 VISA Students:
    • OPT Request Form (Korean Version)
    • OPT (post-completion) – Maintaining Your Status
    • OPT Employer Information Submission Online Form
  • Things to Note:
    • Once you have the new Form I-20, you must file a Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” with USCIS within 30 days of receiving your recommendation.
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training)
  • Complete the form below for more information
  • Here are some CPT documents for our current F-1 VISA Students:
    • CPT Policies and Procedures
    • CPT Request Form (Korean Version)
    • CPT Employer Information Submission Online Form
• Entrepreneurship (as an International Student)
  • Entrepreneurship is NOT allowed for F-1 VISA holders
• Off-Campus Employment
  • Available to F-1 students who:
    • completed at least one full academic year of their program study
    • have an economic hardship
      • visit Department of Homeland Security’s page for qualifications
  • Complete the form below for more information
• On-Campus Employment
  • Active F-1 students may apply for on-campus employment up to 30 days before the start of classes
  • You may work less than 20 hours per week when school is in session
  • Use the contact form below to get more information

Here is some important information related to the admission and documentation process:

• The application for international students requires additional documentation, such as proof of finances and a copy of passport. Please get all the documentation prepared and submitted with your application materials.
• Students for whom English IS NOT their first language will need to show proof of English proficiency during the admission process.
• Central does not have full scholarships available to cover tuition and housing. International students will need to their own money or financial support from a sponsor to cover their costs.
• The I-20 document will be emailed only after the student is admitted and has signed the new student enrollment agreement.

Students who wish to remain outside the United States and study online should contact an admission advisor for information about scheduling and available programs.

Our Master’s and Doctoral level programs offered in the Korean language are accepting F-1 visa applicants. At the Diploma level, only the Christian Formation program in the Korean department is approved. None of our certificate programs are approved to host F-1 students.

Currently, Central’s English-language masters and diploma programs are not accepting new F-1 visa applicants. This applies only to our English-language Master of Divinity, Diploma, Master of Arts in Counseling, and Master of Arts in Theological Studies programs. We hope in the future to be able to admit students with F-1 visas to these programs.