International Student Service
Welcome to New York City!
Wagner College welcomes students from all over the world every year. Though we are a small college, we have a vibrant international community and are dedicated to making our campus a more globally aware community.
The Center for Intercultural Advancement serves to further that mission and provides a space for international students (including dual American passport holders and Americans raised/living mostly outside of the U.S.A.) to feel at home at Wagner, in New York City, and in the U.S.A.
Your time at Wagner College begins during International Student Orientation, in which you get to meet other students from throughout the world who have come looking for the same quality experience at our college. As the week progresses, you will attend New Student Orientation and become a member of the Wagner College community, meeting students from throughout the New York City area and the rest of the U.S.A.
- International Student Orientation: August 20, 2026
- New Student Orientation: August 21-22, 2026
- First Day of Classes: August 24, 2026
2025-2026 International Student Handbook
Please review the International Student Handbook linked above, as it contains important information that, as an international student, will become relevant throughout your time at Wagner College and in the United States.
Throughout your program, it is natural that you will have questions and need guidance specific to your F-1 or J-1 status. Schedule an appointment with our office! When you sign up for an appointment, please select the category that best fits your inquiry and provide any additional information to we can best support you in a timely manner. You will also be able to find helpful resources on our website for your reference.
In addition to 1-1 support, The Center for Intercultural Advancement will host structured workshops and events on processes specific to international students. At times, attendance at a workshop will be mandatory so we can ensure you have all you need to succeed during your time in the United States and maintain your status. This will be most common with opportunities for work authorization such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). We will also host events that celebrate our international students and global exchange during International Education Week (IEW) annually each November.
I look forward to your arrival to the United States!
Sincerely,
Lauren Cochran, Director of Global Education
F-1 and J-1 students
Interested in attending Wagner College? Learn where to get admission information. Anyone interested in becoming a student must apply using the Common Application or Wagner College Application. Please refer to admissions contact information for:
International applicant for admission to Wagner College must meet English language requirement set by the school. Information about English language requirements can be found below.
To know more about the English Requirement, please visit the FAQ for undergraduate and graduate admissions.
Please visit the undergraduate scholarships and NAFSA website for information about financial aid for undergraduate international students.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires prospective students to provide proof of their ability to pay for their study and living expenses while in the United States. Financial statements must be in the English language and must be notarized.
Overview
There are many types of non-immigration statuses for foreign nationals coming to the United States. Each has it own purpose, restrictions, and benefits. F-1 and J-1 statuses are designated as full-time students statuses.
At Wagner College, F-1 status is more common, but we do have J-1 students, too. Both of these statuses will allow you to study at Wagner College and both allow for on-campus and some off-camp us authorization. There’s no “better” or “worse” status, one or the other might be more beneficial to your personal circumstance.
Although both allow for similar activities, there are few important differences between the two statuses, however, so please read the information below carefully and contact our office if you have any further questions about how to choose a status.
Eligibility for F-1 and J-1 Status
The eligibility requirements foe F-1 and J-1 student status are as follows:
- F-1: All full-time, admitted students. To be eligible for F-1, you must be admitted to a full-time program of study, meet the English requirement, and be able to show proof of funding for at least the first year of study.
- J-1: Individuals approved participate in work-and-study-based exchange visitor programs
To be eligible for J-1, you must be enrolled in an exchange partner program institution and approved by Wagner College to participate in a full-time course of study for one semester or a full academic year.
If you are eligible for both F-1 and J-1 status (i.e. receiving an outside award for at least 51% of your tuition charges), you can choose between F-1 and J-1 status by reviewing the chart below.
If you have any questions about choosing a status for study, please do not hesitate to contact our office at intercultural.advancement@wagner.edu.
| F-1 | J-1 |
| Form I-20 | DS-2019 |
| Enter 30 days before program start date | Enter 30 Days before program start date |
| 60 day grace period to depart U.S. or change status at end of program | 30 day grace period to depart U.S. or change at status end of program |
| Immediately eligible for up to 20 hours/week of on-campus employment during the semester
Eligible for more than 20 hours/week of on-campus employment during breaks |
Immediately eligible for up 20 hours/week of on-campus work authorization unlimited on-campus work authorization on breaks while remaining in J-1 status |
| Spouses in F-2 status cannot study or work | Spouses in J-2 status can study, and are also eligible for work authorization with application to immigration service |
| No home residency requirement, which may be an issue for J-1 | May be subject to 2 year home residency if receiving government funding or you are from a country on the skills list |
| Main types of off-campus work authorization:
1) Optional Practical Training (OPT)
2) Curricular Practical Training
|
Main type of off-campus work authorization:
1) Academic Training (AT)
|