Permanent Residents, Asylee, Refugee and Other Visa Holders

This information is for immigrant, refugee, asylee and other students who have been granted permanent residency in the United States by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If your status is pending, see instructions below for Other Visa Holders.

Steps to enroll:

1. Complete the Tri-C Application for Admission.
2. Provide proof of immigration status to determine residency. Proof can include:

• Permanent Resident/Green Card
• I-94
• Employment Authorization Card
• Visa Stamp on Passport

Submit the document in person at a campus enrollment center or email a PDF copy of both sides of the document to the Registrar’s Office at registraroffice@big5vn.com. Include your full name and Tri-C Student ID Number in the email.

3. Complete the ESL Placement Test. Visit the ESL Placement page for more information.

- If you have prior college transcripts to submit, see the instructions on the Transcripts page.

4. Depending on the results of the placement, students will participate in either the New Student Orientation or ESL Student Orientation.
5. Registration and payment must be completed at the same time. Students applying for financial aid can complete the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and get assistance from the Tri-C office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

This information is for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients.

For the most up-to-date status on DACA, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services DACA page.

Steps to enroll:

1. Complete the Tri-C Application for Admission.
2. Provide proof of immigration status to determine residency. Proof can include a copy of your I-797 Notice of Deferred Action from USCIS (approval notice). Submit the document in person at a campus enrollment center or email a PDF copy of both sides of the document to the Registrar’s Office at registraroffice@big5vn.com. Include your full name and Tri-C Student ID Number in the email. If your DACA is expired, you can still be admitted, but you will be ineligible for the tuition rate for Ohio residents.
3. Complete the ESL placement test. Visit the ESL Placement page for more information.

- If you have prior college transcripts to submit, see the instructions on the Transcripts page.

4. Depending on the results of the placement, students will participate in either the New Student Orientation or ESL Student Orientation.
5. Registration and payment must be completed at the same time. Students applying for financial aid can complete the FAFSA and get assistance from the Tri-C office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Visa Holders that are permitted to enroll in the College:

• Individuals with valid non-immigrant visa status in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to, F-2, E-2, H1B, J-2, L-2, J-1, H2B, etc.
• Individuals who are “undocumented” with no immigration status
• Individuals under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Individuals who are pending asylee or permanent resident status

Steps to enroll:

1. Complete the Tri-C Application for Admission.
2. Provide proof of immigration status to determine residency. Proof can include any current immigration documents:

• Visa
• Passport Page
• I-94
• DS-2019

Submit the document in person at a campus enrollment center or email a PDF copy of both sides of the document to the Registrar’s Office at registraroffice@big5vn.com. Include your full name and Tri-C Student ID Number in the email.

3. Complete the ESL Placement Test. Visit the ESL Placement page for more information.

- If you have prior college transcripts to submit, see the instructions on the Transcripts page.

4. Depending on the results of the placement, students will participate in either the New Student Orientation or ESL Student Orientation.
5. Registration and payment must be completed at the same time. For information on your eligibility for Federal Financial Aid, see: U.S. Citizenship & Eligible Noncitizens | 2022-2023 Federal Student Aid Handbook.

Note for B-1/Expired B-1 visa holders: There is no law or internal policy that prohibits the College from accepting B-1 students, undocumented students, or students with expired visas into courses.  If an individual is violating the terms or their visa and/or America’s immigration laws, then ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) will need to take action, not the College.

The Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, grants eligibility to Ukrainian citizens, nationals and persons habitually residing in Ukraine for federal entitlement programs and other benefits during their term of parole granted, unless terminated by the secretary of Homeland Security.

Ukrainian citizens, nationals and persons habitually residing in Ukraine are eligible for the benefits granted to refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which includes access to Federal Student Aid and participation in federal entitlement programs. This includes those paroled to the U.S. between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023. Eligibility for persons paroled into the U.S. after Sept. 30, 2023, are eligible for federal entitlement programs and Federal Student Aid beginning in the 2023-2024 aid year, if they are:

• The spouse or child of a Ukrainian paroled between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023
• The parent or legal guardian of an unaccompanied noncitizen child who was paroled between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023

Eligibility remains in place through the end of their parole, unless canceled by the secretary of Homeland Security. They will have a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee stamp on either their foreign passports or I-94 forms. These students may also have a Category 11 on their Employment Authorization Card.

• For financial aid purposes, these students must submit their FAFSA. Once the record is received by Tri-C, verification of citizenship status will be required.

Students from Afghanistan who participated in Operation Welcome Allies (OWA) and helped the U.S. forces and military have been granted eligibility to use Federal Student Aid by the Department of Homeland Security. This is a very specific population of students who have specific categories that will be listed on immigration documents. These students will be identified by one of the following statuses:

1. Special Immigrant Lawful Permanent Resident (SI LPR)
2. Special Immigrant Conditional Permanent Resident (SI CPR)
3. Special Immigrant Parolee (SI Parolee)
4. Non-Special Immigrant Parolee,  “Humanitarian Parolee” or “OAR” Parolee
5. Sometimes referred to as Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIV). For Title IV aid purposes, these individuals must meet all other eligibility requirements for Title IV. General guidance from the Department of Homeland Security has been issued regarding student transcripts and acceptable documentation for equivalents.

If you are a student that is newly arrived to the U.S. and was displaced by current war, conflict or disaster, Cuyahoga Community College offers a tuition waiver. If eligible, the tuition waiver reduces the 'out of state' and 'out of county' surcharges to $1. The current tuition waiver will expire on June 30, 2025. Upon continued approval by the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, we anticipate the tuition waiver to be ongoing. Please print and complete the application below and turn in to a campus Enrollment Center along with a copy of your passport, I-94 and border entry stamp. 

Application for Tuition Waiver