International Student Services

Students Applying From Outside the United States: Apply for F-1 visa

• If you applied from outside the U.S. and you do not have an F-1 Visa, follow the steps to Apply for F-1 Student Visa.

Students Applying From Within the United States with Valid I-20: Transfer I-20

• If you are currently studying in the U.S. with a valid I-20, request that your school transfer your SEVIS record (I-20 Form) to LAPC. LAPC must have your SEVIS record in order to issue you an I-20 for LAPC. Contact your current school to initiate the SEVIS transfer process.

All LAPC students are required to complete this orientation. To access the LAPC Online Orientation, log in into your student portal:

LACCD Student Portal

Once you are in the portal: 

• Select the "Student Status" tile
• Select "Orientation"

In your acceptance email, an International Student Contract is included. Review the document, sign it, and then email it to intlstu@piercecollege.edu

The virtual "What's Next?" Workshop will provide information about the enrollment process and the next steps on this list. Details on how to register for this workshop are included in your acceptance email.

IMPORTANT: These self-placements tools are designed to help you choose your English and Math classes. They are not tests!  

ESL/English Survey

• If English is NOT your first language, complete the ESL Self-Placement Survey. Follow the directions for the survey to receive the most accurate placement. The ESL Department will send you an email with your results, and then you can choose your credit-level ESL or English class. Reply to the ESL Department's email with your choice.
• If English is your first language, or if you attended secondary school or higher for 2+ years where English was the primary language of instruction, you will complete the English Self-Placement Survey when you meet with a counselor. Do not complete the online ESL Self-Placement Survey.

Math Survey

A Math Self-Placement Survey will be included in your acceptance packet. Email the completed survey to intlstu@piercecollege.edu. A counselor will review your results with you, and then you can choose a Math class.

Students Who Attended a U.S. Regionally Accredited College

If you completed college level English and Math courses at a U.S. regionally credited college or university, you do not need to take the self-placement surveys. Schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor for course evaluation.

Attend a virtual counseling group session. Registration required. This counseling group is designed for new F-1 visa international students who have never attended college in the U.S. for an academic program.* In this group session, you will learn how to choose your classes. The counselor will also review your ESL/English and Math self-placement results with you during a 15-minute one-on-one meeting.

Virtual counseling groups are offered through the Cranium Cafe platform. Before you attend your group session, be sure you have:

• A reliable internet connection
• Access to a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam. Smartphones and tablets are NOT recommended for Cranium Cafe.
• Use Chrome or Firefox as your browser. Safari and Explorer are NOT recommended for Cranium Cafe.

Register for an ISS Counseling Group 

*If you attended college in the U.S. for an academic program, you do not need to attend a counseling group session. You can schedule an appointment with the ISS counselor. 

You can view your class registration date in your student portal. You can register for classes on or after your registration date. 

LACCD Student Portal

To register for classes:

• Log into your your student portal
• Select the "Manage Classes" tile
• From "Manage Classes," you can search for classes and add them to your schedule

Register in a minimum of 12 units which is a full-course load. Of those 12 units, 9 units must be in-person or hybrid courses. If you are starting at LAPC during a summer term, register in a minimum of 6 in-person units. 

This electronic form is used to notify LAPC of your F-1 visa status, arrival information, and intent to register. The link to the form will be included in your acceptance email. You can update your responses as needed. It is important you complete this form so we know you will be attending LAPC. 

The International Student Services Orientation is offered in two parts. All new F-1 students must complete both parts.

Part I: Canvas Orientation 

Complete the International Student Orientation offered in Canvas, an online learning platform. You will receive an invite to the Canvas shell after you add your classes. You can complete this orientation in your home country or upon your arrival to the U.S. However, it must be completed before the in-person orientation.

Part II: In-Person Orientation

Upon arrival to the U.S., all new international students must attend a one-day in-person orientation where you will learn more about the college and take a campus tour. Details about this orientation will be included in your acceptance letter - save the date! This date is about one week before the semester begins.