7 Immigrant and International Students
International students
Welcome, international students, to LaGuardia Community College! LaGuardia represents students from over 130 countries and more than 50 languages, including Ecuador, Bangladesh, Nepal, Colombia, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Greece, and South Korea. This chapter helps you navigate your first semester and adjust to life at LaGuardia Community College.
In the video below, you’ll meet three of LaGuardia’s international students and learn about their experiences at LaGuardia.
Starting your Academic Journey
Visa Assistance
International students must follow visa regulations to maintain their F-1 status. The International Student Commons site provides guidance on topics such as visa applications, maintaining status, academic expectations, employment options, including Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and student resources. Be sure to review this site regularly, as it includes important updates and links to the International Student Handbook for additional details.
Academic Advising
As a reminder, international students must meet specific enrollment requirements to maintain their F-1 visa status. Schedule a meeting with your international academic advisor to discuss your educational goals, course selection, and degree requirements. See below for guidelines on full-time enrollment, online course limits, and course withdrawals
- Full-Time Enrollment: International F-1 Visa students must enroll full-time, taking at least 12 regular or equated credit hours every semester, and keep this credit load to completion.
- Online Coursework: Immigration regulations allow for one online class per semester towards your minimum requirement. You could take additional online courses beyond your minimum enrollment as well if you like. For example, a student could take one online course for 3 credits, 3 regular courses for 9 credits, and that’s the required 12. Beyond the required 12, an additional online course could be taken.
- Recommended Credit Load: A recommended and manageable credit load is 9 credits during Session 1 and 3 credits during Session 2.
- Course Withdrawals: Withdrawing from a course could impact your full-time status. Before withdrawing, consult your academic advisor to ensure you remain in compliance with visa regulations. “W” grades do not count toward the 12-credit requirement needed to maintain your visa status. For more information, see details on ‘W’ grades here.
International Student Services or your Academic Advisor can help you understand how a withdrawal may impact your visa status. You can email fsinformation@lagcc.cuny.edu or make an appointment through Navigate to connect with International Student Services. For in-person support, ISS is located in B-Building, Room B-117. Visit the International Student Services webpage for more information on scheduling an appointment through Navigate.
Campus Resources
LaGuardia provides a wide range of services to support your academic success. For a full overview, including scholarships, advising, the library, tutoring, and more, see the Resources chapter in this textbook.
On-Campus Employment
International students are permitted to work only on campus at LaGuardia or other CUNY colleges, with a maximum of 20 hours per week. Popular on-campus opportunities at LaGuardia include:
- SOAR Internship
- Elmezzi Internship
- Student Success Mentor
- Student Technology Mentor
- Peer Advisor
- Tutoring (through the SGA Tutor Lab or individual departments)
- Research Assistant (through the Research Foundation)
For additional guidance, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) provides support with resume-writing, job search strategies, and employment opportunities.
Get Involved on Campus
Participating in cultural events, co-curricular activities, and student clubs is a great way to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds. Be sure to check out the International Student Club, where you can meet other students, share experiences, and build your community. On the International Student Handbook website, you can sign up for the club through a Google form and connect with members on WhatsApp and Instagram.
To explore other clubs and opportunities, visit Find Your LaGuardia Community, which highlights the International Student Club as well as many other ways to get involved on campus.
Immigrant Students
This information is up to date as of August 8th, 2025
CUNY Supports All Students, Regardless of Immigration Status
Here are some important resources:
- Detained Students, Faculty, or Staff
- F-1 Student Issues
- Immigration Court Hearings / USCIS Interview
- International / Domestic Travel
- Loss / Change of Status
CUNY students, faculty and staff can use this form to request a consultation with an immigration attorney. If a current CUNY student, faculty or staff member is detained, they or their family members should email immigrationhelp@cuny.edu. For more information on changes to immigration policies, visit Citizenship Now! Latest Immigration Law Updates
Office of Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs: Focused on immigrant student success across all 25 campuses, advocating and empowering all students across varying and changing statuses such as, but not limited to, undocumented, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), asylum seeking, Temporary Protective Status (TPS), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), U-Visa recipients, refugee, asylum granted, Cuban-Haitian entrant, parolee, T-visa recipients, persons designated under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and those in mixed status families. For information, click here.
