Students who have Permanent Residency Status have no need for a student visa and may apply and attend Blue Ridge Community College as Curriculum students. Students with Permanent Residency Status may qualify for in-state tuition.

A student who has applied for Permanent Residency Status, and has their Form I-797 Notice of Action, also has no need for a student visa and may apply and attend Blue Ridge Community College as Curriculum students. Those with Form I-797 may qualify for in-state tuition.

Admission of Undocumented Individuals:

Blue Ridge Community College admits undocumented individuals under the provisions of the NCCCS Administrative Code Item Number: 23 NCAC 02C .0301 - ADMISSION TO COLLEGES. The provisions are as follows:

1.  An undocumented immigrant with a diploma from a United States public high school, private high school, home school, or Adult High School that operates in compliance with State or local law is eligible to be admitted to a community college.
   
   
2.  Undocumented immigrants with a General Educational Development (GED) Diploma are not considered to have “graduated from a United States public high school, private high school, or home school” and therefore are not eligible to be admitted to a community college.
   
   
3.  Any undocumented student registered into a class is required to pay the out-of-state tuition rate which is $248.50 per credit hour for the 2010-2011 academic year. Maximum tuition, not including fees, for 16 or more credit hours equals $3,976.00.
   
   
4.  A student who is lawfully present in the United States will always have priority for a space or program of study over a student who is an undocumented student. BRCC cannot enroll undocumented students into a class or program of study for which there are waiting lists, nor does the college register undocumented students for classes until the conclusion of the last published (i.e. late) registration period.
   
   
5.  Federal law prohibits states from granting professional licenses to undocumented immigrants. Therefore, undocumented students cannot be admitted into courses of study where licensure is required for employment, for example, the Associate Degree Nursing curriculum.

Further inquiries regarding Admissions to Blue Ridge for International Students can be directed to:
Pride Carson, Coordinator for International Admissions
Office phone: 828-694-1801
Click here to e-mail