We Welcome You
Under the Biden Administration, 125,000 refugees a year are allowed into the United States for a variety of reasons. Mission College is committed to helping you resettle, regardless of whether you are a refugee, a Green Card lottery winner, or you are seeking asylum.
It's likely that we already have students from your home country at Mission! We even have staff and faculty who speak your language.
Refugees who arrive in the Bay Area, can apply to Mission to go to college. There is no waiting period to register - get a student ID number and apply to Mission College right away.
Students on an F1 visa will need to contact our International Center
- Fall Semester starts in late August.
- Spring Semester starts in late January.
- Full class schedule and dates.
Please email [email protected] in Admissions with any questions.
AB 2210 Nonresident Tuition Exemptions for Refugees with Special Immigrant Visas
A refugee may be entitled to an immediate $46 per unit / California resident fee if the refugee first settled in California pursuant to the provisions of Education Code section 68075.6 (effective January 1, 2018). This exemption is only for the length of time he or she lives in this state up to the minimum time necessary to become a resident (one year and one day).]
This exemption applies to the following:
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Iraqi citizens or nationals (and their spouses and children) who were employed by or on behalf of the United States Government in Iraq (Pub.L. No. 110-181, § 1244)
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Afghan and Iraqi translators (and their spouses and children) who worked directly with the United States Armed Forces (Pub.L. No. 109-163, § 1059)
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Afghanistan nationals who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (Pub.L. No. 111-8, § 602)
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Refugee students admitted to the United States under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
Available Resources
- How to become a California resident.
- Free laptop loans and wifi hotspots to get connected.
- Emergency assistance funding to help pay your bills and classes.
- Free VTA SmartPass to ride the bus/light rail for free.
- Food assistance including free lunches and groceries from 2nd Harvest.
- Up to eight free mental health appointments with our licensed therapist.
I come from Afghanistan, a country that is destroyed by 40 years of war and religious fundamentalists. As a girl, I was denied access to education; therefore, I wanted to change people’s lives by advocating for equity and inclusion in higher ed. Fifteen years ago, when I attended Mission as an ESL student that seemed impossible. However, with resiliency, hard work, determination, and support I met my goal.
Manija Ansari
ESL Student from Afghanistan to Counselor
Our Programs
We have a many degrees and classess that may fit your interests, see majors.missioncollege.edu for a complete list.
Check out the following popular programs for some suggestions.
EMT or Firefighter
