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Advisor for assistance.
- What are the basic eligibility requirements for applying to a college or university in the United States?
- What kind of tests do I need to take for U.S. college admission?
- What is an F-1 or J-1 visa?
- What is the I-20 form or the IAP-66 form?
- Do I qualify for the U.S. government's federal financial aid if I am an international student?
- Is financial aid from colleges and universities available to international students?
- Can I work while I am attending a U.S. college or university?
1. What are the basic eligibility requirements for
applying to a college or university in the United States?
As an international student, you are eligible to apply for admission to a college or university as an undergraduate student if you have completed the equivalent of an American secondary school education (twelve years of formal education starting from elementary school) and have a high school diploma or its equivalency.
As an international student, you are eligible to apply for admission to a college or university as an undergraduate student if you have completed the equivalent of an American secondary school education (twelve years of formal education starting from elementary school) and have a high school diploma or its equivalency.
2. What kind of tests do I need to take for U.S.
college admission?
All international applicants are requested to submit their results on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and either the SAT I: Reasoning Test (Standard Scholastic Test) or the ACT (American College Test). Some college programs may also request SAT II: Subject Tests results. When you register to take the tests mentioned above, make sure you indicate on the registration form that you would like to have your official score reports sent directly to the colleges and universities to which you are applying.
All international applicants are requested to submit their results on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and either the SAT I: Reasoning Test (Standard Scholastic Test) or the ACT (American College Test). Some college programs may also request SAT II: Subject Tests results. When you register to take the tests mentioned above, make sure you indicate on the registration form that you would like to have your official score reports sent directly to the colleges and universities to which you are applying.
For more information on the TOEFL test, please visit the TOEFL website
at: www.toefl.org. For information
on SAT I or SAT II, visit the College Board website
at: www.collegeboard.com. ACT
information can be found at: http://act.org/.
3. What is an F-1 or J-1 visa?
Every international visitor who enters the U.S. is given an immigration status. For most international students this is an F-1 or J-1 visa status. This status is noted at the U.S. Port of Entry on the Form I-94. Students with F-1 status are governed by regulations of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Every international visitor who enters the U.S. is given an immigration status. For most international students this is an F-1 or J-1 visa status. This status is noted at the U.S. Port of Entry on the Form I-94. Students with F-1 status are governed by regulations of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Students in J-1 status are governed directly by the regulations of the U. S. State Department
and by general immigration regulations affecting non-immigrants.
If you need more information, please contact your college's international student office or
visit the website of the INS. For exchange students and scholars, visit
the U.S. State Department's website.
4. What is the I-20 form or the IAP-66 form?
The I-20 form is an official government document that your college or university will send to you either with your acceptance letter or later. The I-20 form is not a visa. It is, however, the most important document needed to apply for a student visa. Once you have this form, you should go to the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate nearest you with your passport and proof of financial solvency (bank statements, etc.). U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world have certain processes and requirements for applying for visas. Please contact them directly before your office visit.
The I-20 form is an official government document that your college or university will send to you either with your acceptance letter or later. The I-20 form is not a visa. It is, however, the most important document needed to apply for a student visa. Once you have this form, you should go to the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate nearest you with your passport and proof of financial solvency (bank statements, etc.). U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world have certain processes and requirements for applying for visas. Please contact them directly before your office visit.
While you are studying in a U.S. college or university, it is important that you keep your
I-20 form valid at all times. Contact your college's international student's office if you
have any questions regarding your I-20.
The IAP-66 form is an official document for exchange visitors prepared by a designated
sponsoring organization. Once you receive this form from your Program Sponsor, you should
apply for a J-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate nearest you. For detailed
information about the Exchange Visitors program, contact your Program Sponsor or visit the
website of the U.S. State Department.
5. Do I qualify for the U.S. government's federal financial aid if I am an international student?
If you are an international student with F-1 or J-1 visa, you cannot qualify for the federal student aid program. In order to qualify for this program, students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals (which includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island), or U.S. permanent residents who have an Alien Registration Receipt Card. Other eligible noncitizens include anyone with one these statuses:
If you are an international student with F-1 or J-1 visa, you cannot qualify for the federal student aid program. In order to qualify for this program, students must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals (which includes natives of American Samoa or Swain's Island), or U.S. permanent residents who have an Alien Registration Receipt Card. Other eligible noncitizens include anyone with one these statuses:
- Refugee
- Asylum Granted
- Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole
- Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending
- Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
Individuals with temporary worker visas, visitor visas, and foreign government official
visas do not qualify for this program.
For detailed information, visit the Federal
Student Aid Information Center website or call them at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
6. Is financial aid from colleges and universities available to international students?
Some colleges and universities offer financial aid to international students at the undergraduate level. Generally this kind of scholarship is based on merit or special talents and your proficiency in English. Remember that financial aid policies vary from college to college. Most schools require that you prove that you have sufficient funds to cover college costs.
Some colleges and universities offer financial aid to international students at the undergraduate level. Generally this kind of scholarship is based on merit or special talents and your proficiency in English. Remember that financial aid policies vary from college to college. Most schools require that you prove that you have sufficient funds to cover college costs.
7. Can I work while I am attending a U.S. college or university?
You may work on campus with proper authorization. F-1 student visa holders may work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year with prior employment authorization from the International Student Office of the college or university. Students with J-1 visas must have the approval of their sponsors to work. Contact your sponsors and the international student office for details about specific rules.
You may work on campus with proper authorization. F-1 student visa holders may work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year with prior employment authorization from the International Student Office of the college or university. Students with J-1 visas must have the approval of their sponsors to work. Contact your sponsors and the international student office for details about specific rules.