If your goal is to study English on an Intensive or long
term basis, you need an F-1 Student Visa. (Most AFI students enter the U.S.
on an F-1 Student Visa). An F-1 Student Visa is required if:
- You want to study for more than 90 days
- You want to take a full-time course of study for more
than 17 hours of class per week
Part 1 - How to Apply for an F-1 Student Visa
Part 2 - Approval Process and the
Interview at the Consulate
Part 3 - Arrival in the U.S. at
the "Port of Entry"
Part 4 - Maintaining Your F-1 Status
Part 1 - How to apply for an F-1 Student Visa
If you decide to obtain an F-1 Student Visa you must do this:
1.1 Make an appointment for an interview at your nearest U.S. Embassy or
Consulate. In some countries it can be a month or two before an appointment
is available, so it is a good idea to book an appointment at the same time
you are registering at the school and gathering all your documents for your
visa.
1.2 Register in one of our programs online, by fax or email
and indicate that you need an I-20 FORM. The I-20 is a document that certifies
that you have been accepted and have enrolled in a full-time course and
that you have proven to us that you have sufficient financial means of support
for the duration of your studies. You must obtain the I-20 from us to bring
to your visa appointment. This document is not a visa nor does it give you
permission to travel.
1.3 Send us a copy of your passport and financial documentation
so we may issue you an I-20. What is Financial Documentation?
It can be one of the following:
- A Bank Statement from your bank or financial institution.
If you are paying for yourself, you must provide a bank statement showing
that you have the amount of the total tuition of your program plus $1000
per month for living expenses
OR
- An Affidavit of Support.
If your company, parents or someone else is supporting you and your studies
financially, you must have them sign an affidavit form and present THEIR
bank statement demonstrating sufficient funds.
Part 2 - The Approval Process
Appointment at the U.S. Consulate in your Country
Once you have determined that you will apply for a visa and you have established
when you would like to travel, you must schedule an interview appointment
at your nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy in your home country. You can
do this on the website or your U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is recommended
to do this as soon as you are ready to book your course at AFI College as
usually it will be 3-4 weeks and more before you will get an appointment
at the embassy and it can take up to 120 days after the appointment to receive
your visa. See: Visa
wait times
Documents you will need to bring to your interview appointment
at the consulate or Embassy
Valid Passport: You must have a current, machine readable passport.
- Form 1-20: You must bring your AFI College issued I-20,
signed by you.
- Receipt of Payment for the SEVIS I-901 fee as well as
payment of the application fee.
- Financial Documentation: This is the same bank statement
that you used to obtain your I-20 form from AFI College. If someone else
like a parent or company is sponsoring you, also bring the Affidavit of
Support form and the sponsor's financial documentation. This proves that
you have enough money to support yourself during your time in the United
States and shows the consul how you will fund your studies while in the
U.S. You should bring any additional documentation that you think may help
prove your financial stability.
- One 2x2 photograph
- Educational Records
Diplomas, transcripts, test scores (TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, Cambridge exams)
showing your current English skill level. This will help support your claim
that you need to improve your English and that you are a serious student.
You may also bring letters from teachers or anyone else that may support
you student intentions.
In addition, you must be prepared to prove to prove to the consul that:
- You are truly a serious student with intentions to study
ONLY (not to work or sight-see).
- Your study in the United States is beneficial, if not
essential to your future plans in your country.
- You will indeed return to your country after your studies
are completed.
- *You should bring any documentation that helps support
these statements*
- Additional Tips for your interview
You must convince the consul that you have "compelling ties"
to your country and you do not intend to move to the U.S. permanently.
- If you own a home or anything of significant value, bring
proof.
- If you are enrolled in a university for the next term,
bring proof.
- If you must return to your job after only a temporary
absence, bring proof.
- Be prepared to answer the question: "Why do you need to study English in the United States?"
Think about your answer, and bring documents to prove what you are saying.
If, for example, you are claiming that it will be important for your future
job, bring documents to prove that you have already made plans to qualify
for a job in which English will be necessary (courses you've taken in school,
etc.).
Don't forget to bring your smile, a good mood, motivation & spirit
and think about if you have questions to ask the consul. The staff of a
consulate are good, friendly people happy to meet you - there is no reason
to be nervous.
The content in this section is for informational purposes
only and does not constitute legal advice. Additional information on these
topics is available at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services website.
Part 3 - Arrival in the U.S. at the "Port of Entry"
Entering the United States on an F-1 Visa
Once you have received your passport with the F-1 Visa attached, you are
ready for travel. Be sure to read and make sure that you understand all
of your rights and the restrictions related to F-1 status on page 2 of your
I-20 document. By entering the United States on your F-1 Visa you are entering
into a contract with the U.S. government and you are agreeing to abide by
the rules.
While on the airplane landing in the U.S., you will be given two forms:
- I-94 FORM
This is a white card (when you enter as a tourist it is green) that is
your arrival and departure record. This card is very important. Once you
have filled it out and signed it, the immigration official will staple
it into your passport and will stamp it with the official F-1/DS stamp.
It will be your proof that you have entered the country legally as an F-1
student and have a right to stay as long as you keep to the rules in place
for F-1 students. You must not remove or lose this form. It will be collected
when you leave the U.S.A.
- Customs form
You will fill this form out as per instructions and you will give it to
the customs officers AFTER you have passed through immigration and collected
your luggage.
At the Airport
Directly as you exit the plane, you will be guided towards customs and Immigration.
Pay Attention! Some airports have special lines for students.
Present your passport, I-20, I-94 Card and all other documents, whether
they are still in a sealed envelope or not, to the immigration official
for inspection. The official will staple your I-94 card into your passport
and place a stamp on both your I-94 card and your Form I-20. On this stamp
the official should write F-1 / DS and may write a number on your Form I-20.
This means that you are being admitted as an F-1 Student and the length
of your stay is according to the Duration of your Student Status.
* Be sure that you give the officer your I-20 even if they do not ask
for it. They may assume you are entering the US as a tourist and this will
create problem later.
At this point you will officially be in F-1 Student Status! Make sure to
keep your documents safe and clean, and be sure to follow all of the rules
to maintain your F-1 Status. As you leave the airport and prepare to begin
your studies you are in "Initial Status." Your "status"
or "legal classification" will change as you proceed to the school
and to your studies
In order to help you better understand your "status"
as an F-I student, please read the different classifications below.
Part 4 - Maintaining Your F-1 Status
Types of "Status"
- Initial Status: You have received the Form I-20 but have
not yet reported to the school.
At AFI College, you will report on your first day of class by giving us
a photocopy of your F-1 Visa, I-94 card and your signed and stamped Form
I-20. If you do not report to AFI College, your status will be terminated
automatically in the government database system known as SEVIS.
- Active Status: You have reported to the school and presented
all important documents. Your I-20 should be in Active Status for the majority
of your time in the U.S. if you follow the rules listed below in "maintaining
your status."
- Completed Status: Your studies in the U.S. are complete.
You have returned home or transferred to another school.
- Canceled Status: You decided not to attend the school
that issued the I-20 Form to you. When an I-20 is in Canceled Status, it
may not be used to obtain an F-1 visa or for entry into the U.S.
- Transfer Pending: You have completed your studies at
one school but have not yet reported to the school to which you are transferring.
Students have 60 days from the last class date to transfer before the record
goes to completed status. Students must report to their new school and
begin study by the next available start date after leaving the initial
institution.
- Terminated Status — Try to avoid this at all costs!
You have violated your status as a student and are no longer an F-1 Student
and you must leave the U.S. immediately or apply for Reinstatement to F-1
Status.
- Maintaining Your F-1 Status
Your F-1 Visa gives you permission to enter the United States and maintaining
your status gives you permission to stay here. You are permitted to stay
in the U.S as long as you maintain your status for which you must obey
the following rules:
You should read and understand everything on page 2 of
your Form I-20, as this is the agreement you signed with the U.S. government
and it explains your responsibilities as an F-1 student.
You are responsible, as our student, to inform us of all changes, updates,
(address, names etc.) while you are here. We must, by law, report any changes
or violations of status.
You must attend at least 85% of your classes at all times.
You must remain enrolled in at least 18 hours of class and cannot drop below
full time status. You cannot hold a job while in the U.S on a student
visa.
Violations of Status
Most violations of status can be avoided by simply speaking to the official
student advisor at the school (the person authorized by the government to
sign your I-20) DSO before making any decisions about your course of study.
It does not matter whether you violated your status on purpose or by accident;
a violation means that your visa will be in Terminated Status.
The most common violations of status are:
1. Failure to enroll: This means that you did not report to the school on
the appointed date. This can usually be avoided by speaking to the DSO before
your arrival and asking to defer your attendance.
2. Failure to pursue a full course of study: Your attendance
in your course is less than 85% (too many absences). This can usually be
avoided by keeping track of your attendance and speaking to your DSO before
taking time off.
3. Failure to meet deadlines: This means that you did not
do something you were supposed to do within the time required. An example
of this is not applying for a school transfer within the 60 days allowed.
Again, you can avoid this violation by simply speaking to your DSO before
making any changes.
4. Working without permission: This is obvious... You are
not permitted to work, except under very particular circumstances, on an
F-1 Visa. Before you even think about getting a job, speak to your DSO and
see if it is permitted.
Reinstatement to F-1 Status
Reinstatement is an application procedure whereby a student who has lost
his/her status (by Termination or Completion) asks to be given a second
chance at maintaining status. This is not a simple process. It is often
a long process and success is by no means guaranteed.
If your status is currently in Terminated or Completed
status and you intend to continue your studies in the U.S., you should speak
to a DSO immediately.
The content in this section is for informational purposes
only and does not constitute legal advice. Additional information on these
topics is available at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services web sites.
General Information
Course Confirmation and Payment:
All tuition and fees must be paid in full before
you start classes at A F International School of Languages Inc. Upon receipt
of your application and payment, we will send you a letter confirming your
acceptance. Payment may be sent by any of the following: international money
order, electronic bank transfer (wire transfer), or credit card (MasterCard
or Visa only). We cannot process your application unless we receive your
payment.
Bank Transfers:
Please include the student's name as part of the
bank transfer information. Your payment must include the transfer fees charged
by the bank. For more information please contact: info@afint.com
Accommodations:
Accommodations are arranged beginning on the Sunday preceding your course
and ending on the Saturday after your course is completed. Extra nights
are available upon request. A deposit of $250 is required for all accommodations.
If you cancel your accommodations after they have been confirmed, the deposit
is not refundable. Please read the Refund Policy carefully. If you are requesting
accommodations with a host family, please make flight reservations so that
you don't arrive later than 21:30.
Course Extension:
You can extend your course after you arrive. The
additional course fee must be paid in advance. You can pay the school directly
or through your officialA F International representative in your country.
Airport Transfers:
Please send us your flight information as soon
as possible. If you are requesting accommodations with a host family, please
make flight reservations so that you don't arrive later than 21:30. Airport
transfer is not included in the price. A greeting service and one-way transfer
is available for $75. Please add $25 for arrivals between 22:00 and 7:00
or for arrivals on national holidays. You will be greeted by someone holding
a sign with the school's name. You can also take one of the airport shuttle
vans
Insurance:
You must have medical insurance. If you do not
have medical insurance, you can purchase International Student Insurance
at the school. The cost is approximately $60 per month.
Liability:
A F International, its staff and representatives
will not be liable for loss, damage or injury to persons or property however
caused, except where liability is expressly imposed beyond exclusion by
statute. | 
