VISA INFORMATION

Acceptance as an International Student

Applying for a Student Visa

Required Documentation

Transferring into ACA as an International Student

Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry

Checking in with the Office of the Registrar

International Student Orientation

Mandatory Health Insurance

Staying Beyond Your Authorized Stay in the U.S. and Being Out of Status

What Items Do Returning Students Need?

Students Away from Classes More Than Five Months

How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?

Optional Practical Training

Acceptance as an International Student

In addition to the other required documents for admission as an international student, you will need to fill out the International Student Visa Document Request Form provided by your Admission Representative or accessible on our website. You must fill out the form completely; failure to do so will delay the visa process and ultimately your enrollment in ACA.

Included in the International Visa Document Request Form 

·         Biographical Information. Please fill out completely. Must be notarized 

·         Dependent Information. Please fill out completely, if required. Must be notarized. 

·         Declaration of Finances. All international students who apply for an F-1 visa are required to provide evidence of adequate financial support. Therefore, we require that all international students and their sponsor provide evidence of the ability to pay for tuition and cost of living expenses for at least one academic year. One academic year of tuition and living expenses for 2010 is estimated to be $50,000 (U.S. Dollars). You must provide evidence that you have enough liquid assets to cover at least this amount. Must be notarized.

·         Affidavit of Support for the student must be notarized and submitted by a parent/guardian or sponsor who is willing to vouch for financial support for the program. We will need a current bank statement (must not be over 45 days old) and a conversion report attested by the bank for verification of funds in the bank.

·         If the student will reside with friends or family, a document attesting the same must be notarized and submitted. This document must state the residential address and the telephone numbers along with three emergency contacts in the United States.

·         If the student changes their residence a change of address letter with the new address must be submitted to the ACA Admissions Office immediately.

Acceptable forms of financial documentation are bank documents or loan information which proves that you or your sponsor has sufficient funds to provide for your educational and living expenses for one full year. All forms must be notarized. 

Once you have filled out the International Visa Document Request Form you must submit it to our Admissions Office with your completed file and pay the Acceptance Fee in order to receive the acceptance email and letter.

As soon as an international student receives an acceptance email, he has 10 (ten) calendar days from the date of issuance, to wire transfer the first year tuition and fees to ACA.

As soon as ACA receive the wire transfer for the first year of attendance, a form I-20A-B will be processed and a copy will be mailed to you for verification that the information on the processed form is correct; if there are any errors please contact your admissions representative as soon as possible. Once it has been determined that the information on the form I-20A-B is correct, you will be eligible to apply for a student visa and your admissions representative will send you the original form I-20A-B signed by the ACA Registrar officer.

In the case of an F-1 visa application declined, Academy of Couture Art agrees to refund within 30 days, the amount wired less non refundable and wire transfer fees.

As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate. The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can vary, so early visa application is strongly encouraged. Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available at www.travel.state.gov, and on most embassy websites.

During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Also, because each student’s personal and academic situation is different; two students applying for same visa may be asked different questions and be required to submit different additional documents. 

Required Documentation

Each applicant for a student visa must submit these forms and documentation during their interview at the embassy consular section:  

·         Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students. You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was provided to you by Academy of Couture Art and signed by the ACA registrar officer.

·         A completed application, Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant, Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Both forms must be completed and signed. Some applicants will also be required to complete and sign Form DS-157. A separate form is needed for children, even if they are included in a parent's passport. The DS-156 must be the March 2006 date, electronic "e-form application. Important Notice : At certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, nonimmigrant visa applicants are now required to apply for their visa using the new DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, instead of the nonimmigrant application forms DS-156, 157, 158, and other related forms. Learn more and find out which Embassies have converted to the DS-160 Online process through the www.travel.state.gov. 

·         A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in the passport, each person desiring a visa must complete an application.

·         One (1) 2x2 photograph.

·         The nonimmigrant visa application processing fee receipt. You will need to provide a MRV receipt showing the visa application processing fee has been paid, when you come for your visa interview.

·         The Visa issuance fee (SEVIS I-901 fee) receipt.  SEVIS, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the U.S. government’s tracking system that allows various U.S. agencies (overseas U.S. Consulates, border patrol agents at the U.S. borders and airports, the Department of Homeland Security, and others) to see up-to-date information about international students and scholars in F, J, and M visa status, their academic activities, and their accompanying family members. As of October 27, 2008 all foreign citizens applying to become F or M students must pay a $200 fee. Each SEVIS fee payment must be accompanied by a completed Form I-901, which is available on the SEVIS fee payment web site. The fee payment must be associated with a Form I-901 so that the payment can be linked to a specific nonimmigrant record in SEVIS. Once you have received your I-20, you may access the I-901 form and pay your SEVIS fee at www.fmjfee.com.

 All applicants should be prepared to provide:

·         Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;

·         Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.;

·         Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsor owns a business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.

Applicants with dependents must also provide:

 ·         Proof of the student’s relationship to his/her spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.);

 ·         It is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder’s passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

Transferring into ACA as an International Student

If you have applied and been accepted to ACA and are currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from another U.S. school, or you are finishing Optional Practical Training you must notify your current school of your desire to attend ACA and request that your current school transfer your SEVIS record to ACA.

Your SEVIS transfer to ACA must be completed within 60 days of the program end date on your I-20 Form or within 60 days of the Optional Practical Training end date.

To initiate the transfer you must complete Part A of the Transfer Verification Form (which you can request from your admissions representative) and have your current International Office complete Part B of the Transfer Verification Form. Once completed return the Transfer Verification Form and the International Student Visa Document Request Form to your admissions representative. You will then complete the enrollment process.

A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S.

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States.

Documents you should carry on your person:

·         Passport (including attached envelope of immigration documents) with nonimmigrant visa;

·         SEVIS Form I-20AB, I-20MN, or DS-2019;

·         Visa exempt nationals presenting a SEVIS Form I-20AB, I-20MN or DS-2019 issued on or after September 1, 2004, who are entering the United States for the first time should have a Form I-797, Receipt Notice or Internet Receipt verifying SEVIS Fee payment.

·         Evidence of financial resources.

·         Evidence of Student/Exchange Visitor status (recent tuition receipts, transcripts);

·         Name and contact information for Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) at your intended school or program;

·         Writing instrument (pen). 

If you are traveling by aircraft, the flight attendants on board will distribute CF-6059 Customs Declaration Forms and Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record for immigration, before you land at your initial point-of-entry in the U.S.  Complete these forms while you are on the aircraft and submit them to the appropriate Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your arrival.  If you do not understand a form, ask the flight attendant for assistance. 

Upon arrival at the port-of-entry, proceed to the terminal area for arriving passengers for inspection.  As you approach the inspection station, ensure that you have:

·         Passport,

·         SEVIS Form I-20 or DS-2019;

·         completed Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record;

·         CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form available for presentation to the CBP Officer. 

The Form I-94 should reflect the address where you will reside (not the address of the school or program sponsor).

If you are entering through a land or designated seaport, the Customs and Border Protection Officer will provide the necessary CF-6059, Customs Declaration Form and Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record at the port-of-entry.  If you do not understand a form, ask the CBP Officer for assistance.

Like all entering visitors, you will be asked to state the reason you wish to enter the United States.  You will also be asked to provide information about your final destination.  It is important that you tell the CBP Officer that you will be a student or exchange visitor.  Be prepared to provide the name and address of the school or exchange visitor program where you will enroll/participate.

Students are advised of the Department of Homeland Security regulation which requires that all initial or beginning students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.

All International students are required to check in with the Office of the Registrar before the 1st day of classes. You will not be registered for classes until you check in with the Office of the Registrar. 

When you meet with the Senior Registrar you should have the following documents with you:

·         Your passport

·         Your I-20 Form issued by ACA

·         Your I-94 Form which you received at the Port of Entry

·         Any other visa paperwork

·         Proof of Health Insurance coverage

The registrar will update your SEVIS record to indicate that you have arrived at ACA.

International Student Orientation 

All International Students are required to attend orientation. Upon acceptance to the school, your admissions representative will give you information on when your scheduled orientation day is. At orientation you will find out information about the school as well as information about maintaining your status as an F-1 student.

All international students are required to have Health Insurance coverage during their stay at ACA.

ACA has contracted with International Student Organization to offer the recommended COMPASS Platinum plan allowing international students to afford excellent medical facilities in the vicinity of the school.

You can enroll through www.isoa.org/acawh.aspx .

All applicants applying for renewals must submit:

·         All items listed in the Required Documentation section and;

·         A new I-20 or an I-20 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official within the past 12 months.