|
Acceptance as an International Student
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
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?
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 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.
·
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:
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 . You will need to provide evidence of Health Insurance
coverage to be able to study at ACA. Staying Beyond Your Authorized Stay in the U.S. and Being Out of Status It is important that you depart the U.S. on or before the
last day you are authorized to be in the U.S. on any given trip, based on
the specified end date on your Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94. Information on successfully maintaining your immigration
status while a student or exchange visitor can be found on the Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website
www.ice.gov. Staying beyond the period of time authorized by the US
Department of Homeland Security causes you to be out-of-status in the United
States, which is a violation of U.S. immigration laws. This may cause you to
be ineligible for a visa in the future for return travel to the U.S. Staying unlawfully in the United States beyond the date
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authorized, even by one
day, results in your visa being automatically voided, in accordance with
immigration law, INA 222(g). In this situation, you are required to reapply
for a new nonimmigrant visa, generally in your country of nationality 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.
Students Away from Classes More Than Five Months Students in or outside the U.S., who have been away from classes for more than five months, will likely need a new visa to enter the U.S.
How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa? When you enter the United States on
a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your
student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time
student, even if the F-1 visa in your passport expires while you are in
America. For a student who has
completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized
practical training, the student is allowed an additional 60 days, to prepare
for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school. As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a
visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and
you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often
abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in
the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009
passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal
student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you
will need to obtain a new one, applying at and Embassy abroad, before being
able to return to America and resume your studies. Students who are authorized for
Optional Practical Training (OPT) must have an I-20 endorsed for OPT, and
provide a USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD). When
authorized, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that
is directly related to the eligible F-1 student’s area of study. To learn
more about OPT, please visit the USCIS Website at
www.uscis.gov and the ICE international Students webpage at
www.ice.gov. |