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Getting an F-1 Student Visa
TCS – International is authorized by the United States Citizens and Immigration Service to enroll Non-immigrant students into our program. We are subsequently licensed to issue the Form I-20s, which is essential for F-1 students to have to get approval.
Students who are in need of obtaining an F-1 Student Visa are not eligible for studying part-time. International Students who need an F-1 Student Visa are required to attend our program on a full-time basis (18 hours per week). Please review the TCS-ESL Student Handbook for the attendance requirements to our program.
Depending on the student’s location and status, the procedures for getting a visa vary. If a student wishes to obtain an F-1 Student Visa, there are three possible scenarios for becoming enrolled: Coming to TCS from overseas, transferring from another program here in the U.S., or changing your current visa-status to F-1 Student Visa status. Please see the chart below and review the category that applies to your status.
Coming to TCS from overseas:
If you will come to New York from your country, you will need to provide required documentation to take with you to the American embassy in your country. You can see a list of this documentation here. Please call or email us to find out more about documentation.
To get started, you will need to fill out the TCS Student Admission Form and send it to us by mail, fax or email with a copy of your passport, bank statement, letter of support (if no bank statement is needed), and diploma from your high-school or university. Please see the list of required documents.
If your application has been accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter and your I-20. Once the student is accepted into the program and receives his / her I-20, the student is to pay the SEVIS fee of $200. The student then will be invited for the interview at the American Consulate, where they are required to take all the required documentation.
You will take everything with you to the US embassy in your country and go through the interview. From there, you will either be approved or denied an F-1 Student Visa. TCS does not guarantee anyone an approval from the US Consulate on getting an F-1 Visa. TCS also does not guarantee any positive or approval-decision made by the Department of Homeland Security or USCIS.
Once a student is approved, receives a visa and comes to New York City, they are required to come to TCS to register for classes and go through orientation with the ESL Director. Prior to beginning their ESL program at TCS, they are also required to sign the Enrollment Agreement.
School Transfers:
Many ESL students already live and study in New York, but wish to come to TCS – International. We require the same documentation and application form from transfer students, as is required of overseas students. Once a student has been accepted, they must obtain a Transfer Student Form from their school and bring this documentation to us. Upon approval, they must also sign an enrollment agreement as well.
Change of Status:
Please contact us to discuss the required documentation to become an F-1 Visa student. If you are under any other status (J-1, H, L), and you would like to become a full-time student at TCS – International, please contact us and discuss this with our staff.
Payment Methods.
We accept the following methods for payment:
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● Credit Cards: We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, American Express, Master Card, etc...
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● Checks: We accept personal checks, money orders and even travelers checks.
- ● Bank Transfers are also acceptable.
Please contact us if you have any questions about payment methods.
Required documents needed for I-20 Issuance.
When students fill out an application, they must provide the following documents to be eligible to receive their I-20. Review the following list and contact us to help you get started!
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● Copy of Passport bio pages, valid at least 6 months (I-94 and VISA needed if you are in U.S).
● Original Bank Statement showing no less than US$15,000. If a Bank Statement is not
availlable, an Affidavit of Support is required, which should include signatures and contact information of those who are will to support the student for the entire time he/she will be
studying at TCS. -
● Copy of High-School diploma or University Degree.
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● If a student is transferring from another program, he/she should provide copies of all I-20s from previous programs where the student studied in the US.
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● Two recent photographs and passports.
Standard Forms.
The following are standard forms used in the admission process. Depending on your current circumstances, one or modt of these documents could be required for your enrollment process. Please review the above description of the three possible categories of student enrollement and find the category which applies to you. After consulting with our staff, print out and send us the appropriate forms to us either by mail, email or fax. These following forms have been provided in PDF for your convinience. Fill in the required information, print out and sign these forms prior to sending them to us. The forms can be sent to us by mail, email or fax. Contact us if you have any questions regarding documentation.
Please call us if you have any questions! We are here to help you, the students!!
