International Student Visa Instructions

We strongly recommend that you begin the process of obtaining an I-20 as soon after your acceptance as possible, as the entire process can take as long as three months.

The deadline to submit the required materials to the Admissions Office is May 1, for enrollment beginning in the fall term. However, we strongly recommend you submit the documentation earlier.

In order to be eligible for an I-20 you must meet the following conditions:

• You must be accepted to one of the following programs: Certificate Program; Independent Study Program; Scholarship Program.
• You must submit proof of your financial ability to cover all your school expenses and living expenses for the duration of your intended enrollment to The Ailey School Admissions Office. (Please refer to the International Student Cost of Living Chart on page 3 to see how much you need to document and what type of documentation is acceptable.)

Once you have met the above conditions you must take the following steps by May 1 to receive an I-20 for fall enrollment:

• Send a copy of the identification page of your passport
• Send one passport-sized photograph in JPEG format 
• Submit The Ailey School Declaration of Finances form explaining your financial resources.
• Submit the required financial documentation demonstrating the ability to cover the costs of tuition, fees and living expenses for the first year of study. All financial documentation must be in English and must indicate the U.S. dollar equivalent of whatever type of currency is reflected in the documentation. Statements that are not in English will not be accepted.
• The Ailey School Director of Admissions must confirm that your financial documentation meets the requirements for issuance of an "I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status" form.
• A $50 international student fee will be due with your final tuition payment in August.

Instructions for submitting documentation

All documentation must be uploaded to the secure link below:

IMPORTANT! Please be certain to name all of your files with your Last name and First name. Incorrectly named files will cause delays in your receiving your I-20 form.

If the Director of Admissions has determined that your financial documentation has met The Ailey School's requirements, you will receive an acceptance package by email containing the following:

• Acceptance letter  
• Instructions on how to proceed with your F-1 Visa application 
• An I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Non-Immigrant Student Status form 

After you have reviewed your I-20 to make sure all the information on it is correct (your name, birthday, place of birth, etc.) you must take the following steps to apply for your visa:

Step 1 -

Pay a SEVIS fee online and print your receipt. The SEVIS fee is a fee that is required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Step 2 -

Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest your home to make an appointment for your visa interview.

Step 3 -

Complete a DS-160 form online and pay your visa application fee as instructed by your local U.S. Consulate

Step 4 -

Prepare the following documents for your Visa Interview:

• Passport - must be valid for at least another six months from your date of entry into the U.S.
• I-20 Certificate of Eligibility (make sure to sign and date the bottom of page 1)
• The ORIGINAL copies of all your financial documentation
• Your Ailey School Acceptance Letter
• Your SEVIS receipt for your online payment
• Receipt for your completed online DS-160 form payment
• Two 2" X 2" photographs as specified by the U.S. State Department
• Any additional information you can provide that proves your intention to return to your home country after finishing your studies in the U.S. will also be helpful. This may include proof that your family members live in your home country, or that you have a job to return to or other ties to your community.

_{NOTE TO CANADIAN NATIONALS:} 

_{Students who are Canadian Citizens do not need to obtain a visa stamp in their passport but they DO need to enter the U.S. in the correct visa status. In lieu of an appointment at a U.S. Consulate, Canadian students must present all of the above documentation (with the exception of the DS-160 form) at the U.S. Port of Entry. The Customs Official will process their paperwork at that time and students will enter the U.S. in the correct F-1 Visa Status.}