International Students
International Students
International StudentsTuskegee University welcomes applications from prospective students living outside the US. Applying internationally, however, is a bit more complex. International students must meet standards, just as others, for admission. Tuskegee University accepts World Education System (WES) credential evaluations from non-U.S. schools. The WES form is required since their evaluations standardize the various academic credentials from around the world.
Test ScoresThe American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is required of all freshman applicants and undergraduate transfer applicants, who are transferring from universities outside of the United States. Arrangements should be made for the test results to be forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing agency.
The institution number for the ACT is 0050 and the number for the SAT is 1813.For information and applications for the ACT, write to: American College Testing Program, Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, U.S.A or apply online by using the registration form at http://www.act.org .
For information and applications for SAT, write to: College Board ATP, Box 592, Princeton, New Jersey 08541, U.S.A or apply online by using the registration form at http://www.collegeboard.org.
LanguageStudents who are not from one of the following countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Antiqua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada*, Grenada, Ireland, Israel*, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, and United States. Minimum required TOEFL scores is at least 500 (paper test) or 173 (computer test). This is a Tuskegee University minimum; however, the English department encourages higher scores. TOEFL scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the Educational Testing Service. Examinee copies are not considered official. Arrangements for the test may be made by writing to: TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, U.S.A. Follow this link to visit the TOEFL website.
* May require English Proficiency Test upon arrival
Applying
Applications must include the US$35.00 processing fee. Applications from international students will not be considered until all materials, including WES evaluation, TOEFL, and application fee have been received by the Office of Admissions. All documents and supporting materials must be sent to the Office of Admissions at least three months in advance of the students proposed entrance. The required $35 application fee cannot be waived, deferred, or delayed. The fee must be paid by traveler's check, money order, or check drawn on a US bank. Checks from foreign banks are not acceptable. The fee is not refundable.
Finances
The international student must have sufficient funds to cover all fees, transportation, and living expenses. For academic year 2003-2004 the amount needed for admissions is set at US $22,080 with adjustments for a spouse and/or other dependents. The Office of Admissions has limited funds for scholarships or fellowships and cannot guarantee other forms of financial aid. Therefore, an Affidavit of Support and certified evidence of a sponsor's financial capability must be submitted. Forms are available at the Office of Admissions or from the Tuskegee University web site.
APPLYING FOR A VISA CERTIFICATE
In order to enroll at Tuskegee University, you must be a full-time student and will need a student visa. To get a student visa, you will need to provide the required information. Upon your satisfactory completion of your admission application and subsequent acceptance, we will issue you a form I-20 which is needed to apply at a U.S. Consulate for an F-1 Student visa. If you are already in the United States, complete all appropriate documents to apply for a form I-20 to use in support of an application for change of nonimmigrant status or to follow the procedure for F-1 Student transfer. Do not submit more than one application; multiple submissions delay processing. Once you submit your application, you must send your supporting documentation. Your accompanying spouse and children may apply for F-2 visas as dependents of F-1 visa holders if funding to meet their additional expenses is available and documented.
To assist you in your planning, this document begins with an overview of the terms of the student visa, focusing on matters of particular concern to incoming students. Also included is information of importance to Canadian citizens and nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. You will also find the details of requirements to qualify for a form I-20, information for applicants from countries restricting foreign exchange transactions, and early guidance on what to expect when you apply for an entry visa. We ask you to attend carefully to completing your admissions application and to submitting the appropriate supporting documents.
Visa Certificate Processing
Processing of a new form I-20 takes 10 to 15 days at the Office of Admissions AFTER we have a COMPLETE application. If First Class mail service to your location takes an additional 15 to 23 days, you may expect to receive your form I-20 within 25 to 38 days from the day we receive your request. Few locations worldwide consistently receive First Class mail from Tuskegee, Alabama, in fewer than 10 days. First Class mail to the People's Republic of China (PRC) commonly takes more than 30 days.
We understand that waiting for your I-20 to arrive can be stressful. If you wish to request that we re-send your I-20, you may contact us by e-mail at admissions@tuskegee.edu or telephone at 800-622-6531. We will do so ONLY if we determine there is a reasonable probability that your papers have gone astray. Replicating and re-sending your documents adds to the cost of processing applications and delays preparation of documents for other students. Based on our experience with thousands of mailings, we will consider a request to re-send a form I-20 only after the original I-20 has been in the mail 20 days (30 days for mailings to the PRC) but not received.
Introduction
There are two immigration-related terms which you will see frequently: "entry visa" and "immigration status". The first term, entry visa, refers to the entry visa affixed or stamped in your passport that permits you to enter the United States. This stamp is obtained at a U.S. Consulate. Your entry visa is used only for entries to the U.S. and may expire during your stay with no repercussions. The second term, immigration status, reflects the most recent notation on your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, commonly known as the I-94 Card. Your immigration status is generally the same as your entry visa classification: F-1, B-2, J-1, etc. The I-94 Card you receive upon entering the U.S. is proof of immigration status (nonimmigrant classification) in the U.S. and specifies the length of time one is permitted to stay. When you arrive in the U.S., the customs or immigration official will retain the Arrival portion of the I-94, make notes concerning the immigration status (nonimmigrant classification) on the Departure portion, and either insert or staple the I-94 (Departure) Card into the passport, usually next to the page that holds the corresponding entry visa.
F-1 Student Classification
Those who hold F-1 student visas are normally admitted to the U.S. for "Duration of Status (D/S)" by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) which is the U.S. government agency responsible for administering regulations related to the entry of non-U.S. citizens. Under the terms of a student visa, you are required to pursue a full-time course of study during the academic year, August through May. For BCBP purposes, Tuskegee University commonly defines full-time study as those registered for 12 or more credits or one Residence Unit each semester.
Students in F-1 status may work on campus part-time (up to 20 hours per week) with the permission of the International Programs Office (IPO). A student may apply for permission to work off campus only after 9 months in F-1 status. This requires the prior written approval of the IPO and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). Employment during either the academic year or the summer should not be considered a major means of support while at Tuskegee unless the University offers employment in the form of a teaching or research assistantship. Dependents holding F-2 status may NOT work under any circumstances.
A major academic and financial benefit for many students in F-1 status is eligibility to apply for various forms of practical training (employment directly related to your field of study). However, please note that one must be a full-time student in an immigration status appropriate for studying for at least the previous nine consecutive months to be considered for practical training. Details are available from the International Programs Office.
Canadian Nationals
Canadians do not need entry visas to enter the United States. Those entering the United States to study must request F-1 status at the border and must show the form I-20 to the BCBP inspector who will issue an I-94 Card upon entry to the United States. Canadian students must have an I-94 Card to confirm current F-1 status.
How to Obtain a Visa Certificate
In addition to a complete Application for Visa Certificate, you will need to submit the following documents with official English translations:
If you hold a passport, a copy of the identification page of your passport;
A copy of your letter of admission from the admissions office of your school;
A letter from you describing how you will finance your course of study; and
Financial documentation which covers all expenses for one year and describes reasonable means of support for future years. Various documents are required depending on the source of financial support. If you have more than one source of funding, please provide the required documentation corresponding to each source listed below. Please do not send original documents as we cannot return them to you. The required documents for each source of support, plus English translations, are as follows:
Personal funds
A certified copy of a bank letter on bank letterhead, in your own name, prepared within the past three months showing available balances sufficient to meet your expenses
Parents or family
A certified copy of a letter from your parent or other relative which guarantees your support and includes:
Your relative's name, address, and relationship to you
The program of study or degree for which financial support is being provided
The dollar amount per year in U.S.$ being provided and the number of years
for which it is guaranteed
A copy of your relative's bank letter prepared within the past three months showing available balances sufficient to meet your expenses
An international organization, government agency, foundation, or another university
A certified copy of the official sponsorship letter stating the conditions of the award. The letter should specify the name and address of the sponsor, the total amount of money in U.S.$ available to you for the school of Tuskegee University in which you will be enrolling, the major field and degree for which you will be studying, and the period for which funding is guaranteed or a statement that funding is renewable annually for a specified number of years
Tuskegee University
A copy of your Tuskegee University award letter
Private sponsor
Requirements as under Parents or family
A certified letter from your sponsor explaining the sponsor's relationship to you, the student, and why he or she is committed to providing for your support. Please note that U.S. Consular officials subject private sponsor guarantees to careful review and that you should be prepared to submit additional documentation when applying for your entry visa.
Available funds must equal or exceed your expenses for the year as given in the following table. Students who will be in the U.S. during summers also will need to document additional funds. If you are married and plan to bring your spouse or children, you must document additional funds for your dependents. The amounts for the 2003-2004 Academic Year are U.S. $700 monthly for your spouse and U.S.$350 monthly for each child.
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088.
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Tuskegee University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033, (404) 679-4500) to award baccalaureate, master's, professional and doctoral degrees.
