Do I need F-1 student status?

Students coming to the United States primarily to study full time in ILI’s Intensive English Program generally need F-1 student status. ILI is authorized under federal law to enroll F-1 students and issue Form I-20 to eligible applicants. Students who are already in the United States in another immigration status should not assume that their current status permits full-time study; the rules depend on the individual’s status and circumstances.

How do I apply for an F-1 visa?

After ILI admits you and issues your Form I-20, students applying from outside the United States generally pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, complete the U.S. Department of State visa application process, and schedule a visa interview when required. Bring the documents required by the U.S. embassy or consulate handling your application, including your signed Form I-20 and SEVIS fee payment confirmation. Visa requirements and appointment procedures can vary by location, so applicants should follow the current instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate where they will apply.

How can I obtain a Form I-20 from ILI?

To request a Form I-20 for ILI’s Intensive English Program:

1. Submit ILI’s online application for the Intensive English Program and indicate that you are requesting a Form I-20.
2. Submit a clear copy of the biographical/picture page of your passport.
3. Submit financial-support documentation showing at least $2,200 for each month of intended study. Additional documentation is required when another person will sponsor your expenses.
4. Pay ILI’s $100 registration fee. The registration fee applies to all applicants, including initial F-1, transfer and change-of-status applicants.

ILI reviews the admission and financial documentation before issuing a Form I-20. Additional information may be requested when needed. Applicants should check the Form I-20 carefully when received, sign it as instructed, and keep it with their immigration records.

Students applying for an F-1 visa abroad must follow the current U.S. Department of State visa-application procedures and the instructions of the U.S. embassy or consulate where they apply. Change-of-status applicants in the United States should follow the USCIS procedures described below.

Financial Support Documentation for Form I-20

ILI requires evidence of financial support of at least $2,200 for each month of intended study. This is ILI’s current estimate of the funds a student should be able to demonstrate for tuition and living expenses; it is separate from government filing or SEVIS fees.

If you are paying your own expenses: submit a recent bank statement in your name showing sufficient available funds. ILI generally requires financial documents to be no more than three months old.

If another person will sponsor you: submit the sponsor’s recent financial documentation together with a completed ILI Financial Sponsorship Form.

Financial documents that are not in English should be accompanied by an English translation. If the account is not denominated in U.S. dollars, the documentation should allow ILI to determine the approximate U.S.-dollar value of the available funds.

ILI may request additional financial documentation when necessary to determine whether the Form I-20 funding requirement has been satisfied.

What is SEVIS?

SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is the U.S. government system used to maintain information about F-1 students and other international students and exchange visitors. Students issued an initial Form I-20 generally must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee before applying for an F-1 visa or, when applicable, before filing for a change to F-1 status.

The current I-901 SEVIS fee for F-1 students is $350. Students can pay the fee and obtain official payment information through the I-901 SEVIS Fee website. Keep the payment confirmation with your immigration records and bring it to your visa interview when required.

I-20 Processing Time

Once ILI has received the required application, $100 registration fee, passport copy, financial-support documentation and any other required information, we review the application for admission and Form I-20 issuance. Complete applications are generally processed within 1–5 business days. Incomplete applications may take longer. ILI does not issue a Form I-20 for enrollment of less than four weeks.

Maintaining F-1 Status at ILI

F-1 students at ILI must maintain a full course of study in the Intensive English Program and follow applicable federal F-1 requirements as well as ILI academic and attendance policies.

• F-1 students must enroll full time in ILI’s Intensive English Program. ILI’s full-time Intensive English schedule is 25 clock hours per week.
• For English-language training students, online or distance-education classes cannot count toward the F-1 full-course-of-study requirement. F-1 students must therefore complete the required full-time English study in person.
• Students must maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress under ILI policy. ILI’s minimum attendance requirement is 80%.
• Any vacation or break must comply with ILI policy and applicable F-1 rules and must be approved when required.
• Students must keep their passport valid and maintain valid immigration documents.
• Employment for F-1 English-language students is highly restricted. Students should speak with an ILI Designated School Official (DSO) before accepting or beginning any employment.
• Students should contact an ILI DSO before transferring schools, changing programs, taking a break from study, traveling internationally, or making another change that could affect their F-1 status.

Immigration rules can change and individual circumstances differ. ILI provides school and SEVIS guidance but does not provide legal advice.

Transferring F-1 Students to ILI

F-1 students transferring to ILI from another SEVP-certified school should apply to ILI and pay the $100 registration fee. In addition to the admission and financial documents described above, ILI generally needs a copy of the student’s current Form I-20 and Form I-94, the name of the current or most recent school, and the last date of attendance. After admission, the student works with the current school’s DSO to arrange the SEVIS transfer release date.

Federal transfer timing rules depend on the student’s circumstances. In general, an F-1 transfer student must begin classes at the transfer-in school at the next available term or within the applicable federal transfer period. Students should coordinate with the DSOs at both schools rather than relying only on the end of a 60-day grace period.

Transferring from ILI to Another School

Students requesting a transfer from ILI should contact an ILI DSO and provide written evidence of acceptance from the new SEVP-certified school, the new school’s SEVIS information and DSO contact information, and the requested transfer release date. ILI will process an eligible SEVIS transfer in accordance with federal requirements. ILI does not require a student to complete an additional four-week session as a condition of an otherwise eligible SEVIS transfer, and a financial or business dispute will not be used as a reason to refuse an eligible SEVIS transfer. Any amount legitimately owed to ILI remains subject to ILI’s normal payment and collection policies separately from the SEVIS transfer process.

F-1 Reinstatement

An F-1 student who has fallen out of status may be eligible to apply to USCIS for reinstatement. Reinstatement is not automatic and eligibility depends on the student’s individual circumstances and the federal requirements.

Students seeking reinstatement through ILI should contact an ILI DSO before filing. If ILI determines that it can make the required SEVIS reinstatement recommendation, the DSO will create and sign a Form I-20 issued for reinstatement. The student signs the Form I-20 and submits Form I-539, the required government fee, and supporting evidence directly to USCIS.

USCIS requires evidence addressing why the status violation occurred and the other reinstatement requirements. A student who has been out of status for more than five months must also address the additional federal requirements applicable to a late reinstatement filing. Students should continue to follow the enrollment instructions provided by their DSO while a reinstatement request is pending.

Important: ILI staff and DSOs can provide school and SEVIS guidance but are not immigration attorneys and do not provide legal advice or legal representation. Students with complex immigration circumstances should consult a qualified immigration attorney or other authorized immigration legal-services provider.

Change to F-1 Status to Study English at ILI

If you are currently in the United States in another eligible nonimmigrant status and want to become an F-1 student, you may be able to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change to F-1 status. The application is generally filed using Form I-539. Eligibility and filing requirements depend on your current status and individual circumstances.

How ILI Helps Change-of-Status Applicants

Apply to ILI’s Intensive English Program and request a Form I-20. Like all ILI applicants, change-of-status applicants pay ILI’s $100 registration fee and must satisfy ILI’s admission and financial-document requirements. ILI currently requires evidence of financial support of $2,200 per month of intended study.

Complimentary application review: As part of ILI’s admission and Form I-20 process, ILI can review your supporting documents and proposed change-of-status application package at no additional charge before you file with USCIS. Our review is intended to help identify missing documents, inconsistencies, or administrative issues based on ILI requirements and published USCIS instructions.

After ILI’s admission, financial-document and SEVIS requirements are satisfied, ILI can issue the Form I-20 that the applicant includes with the change-of-status filing. The applicant is responsible for submitting the application and required government fees to USCIS. USCIS—not ILI—determines eligibility and decides whether to approve a change of status.

Applicants should review the current USCIS Form I-539 information and instructions before filing.

Important legal disclaimer: ILI staff and Designated School Officials are not immigration attorneys and do not provide legal advice or legal representation. ILI’s complimentary review is an administrative review and does not guarantee that USCIS will accept or approve an application. Applicants with legal questions, complicated immigration histories, or questions about their individual eligibility should consult a qualified immigration attorney or other authorized immigration legal-services provider.