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Frequently Asked Questions
UCEDA International is a school which is authorized under federal law to enroll international students. No school can provide visas; that is the responsibility of the U.S. government. We can certify your eligibility for nonimmigrant (F1) student status, and then you may apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Yes, this school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant (F1) students. The Form I-20 is a Certificate of Eligibility for the F1 student visa, which we can provide after you are accepted at UCEDA International. You will need the I-20 document in order to apply for the F1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
After you receive a Form I–20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” and pay your I–901 SEVIS fee, you can visit the closest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for your F-1 student visa with the U.S. Department of State. In most cases, you will need to complete a Form DS-160 online, print it, and bring it to your interview. Also bring your passport, Form I–20, and I–901 SEVIS fee payment receipt to your visa appointment. To learn more about how to apply for your visa, visit the student visas page on travel.state.gov.
When you enter the United States in nonimmigrant status, you do so for a specific purpose, such as study, work, or travel. You may enter the U.S. with one purpose and later change your purpose. When this happens, you may need to obtain a new status. Different visa/status categories allow different activities.
To apply for F-1 student status, you must be accepted as a student. This includes a simple application form, and a placement test to determine your level of English.
Begin your application at UCEDA after 90 days from the date of your arrival. You must be maintaining your current status.
J-1 and B-1 students can enroll in part-time programs of study OR they can apply for a Change of Status to F-1 in order to enroll in a full-time program of study.
UCEDA International will issue the Form I-20 to prospective F-1 students, including Change of Status applicants, who intend to enroll in a full-time program of study.
The Form I-20 is a Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status. A nonimmigrant applying for F-1 status needs a Form I-20 to apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. school?
First, get a Form I-20. Once you receive acceptance to the school and provide evidence of financial support, as well as any other supporting documents, a designated school official will send you a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status.” Next, Pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee: All international students must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. You can pay your fee at FMJFee.com. For more information, watch the I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment Video. Finally, you can apply for a visa to travel to the United States at any U.S. embassy or consulate. Make sure you bring all required documents with you.
We recommend students to apply 2 months before the desired program starts.
New students start classes on the first Monday of every month.
The duration of your Intensive English Program at UCEDA may be tailored according to the number of months you need to study to achieve your goals. Some students study only 3 months for a single course, while others study up to 12 months or longer in a multi-course program. At UCEDA, we understand that the rate of language development may vary according to the learner’s educational background, first language, learning style, cognitive style, and other factors. If you have a compelling academic reason and are unable to complete your course of study by the Program Completion Date on your Form I-20, you may apply for a program extension. Your total program duration including all extensions may not exceed 48 months.
Only schools certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) can accept international students. UCEDA International is certified by SEVP. After completing your program of study at UCEDA International, you may transfer to a college or university in the United States without needing to apply for the F-1 visa again.
SEVP is the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). SEVP has the important role of protecting national security while supporting the international student exchange for the more than one million international students, exchange visitors and their dependents in the United States. SEVP crafts policies and regulations for schools and students, answers questions from international students and school officials, and works with law enforcement to support criminal investigations.
SEVIS is a national security tool managed by SEVP. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, known as SEVIS, is used to monitor international students and the schools that enroll them. SEVIS information is shared throughout ICE and with government and law enforcement partners including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A Designated School Official, or DSO, is an employee of the school who serves as the point of contact between students and SEVP. DSOs are responsible for entering information about F-1 international students into SEVIS. A DSO can issue prospective international students a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status
Intensive English Programs (IEP) offer students a concentrated and immersive learning experience, consisting of a minimum of 18 clock hours per week.
At UCEDA International, we currently accept financial documents in English, Spanish, or Portuguese as we have staff who can interpret and certify translations in those languages. Financial documents submitted in other languages must be accompanied by a certified translation to English.
In order to certify eligibility, a school official must receive and review a copy of your valid passport, your application form, and bank statements from your account and/or a sponsor’s account showing sufficient funding to live and study in the United States for the duration of your program.
If traveling by sea or air, you do not need to request or carry a Form I-94. There is a new automated Form I-94 process. The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer will create an electronic automated arrival Form I-94 during the admissions process for nonimmigrants entering the United States at an air or sea port, with information already available in various law enforcement databases. The Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” is evidence of a nonimmigrant’s term of admission and used to document legal status in the United States, including length of stay and departure. For more information regarding the Form I-94 automation, please review the resources below:
