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International Student Application Procedures

How does the process work?

Admission to our International Student Program is unique in that we require every applicant to have some kind of connection to our school, usually a recommendation from a missionary or graduate of our program. This two-way connection allows the applicant to learn more about us before investing in coming and also allows us to know more about the applicant before we invest in him or her. We are looking for those who are first of all strongly committed to following the Lord Jesus, who show leadership potential, and who are also committed to returning to their country to serve their church.

Request More Info

Apply To EI

Apply and get accepted into our program.

Deposit

Deposit funds into school account.

1-20 Form

Recieve 1-20 Form and pay SEVIS fee.

Embassy Interview

Schedule & Attend F-1 Visa Interview.

Visa Approval

Recieve F-1 Visa approval.

Costs

International Students should consider the financial cost of being a student at our school. If accepted, international students will be granted a half scholarship covering their room and board (additional fees may apply for couples and families). Please note that international students are responsible for paying all of their tuition. We are committed to keeping our costs affordable.

Prior to beginning the visa application process, all international students are required to pay a non refundable administrative fee. All international students except for Canadians are also required to transfer money to a school bank account for possible medical expenses and return airfares. The amount varies depending on whether you are coming as an individual, a couple, or as a family with children (See the table below for the exact amount). The Evangelical Institute will not begin the visa process with a prospective international student until the funds are received. Funds will be returned to the student if he/she is unable to come.

Funds Held by School

Funds in US Dollars 
Administrative Fee (non-refundable)$ 100
Medical Expenses (per person)$ 500
Return Airfare (Students are responsible to pay any portion of their return airfare that exceeds the deposited amount)Based on the cost of a one-way ticket from US to your country
Total Individual$600 + Return Airfare
Total Family with 2 children$2,100 + Return Airfare/per person

Once you have made the deposit to the school bank account, we will begin your visa application process. The costs for the visa application are detailed below.

Visa Application Fees

SEVIS 901 fee$350
Embassy Interview fee$100-200 (per person) (Canadian students do not pay this fee)

Once an international student has arrived on campus, he/she must be prepared to pay all school fees as well as living expenses including all medical expenses.

FAQ

For more information about life in the United States, please download and read our International Student Orientation Guide.

1. Prepare for the exam

2. Prepare Documents

  • Proof of Address (a letter from the school on school letterhead indicating enrollment period)
  • Proof of identity (Passport)
  • A social security card OR a letter from the Social Security Administration stating you are not allowed to work in the US. You will need to go to the Social Security Office to get this letter. For directions, click here.
  • Form I-20
  • Translated driver’s license from home country. The translator must use Form 4030 and must be accompanied by a letter of verification from his employer on letterhead qualifying him as a translator. This translation can be made at Rush Translate and costs $24.99 per page. If you don’t have a driver’s license, you will need to wait 6 months between your written test (permit) and the driving test (full license).
  • Proof of insurance for the car you will be driving.

3. Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Present your documents
  • Pass a vision test
  • Pass the knowledge and skills test.

For more information, see Form MV-94.

There are a few factors you want to consider in choosing a bank:

  • Choose a bank that is located close to the school.
  • It is important to compare services and costs. Find out whether the bank charges a monthly fee. Find out how long it takes to “clear” a check (meaning how long from the time you deposit a check in your account until you are allowed to withdraw the funds). Find out whether the bank offers overdraft protection. Overdraft protection allows you to spend more than you have in your account for a fee. It is usually best to ask that overdraft protection be removed.

We recommend the Bank of Travelers Rest. They are one of the closest banks to the school. They offer a free checking account. You will need to deposit a minimum of $100. They offer overdraft protection but using it will cost you $28.50. We recommend that when you open an account, you ask that they remove the overdraft protection.

Open a Bank Account

Although many banks advertise that you can open an account over the phone or online, you should plan to open an account in person. As an international student, you do not fit neatly into any category set by US banks, and it will be easier to deal with any complications in person. In addition, it’s always useful to establish a face to face relationship if you require additional services. When you go to the bank to open a bank account, you will need to bring:

  • Passport
  • I-20
  • I-94 Card
  • Birth certificate
  • Enrollment verification letter from your school
  • You will also need the funds you want to deposit and open the account with. Banks usually have a minimum amount needed to open an account.

Many students use Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile allows you to purchase a sim card and use your own phone. There are no contracts and the rates are reasonable. It only works with certain phones so either purchase your phone directly from them or, if you decide to purchase a used phone (for example on Ebay), make sure the phone is unlocked (not locked to another service provider).

It is important that you have a good English Bible to read and study while you are student at EI (or an English/”Your Language” parallel bilingual Bible). We recommend you purchase the English Standard Version of the Bible. This version has a good balance between accuracy and readability. You can purchase ESV Bibles here.

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in two types of off-campus employment:

 

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)

Any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) and USCIS. For more information click here.