Campus International Student

Complete and submit a formal application for admission, following the process described, including sending a $50 application processing fee, admission essays, and personal references (forms provided). Official transcripts are required from all institutions attended following secondary school. To be official by U.S. standards, the transcript must be sent directly from the college or university to the Admissions Office of Western Seminary.

Present proof of English language proficiency.

Present proof of financial support.

Official admission is not granted until a complete review of all required documents is conducted by the Admissions Office.

All international applications must be submitted no later than the deadlines below. Please note that while we accept admission throughout the year, some programs, such as the Doctor of Intercultural Studies and EdD, prefer fall admission.

• For fall semester admission, all application materials (application fee, application, official transcripts, proof of English proficiency, references) must be received my June 1st. Should you wish to be considered for scholarships in the coming academic term, all materials, including the scholarship application, should be received by May 1st.
• For spring semester admission, all application materials must be received by October 1st.
• For summer semester admission, all application materials must be received by February 1st.

Once you have received your I-20, signed it, and paid your SEVIS fee, you are now ready to schedule your visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in your country.  Each embassy may have different ways in which these appointments are scheduled ao you will need to check the website of the embassy in your country.  General information about student visas, including required documentation needed and the current visa costs, can be found on the US State Department website.

In addition to the required documents outlined at the above site, it is highly recommended that you also have with you:

• Official letter of admission from Western Seminary
• Financial Guarantee Form with original copies of supporting financial documentation
• Transcripts from previous study
• TOEFL scores or Proof of English Proficiency

Proof of returning to your home country: Before granting a visa, the official may ask for proof that you will not remain in the U.S. after your studies.  You need clear proof of this, since you will need to convince him that you will return home following the completion of your studies at Western Seminary.  Several things may be helpful for you to prove this:

• If you own property, then provide written proof.
• If you have family members remaining in your country, tell them so.
• If you have NO relatives in the U.S., then tell them.  It may help your case.
• If you can present a letter from an employer, indicating that you have study leave, that will help.
• If you can supply a letter from a church, saying they expect you to join them in their church work upon completion of your program, get a letter from them.

NOTE: A visa might not be granted if it is suspected that you will remain in the US.  Documents, letters, contracts, etc. proving all of the above will be helpful.  The more proof you give, the easier it will be to have a visa granted.

Once you have your visa in hand, you can make your flight arrangements.  US regulation allows students to arrive no earlier than 30 days before the start of their program.

Upon arrival, you will fill out the Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) and present this along with your passport/visa and I-20 form to the Border Patrol Officer.  You should also have all the documents that you took with you to the visa interview should the Border Patrol Officer wish to see them.

Please note that having a visa does not guarantee admission into the US.  It guarantees that you can arrive at the border and seek permission to enter.  The Border Patrol official has the authority to approve or deny entry.  Therefore it is very important that you have all of your documents on hand and that you are prepared to answer questions should they ask. If you are admitted, the Border Patrol official will determine the length of your visit on the I-94. The I-94 is now an e-document so you will no longer be required to keep a copy in your passport.

A special consideration is made for citizens of Canada.  The process for Canadian citizens is the same as all other international students except that they are not required to obtain an F1 visa from the US Embassy or Consulate or pay the visa fee.  The Canadian student will bring to the border crossing their Form I-20, receipt of SEVIS payment, and supporting documents.  If granted admission, the Border Patrol Office will stamp an F1 entry in their passport.