Frequently Asked Questions and General Information About the English Language Institute

Follow these steps:

1. Apply on-line
2. Fax your credit card information (card number and expiration date) to pay for the fee(s)
3. Fax your bank statement, Sponsorship Agreement to our office and then mail the original documents to us.
4. Fax the biographical page from your passport that shows your full legal name, date of birth, and nationality.

You must have an e-mail address so we can notify you the status of your application.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash-in person only, and personal checks.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE ONE MONTH BEFORE THE START OF THE SESSION

You should apply at least two months in advance of the session you choose to start your English study. Applications completed after the deadline may not give you enough time to obtain your visa depending on the visa wait time in your country. In this case, your I-20 would have to be express mailed to you at your expense. To find out the visa wait time for your country, visit: travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php. If you cannot get your visa within four weeks and still arrive in time for the beginning of school, then you should ask us to defer your I-20 until the next session.

We do not accept late applications. Please choose another session to apply for.

No. We do not require TOEFL scores.

The bank statement must be written in English and show a minimum balance of $6,800. The balance must be converted into USD. The bank statement must be printed on an official bank stationery with the account holder’s name and the bank’s complete address and phone information.

It takes up to two weeks to process your application once all of the required documents and fees are received.

Your I-20 will be mailed out from our office by regular airmail at no charge. Sometimes, it takes 10-15 business days to receive. For an additional fee, you can also ask to have your I-20 mailed to you by Express Mail service.

Once you have received the I-20 form, you will need to apply for your F-1 (student) visa at the American Consulate in your country before coming to the U.S.

For locations of U.S. Consulates and Embassies, visit usembassy.state.gov. Processing of the F-1 visa may take days or weeks, depending upon your area. Allow enough time for this process.

For Visa Wait Time, find out at travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php

For more details on Student Visa, see http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_students2.html

Download your Visa applications at evisaforms.state.gov/

Required documents for your visa application:

1. Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students. You should have already received this form.
2. Receipt of I-901 SEVIS fee ($200) To pay this fee, visit www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml
3. Form DS-156 Download or fill out online at evisaforms.state.gov/
4. Form DS-158 Download at foia.state.gov/forms/visa/ds0158.pdf
5. Your passport that is valid for at least six months after your arrival into the United States.
6. One (1) 2x2 photograph, see photograph requirements at travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_photo.html
7. An MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee. ($100)
8. A visa issuance fee if applicable, for more details, visit www.travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm
9. Financial evidence showing that you or your sponsor can fully cover your tuition and living expenses while studying in the U.S.
10. Proof that you plan to return home after completing your studies. The Consulate wants you to show your economic ties to your country.
11. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended.
12. Scores from standardized tests such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.

No. We do not require advance tuition payment from students.

The tuition is due the first day of classes.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash, and personal checks.

Tuition Policy

Tuition payment is usually required at time of registration. A Late Fee will be charged if tuition is not paid in full by the first Friday of the session. The Late Fee is 10% of the unpaid balance, up to a maximum of $60. To avoid late payment fee, you may apply for payment plan.

Drop Policy

To drop from an ELI class, a drop request must be submitted in person to the office by the first Friday of the session to avoid a tuition charge.

Refund Policy

100% of tuition is refunded if the class is dropped by the first Friday of the session. NO TUITION REFUND FOR CLASSES DROPPED AFTER THE FIRST FRIDAY.

You must make your own housing arrangements in advance in order to have a room reserved when you arrive. Here are the three options:

1. On-campus housing is available on the university campus but space is limited. Prices for the academic year range from $1579 to $2335 depending on single or double rooms. Please refer to the housing website at www.housing.utah.edu NOTE: You will need a university ID number to reserve a dormitory room. Please request an ID number form the ELI office (eli@aoce.utah.edu) if you would like to live in the dormitories.
2. Homestay program offered by OvECS Ltd. at www.azhomestay.com
3. For off-campus housing, visit the Classified Ads on The Daily Utah Chronicle at www.dailyutahchronicle.com or Off-Campus Housing at offcampushousing.utah.edu. The average cost of an off campus one-bedroom apartment is $475, a two-bedroom apartment is $600 per month.

Arrange your travel plan so you arrive a few days before the New Student Orientation. This will give you an early start to get used to local time, weather, food, etc. You may arrive to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date.

Check out the Official U.S. Customs website to see what you can or cannot bring with you when entering the United States. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/

To learn more about Utah, please visit the Official website of the State of Utah. www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html or see our About Utah page.

For more information about the University of Utah, visit unews.utah.edu

Though the English Language Institute does not require students to have medical coverage while attending school, we strongly encourage you to have health insurance while studying in the United States. If you do not already have health insurance from your country, you may purchase health insurance through private insurance companies of your choice. For more detailed information, visit the following websites:

www.cmi-insurance.com
www.compassbenefit.com
www.culturalinsurance.com
www.gatewayplans.com
www.hginsurance.com
www.hthstudents.com/
www.imglobal.com
www.isoa.org
www.studentcare.com
www.usnetcare.com

Classes generally range from 12-20 students per class, with a mixture of people from many parts of the world. You might have students from your country in your class, and this isn't a problem at all as long as students work hard to use only English and meet people in the community.

Each session, F-1 students must be in classes for 20 hours per week.

Yes. While you are enrolled in the ELI program, you can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during break periods. In order to work on-campus, you must apply for work authorization through the English Language Institute two weeks after the session begins.

Our program length is one year but if you are unable to finish your coursework, you may require an extension before your I-20 End Date. Your I-20 may be renewed/extended for up to one year.

Yes. You may transfer to another school in the U.S. after successfully complete two sessions at the English Language Institute, without academic or attendance probation.

This is a common question. Of course, this depends on which you begin at. Students who start at the Skill-Building Level will need at least six sessions (one year) to complete the program but there are many factors that affect a person's ability to learning English including any previous study, motivation, natural ability, and use of English here in Utah. Unfortunately, some students and parents believe that just being in the US or Utah will guarantee that one will learn the language, and this isn't necessarily true. The more students apply what they are learning outside of class, the greater their chances of learning English well. The only secrets to success we have always found to be true are hard work and dedication.