INSTRUCTIONS FOR NON-IMMIGRANT STUDENTS

 

• Complete the application form, and pay an application fee ($100.00).

• If you are not writing a check to include with your application, and if you wish to pay the Application fee, or any fees, by credit card, please use the PayPal button below or on the Application Form page (http://pianotechschool.com/enroll_online.html). If PayPal does not work for your location, and if you wish to pay using bank-to-bank wire transfers, please add $15.00 to any of the fees you are paying. You may want to combine some payments to avoid multiple bank fees. You will need to contact us for the correct wire transfer information.

 

Application Fee

• Receive Application documents from the School

• Complete the SEAA, & the PKBS

• Interview with the administration and the tuning faculty

• Acceptance to the program

• Receive the Enrollment Package and read the Student Handbook

• Sign the Enrollment Agreement

• Pay the I-20 processing fee ($150.00) for the school (you can make this payment earlier in combination with the application fee, or now, in combination with the Tuition). If you wish to pay the I-20 processing fee by credit card, please use the PayPal button below:

I-20 Processing Fee

• Pay the first quarter's tuition for the school. If you wish to pay the tuition fee by credit card, please use the PayPal button below or on the Tuition and Fees page (http://pianotechschool.com/tuition.html). If PayPal does not work for your location, and if you wish to pay using bank-to-bank wire transfers, please add $15.00 to any of the fees you are paying. You may want to combine some payments to avoid multiple bank fees. You will need to contact us for the correct wire transfer information.

Tuition

• Receive the Form I-20, pay the SEVIS fee to SEVIS

• Apply for a visa at the embassy

• Secure housing

• Begin your studies

 
Our enrollment process takes about 3-4 weeks to complete after receiving your application and fees if you respond immediately to the student evaluation questionnaires we send you. We will attempt to send this information via e-mail to save time from the usual postal mail. After we receive the results of the questionnaires you must contact us for an interview with you. Also, you will need to interview with our tuning faculty.  Both interviews will have to be done by phone. Please let us know the time differential between Chicago and your location.

If you are accepted by us, we will then send you the Student Handbook for you to read, the list of required books and tools to purchase prior to starting classes, and the Enrollment Agreement. After the Enrollment Agreement is signed and returned to us, and after you pay the first quarter's tuition, you will be eligible for the Form I-20. We complete the Form I-20, and then send it to you.

 
The following website gives more specific information about student visas: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html.  

To qualify for a Student Visa the following are necessary:

 

• Have a residence abroad, with no immediate intention of abandoning that residence;

• Intend to depart from the United States upon completion of the course of study;

• Possess sufficient funds to pursue the proposed course of study. 

 

The following is from the aforementioned website:

 

When Do I Need to Apply for My Student Visa?

• Students are encouraged to apply for their visa early to provide ample time for visa processing. Students may apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so.

• Students should note that Embassies and Consulates are able to issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date. If you apply for your visa more than 120 days prior to your start date or registration date as provided on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials will use that extra time for application processing.

• Students are advised of the Department of Homeland Security regulation which requires that all initial or beginning students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.

 

Each applicant for a student visa must submit these forms and documentation as explained below:

 

• Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students. You will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, which was provided to you by your school. You and your school official must sign the I-20 form. A completed application, Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant, Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Both forms must be completed and signed.  A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). 

• One (1) 2x2 photograph. See the required photo format explained in nonimmigrant photograph requirements ;

• A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee.

• The SEVIS I-901 fee receipt.  To pay the SEVIS fee go to the website: www.fmjfee.com

All applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions attended;

• Scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.; (The SEAA and PKBS will be appropriate here.)

• Financial evidence that shows you or your parents who are sponsoring you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the period of your intended study. For example, if you or your sponsor is a salaried employee, please bring income tax documents and original bank books and/or statements. If you or your sponsors own a business, please bring business registration, licenses, etc., and tax documents, as well as original bank books and/or statements.

 

What are the Required Visa Fees?

• Nonimmigrant visa application processing fee - For current fees for Department of State government services select Fees. You will need to provide a receipt showing the visa application processing fee has been paid, when you come for your visa interview.

• Visa issuance fee – Additionally, if the visa is issued, there will be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, if applicable. Please consult the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find out if you must pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee and what the fee amount is. If there is a fee for issuance for the visa, it is equal as nearly as possible to the fee charged to United States citizens by the applicant's country of nationality.

Additional Information

• No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.

• Unless previously canceled, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, if the traveler has a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport, do not remove the visa page from the expired passport. You may use it along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry

A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Student visitors must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time they enter the United States. If you are allowed to enter the U.S., the CBP official will determine the length of your visit on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94). Since Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S., it’s very important to keep it in your passport.

Further Visa Inquiries

• Questions on visa application procedures and visa ineligibilities should be made to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad by the applicant. Before submitting your inquiry, we request that you carefully review this web site and also the Embassy website abroad. Very often you will find the information you need.

• If your inquiry concerns a visa case in progress overseas, you should first contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling your case for status information by selecting U.S. Embassy or Consulate .

• If you have additional inquiries about F or M student visas/J-1 exchange visitor visas, please email the Student/Exchange Visitor Visa Center at: fmjvisas@state.gov.

 

What is SEVIS and SEVP? What should you know about it?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitor and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the DHS and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States. Select SEVIS to go to the DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Internet site and learn more. Students at CSPT are classified as M-1 students for visa purposes.

HOUSING

We do not offer formal living arrangements for our students. They are expected to find living arrangements on their own. Please look at this specific web page for information on housing.