Apply to ELP  

The application procedures outlined below are for (a) international students; (b) U.S. residents; and (c) transfer students:

International Student Applicants:

Step 1.  Complete and mail the following.  You may send them to us from overseas:

• A completed ELP Application form- you can type on the screen (see the Forms link) and then print your application for mailing.
• $150 USD application fee (non-rerfundable)
• A personal bank statement, or your sponsor’s bank statement showing minimum funds on hand of $23,835 USD. The statement must have been less issued within 45 days of applying to our program and must be an original document, signed and stamped by the bank manager. The funds must be in cash, certificates of deposit, or money market funds. No stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or retirement accounts. (You may wish the bank to certify two (2) original bank statements for you, as you will also need to bring one to your Embassy appointment, below.)
• If the statement is in the name of your sponsor, the sponsor will need to sign the Sponsor section on the application form

Step 2.  ELP staff will prepare and mail your I-20 form

• We will contact you if there are any problems or missing information from your application. Make sure to include your email address on the application.
• We will prepare a “major” letter that you can take to your embassy appointment (to apply for F-1 visa) if you so request in your application
• The process often takes us about two (2) weeks from the time we have all the necessary documents, so give us ample “lead” time before making an embassy appointment to apply for a visa.

Step 3.  To obtain your Student (F-1) Visa

• Pay $200 SEVIS Fee online at:  http://www.fmjfee.com.    (See ELP Fees and Tuition, above, for SEVIS Q & A).  This website allows you to pay the fee to include your name and information on the Student Exchange Visitor Information Service (SEVIS) database, maintained by the United States Immigration system.  The data base allows tracking of the status of F-1 students and other educational visitors to the U.S.   Print your receipt to take with you to your Embassy appointment.

• Make Appointment with the U.S. Embassy.  An appointment with the embassy in your home country is required to apply for an F-1 Student Visa.  You should bring the following documents to your appointment:
• The I-20 form from our school;
• An original bank statement showing funds you will use for support;
• Sponsorship form, if you will use a sponsor;
• Your Passport;
• SEVIS fee receipt, see above;
• ELP Program information

Once your Visa has been issued, you can prepare to come to the United States for study in the quarter for which you have applied.  Before coming to the U.S., you must do the following:

• Arrange for Housing and Transportation (See Find Housing, );
• Buy Health Insurance online, print receipt, and bring it with you on Registration Day – this is required by the State of California and must be purchased before you can study in our program.
• Go to see your personal doctor and have him or her complete the Medical form  to assure that you have immunizations and TB testing up to date;  bring the completed form with you to Registration Day
• Prepare to bring with you to Registration Day:  your passport; your original I-20 document; the I-94 form that Immigration will issue on your arrival in the U.S., and checks, money orders, or valid credit card to pay the ELP Fees and Tuition, including your payment receipt for the required Student Health Insurance.

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United States Resident Applicants:

Step 1.  Please mail or bring the following to our office: 

• A completed ELP Application form
• $150 USD application fee (non-refundable)
• Determine the number and courses you wish to take.  As a U.S. resident, you are not subject to the “full-time” course of study requirement that governs international students.  Beginning Fall quarter 2009, the cost of individual classes in the ELP is $458 per class plus all mandated university fees.

Step 2.  Prepare to come to ELP office on Registration Day.

• Take the Medical form that was included with your I-20 to your personal doctor to assure that you have immunizations and TB testing up to date;  bring the completed form with you to Registration day
• Prepare to bring with you to Registration:  your passport or birth certificate – if you are a U.S. citizen; your Permanent Resident card if you are a United States resident
• Checks, money orders, or valid credit card to pay the ELP Fees and Tuition (see above)

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Transfer Student Applicants

If you are transferring to ELP from another school within the United States:

Step 1.  Please mail or bring the following to our office:

• A completed ELP Application form
• $150 USD application fee (non-refundable)
• A personal bank statement, or your sponsor’s bank statement showing minimum funds on hand of $23,835 USD.  The statement must have been issued within 45 days of applying to our program be less than 6 months old and must be an original document, signed and stamped by the bank manager.  The funds must be in cash, certificates of deposit, or money market funds – no stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or retirement accounts. (You may wish the bank to certify two (2) original bank statements for you, as you will also need to bring one to your Embassy appointment, below.)
• If the statement is in the name of your sponsor, the sponsor will need to sign the Sponsor section on the application form
• Copy of the I-20 form issued by original school
• Copy of your Passport, visa page, and I-94 form
• Your current U.S. address, telephone number and home country address
• An e-mail address (or fax number) to which we can send you our “transfer-in” form

Step 2.  Wait to Receive our Transfer-in Form and Acceptance Letter

• Take our Transfer-In form and Acceptance Letter to the academic adviser at your current school to have it completed
• Your advisor should fax back the Transfer-In form when it has been filled out completely

Step 3.  Prepare to come to ELP office on Registration Day.

• Take a Medical form to your personal doctor to assure that you have immunizations and TB testing up to date;  bring the completed form with you to Registration Day
• Prepare to bring with you to Registration:  your passport or birth certificate – if you are a U.S. citizen; your Permanent Resident card if you are a United States resident
• Checks, money orders, or valid credit card to pay the ELP Fees and Tuition (see above)
• If you will need housing, see Find Housing,