Foreign students who do not have permanent residency status in the U.S. must follow the standard procedure for applying to the College. IBCS is approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue foreign students the I-20 form needed to apply for permission to enter the United States for college training. Applications should be submitted at least six months before the start of the initial semester to provide enough time for processing of the application and the student visa.
Foreign applicants must demonstrate that they are educationally prepared for college-level work. This requires detailed documentation and verification of the applicant’s foreign academic credentials. Applicants must verify their academic credentials by submitting transcripts to Foreign Credentials Service of America. Please contact the IBCS Admissions Office for more information.
English Proficiency
If English is not your first language, you must show to the Admissions Committee that you have enough skill in English to be successful at the undergraduate level. This skill is demonstrated by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT. A score of 76 is considered adequate for the academic language level of our programs. You can register for the TOEFL iBT here. Our institution code is B592. Follow the links below for some good advice on how to prepare and for links to practice tests:
Preparation Strategies
Take free tests at the ETS website
Prepare for TOEFL in 10 Days
Visit the official TOEFL test website to register for the test, and to take some practice tests to see if you are ready.
Non-Immigrant Student Status
Foreign students who study at IBCS come on an F-1 non-immigrant visa. Before a student who has been accepted at IBCS can apply for this visa, the Department of Homeland Security requires IBCS to issue a Form I-20 to verify that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to pay for the cost of travel, living expenses, and education in the United States. Students admitted to the United States on an F-1 visa are required by law to be registered as full-time students. You can request more information about the visa process from the Admissions Office.
Acceptance and Visa
Before an application can be submitted to the Admissions Committee for consideration, all academic documentation must be received by IBCS. These documents become the property of IBCS. After the Admissions Committee considers the applicant’s completed file, they will send the applicant official notice of acceptance or denial, and if the applicant is accepted, provide further information about the visa application process.