Admissions Requirements for F-1 Students
Applicants who require an I-20 form for an F-1 visa application may only apply to PAU's PhD, PsyD, and Psychology & Social Action programs.
For PAU Masters programs, International students who plan to be in their home country while being a student in the online Masters in Counseling format or MS in Psychology program are eligible to apply.
International students currently living in the U.S. in F-1 status and those interested in becoming F-1 international students for studying in the U.S. are not eligible to apply to PAU Masters in Mental Health Counseling on-campus format.
The TOEFL (TOEFL DI Code: 4638) or IELTS exam is required for international applicants whose undergraduate studies were in a language other than English. These exams are not required for international students who earned their bachelor's degree in the U.S. or other English-speaking countries.
International Students must provide evaluated and translated transcripts. PAU's preferred evaluation/translation services are International Education Evaluations, LLC or SpanTran: The Evaluation Company. We will also accept evaluations from any approved NACES member.
Once you have gained academic admission to PAU, you must complete the following steps to be issued an I-20 form which finalizes your admission to PAU:
1. Download Finances and Student Information and review it carefully. Complete the student information sheet.
2. Submit financial documentation, sponsor letter (if applicable), copy of passport photo page, F-1 visa if you have one, and student information sheet to the International Student Specialist at lharris@paloaltou.edu.
3a. If you are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status, download the handout Immigration Transfer In to facilitate your immigration transfer to PAU. Once this transfer is complete, your I-20 will be issued.
OR
3b. If you are currently outside the U.S. and need to apply for an F-1 Visa, go to https://www.usembassy.gov/ to find embassy or consulate websites, interview availability and processing times . You will have to navigate to find relevant COVID-19 information, as each embassy website is structured a bit differently..
You must pay the SEVIS/I-901 fee, and schedule an interview. The SEVIS fee is $350.
These resources will help you prepare for your F-1 visa interview:
- Study in the States https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/applying-for-a-visa-to-travel-to-the-united-states
- Education USA website educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/...
- Ten Points to Remember When Applying for your Nonimmigrant Visa www.nafsa.org/10points.
Canadian Citizens need only an I-20 and I-901 SEVIS fee receipt to enter the U.S. in F-1 status (no visa required).
Helpful Links
U.S. Department of State – Applying for an F-1 Visa
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html#howtoapply
Information about the SEVIS Fee
https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901
U.S. embassy/consulate websites