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.
Eligible Applicants
- 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 Day programs.
- International students who plan to be in their home country while enrolled are eligible to apply to the Online Masters in Counseling or the MS in Psychology programs.
Ineligible Applicants
- 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 for PAU Masters in Counseling on-campus format.
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