Regulations & Procedures
Eligibilty | Transferring | Applying | Maintaining | Renewing
In order for New England Conservatory to issue you a visa sponsorship form, you must first meet certain requirements:
If you are already in the US at another school, please see Transferring Visa Sponsorship
1. You must be accepted into a full-time degree, certificate or diploma program at New England Conservatory
2. You must provide documentation of Financial Eligibility
- International Students who wish to study in the United States must provide proof that they are able to fund their education in its entirety. At New England Conservatory, you need to show that you can provide at least $43,366 (or $37,566 for Graduate Diploma) for one year of your NEC tuition and living expenses. Sources of Funds can come from many places such as an NEC Scholarship, a private scholarship, your family or your own personal bank account.
- List the source(s) of your Funding on the NEC Certification of Finances Form and return this form to the Admissions Office with your $500 deposit.
- Bank statements must be no more than six months old, be in English and have funds converted to US Dollars. Original bank statements are preferred but they may also be accepted via fax.
- If you are receiving funding from a parent, another family member, a friend or a sponsor, they must provide an affidavit stating that they are sponsoring all or part of your NEC tuition. They can sign the bottom of the NEC Certification of Finances Form or they may write a letter to NEC stating that they will sponsor your NEC tuition and how much they are giving you. All affidavits must have a signature.
- Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Receipts are not valid proof of financial eligibility.
3. You must return your completed NEC Certification of Finances Form to the admissions office along with your $500 deposit.
All immigration documents are sent via DHL Worldwide Shipping Services. Your student account will be charged for this service. In order to assure you receive your documents in a timely matter, please provide us with the most reliable mailing address.
If you are already an F-1 Student in a program here in the U.S. you will not need to apply for a new visa in your home country. Instead, you will simply need to transfer your visa sponsorship from your current school to New England Conservatory. This is relatively simple and allows you to stay in the country legally until you start your new program at NEC.
- Bring the NEC I-20 Transfer Form to the International Student Advisor at your current school before the end of your current program
- As long as your records are in order, the International Student Advisor at your current school will notate a “release date” on SEVIS record. This date usually corresponds to your graduation date at your current school. If you are transferring before the end of your program, this date will probably be the last day of classes of the current semester.
- After your record is released to New England Conservatory, a transfer I-20 form will be prepared for you. Please note, that you must also complete the Certification of Finances form.
Because you are simply transferring your record to a new school, you will be maintaining F-1 status and you will continue to be eligible for Curricular and Optional Practical Training if you have been on an F-1 Visa more than 9 months at your current school. You will also be allowed to stay in the United States legally or travel during the summer between programs.
If the visa stamp from your current school has expired, you do NOT need to make special travel plans to renew it. However, if you do travel you will need to use your NEC I-20 form to apply for a new visa in order to re-enter the United States.
A visa is a travel document that allows you to apply for entry into the United States. Visas are issued by the State Department at US Embassies and Consulates outside of the United States. You cannot apply for a student visa from within the United States.
New England Conservatory sponsors students for both the F-1 and J-1 student visas. If you plan to travel to the US with a spouse and or children you should request an additional F-2 or J-2 visa for each of your family members .
Many students are confused about the difference between the student eligibility forms and the visa. Your eligibility form proves that you have been accepted to New England Conservatory. It lists your major, estimated graduation date and important financial information.
THE I-20 (or DS-2019) IS NOT YOUR VISA! Your visa stamp is simply an “entry document.” Provided that you maintain student status you may travel into the US until the expiration date listed on your visa stamp.
To apply for a student visa you must do the following:
- Obtain the eligibility form (I-20 or DS-2019) from New England Conservatory
- Pay the SEVIS fee
- Apply for an interview at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate
Documents to bring:
- Passport
- I-20/DS-2019
- Sevis Fee Receipt
- Financial Information
Entering the United States
US Customs Agents at the airport in the Untied States will inspect your documents. Be prepared to present your passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and your financial documents. If everything is in order you will be given an I-94 Arrival Departure Card, which indicates your status in the US. The card should either say “F/1 D/S" or "J/1 D/S". The "D/S" stands for Duration of Status. This means that you may remain in the US for as long as you maintain your student status. DO NOT LOSE THIS CARD!
All student visa holders are personally responsible for maintaining their visa status. Your signature on the I-20 or DS2019 forms confims that you understand the regulations and will conform to them. Page 2 of these forms details the regulations specific to your visa type. It is extremely important that you keep copies of all visa-related documents and that you seek advice only from the NEC International Student Office or an immigration attorney.
Do not rely on your friends for advise about your visa! Regulations can change from year to year, and what is legal for your friend may not be legal for you.
In order to maintain your F-1 student status you must:
- Maintain full-time enrollment at NEC (unless authorized to go part time)
- Keep your I-20 current at all times (check expiration dates on all front and back pages of your I-20)
- Keep your passport valid (check expiration date)
- Do not work without authorization and do not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Notify NEC and the Department of Homeland Security of a change of local address within 10 days of change.
- Make normal academic progress (see your academic advisor if you have questions about this)
- File a timely extension, transfer and/or change of academic status
- Obey state and federal laws and depart from the US in a timely matter when required.
Part-time enrollment authorization may be given one semester at a timeunder the following circumstances:
1. Documented Illness
You may request approval for a medical leave of absence for up to 12 months. You must have a recommendation for a medical leave from a licensed medical doctor or a licensed clinical psychologist.
2. Academic Difficulties
Reducing study to part-time due to academic difficulties can only be done during the first semseter of studies and can be approved ONLY ONCE.
The Dean of Students will authorize part-time studies for the following academic reasons only:
- Initial difficulties with the English language
- Initial difficulties with reading requirements
- Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods
- Improper course level placement
3. Last semester of study
You may register for a part-time course load if you are completing your degree requirements during your last semester (including exams and/or recital). Please note that you are only eligible for ONE part-time extension for this reason. If you fail to complete your program duiring this semester, you will need to explore other options to maintain your status.
The visa stamp in your passport is a travel document. The expiration date on your student visa shows the last date which you may enter the US in student status (provided that you have the valid I-20 or DS-2019 form). Generally, the expiration date on the student visa corresponds to the expected graduation date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019.
The visa stamp does not indicate how long you may remain in the United States.
When you enter the US the border official will stamp your I-94 entry card with the notation "D/S." This means that you can remain in the US as long as you are maintaining your student status and have a valid, unexpired I-20 or DS-2019.
You may remain in the United States even if your visa has expired as long as you are maintaining your status.
If you travel outside the US after your visa has expired, you must apply for a renewal of your visa at the nearest US Embassy or Consulate before you can re-enter the US in student status.
You should bring the same documentation to the visa renewal that you brought to your original application: passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and financial documentation. In addition, you should bring a transcript or certificate of enrollment proving your student status at New England Conservatory. Students who are extending their program do not have to pay the SEVIS fee.
Generally, it is not difficult to renew a student visa, but be advised that if you have completed your academic program and are using your Optional Practical Training or Academic Training, you may have more difficulty renewing your visa. Please discuss this situation with an International Student Advisor before travelling.