Application Requirements and Checklist

English Proficiency Requirements for Spring 2024 Applicants and beyond

1. TOEFL iBT: 80 or above (20 minimum in all bands)
2. IELTS: 6.5 or above (6.0 minimum in all bands)

English Proficiency Requirement Waivers

The English proficiency requirement may be waived if:

• Completion of 60 semester hours at US institutions within the last 36 months  
• Completion of ELS 112   
• Degree received from an Exempt country listed below AND have attended that school for at least two years

Exempt Countries: 

• Antigua
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada(except Quebec)
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tobago
• Trinidad
• United Kingdom
• United States
• US Virgin Islands

You must demonstrate that you or your sponsor have the available finances to meet the educational and living expenses while you are a student at Illinois Tech.

Please note: the minimum dollar amount may vary based on any merit-based scholarships awarded.

To fulfill this requirement, you must complete the Financial Affidavit of Support for F-1 Students (international first-year and transfer students) form or the Financial Affidavit of Support for J-1 Students (international visiting and exchange students) form.

International First-Year and Transfer Students

Financial Affidavit of Support for F-1 Students

International Visiting and Exchange Students 

Financial Affidavit of Support for J-1 Students

Either have a bank official sign and stamp Section IV of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form OR submit an official bank statement demonstrating the amount of available funds. This bank statement must be on bank letterhead and signed and stamped by a bank official.

It is important to remember the following things when submitting your Financial Affidavit of Support Form:

• Proof of finances can only be demonstrated by funds in liquid cash accounts. Information such as salary letters, investment accounts, or stocks does not qualify as proof of availability of funds.
• If you are submitting proof of financing in an account that is not in your own name, you will need to have your sponsor complete Section III of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form.
• You may submit bank statements from two or more sponsors. However, each sponsor must complete Section III of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form.
• The bank statement you provide must clearly show the currency of the funds in the account.
• The Financial Affidavit of Support Form is not needed for review purposes and can be sent in after you receive your admission and scholarship decision.
• If you have been admitted and received a scholarship, you may deduct your scholarship amount from the total amount of funds you are asked to demonstrate on the Financial Affidavit of Support Form.

Your Financial Affidavit of Support Form can be uploaded to your Application Tracker once you have submitted your application. You can only upload one document, so you should combine your Financial Affidavit of Support Form and bank statement into one PDF before uploading.

Please note: this information is required to issue the Immigration and Customs Enforcement form I-20 or DS-2019, which you will use to obtain an F1 or J-1 visa.

Most international students who wish to enter the United States for educational purposes must apply for a student visa. Degree-seeking international students at Illinois Tech will receive a Form I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa, whereas non-degree seeking international students (visiting and exchange students) will receive a Form DS-2019 to apply for a J-1 student visa.

Students must complete the following steps to receive their immigration documents and receive a visa to study at Illinois Tech.

Please note: Canadian citizens have a different process outlined below.

1. Submit Required Documentation

All students must submit a copy of their passport and a Financial Affidavit of Support Form to receive an I-20 or DS-2019. You may upload a copy of your passport and Financial Affidavit of Support Form to your Application Tracker. Upon admission and submission of required documents, I-20s and DS-2019’s are generally processed within five business days.

Students who are currently studying in the United States will need to request a SEVIS transfer release from their current institution before we are able to issue an I-20. SEVIS records can only be available to one school at a time, so students must finish their studies at their current institution before being eligible to transfer their SEVIS record and receive an I-20 from Illinois Tech.

2. Obtain a Form I-20/Form DS-2019

Please make sure that your name, biographical information, and program information are all listed correctly on your I-20 or DS-2019, as this information will be used for the visa stamp in your passport.

3. Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

All new students must pay a SEVIS fee before the United States Department of State will issue a visa. We recommend paying this fee as soon as you receive your immigration documents to allow sufficient time for the fee payment to be updated in your SEVIS record. Upon payment, you will be issued a receipt that you must bring to your visa appointment.

4. Schedule a Visa Interview

We recommend applying for your visa as early as possible, as interview appointment and visa processing wait times vary by country. The steps of applying for a visa and scheduling an interview vary based on the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.

You will need the following information to schedule your interview:

Full university name: Illinois Institute of Technology
University address: 10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616
School Code (for I-20’s): CHI214F00379000
Program Number (for DS-2019’s): P-1-00266

5. Attend Visa Interview

The documents you are required to bring to your visa interview will depend on your location, so you should confirm with your local embassy or consulate what documentation is required. In general, you should prepare to bring the following documents:

• Passport valid for at least six months into the future
• Original Illinois Tech I-20 or DS-2019
• Official Illinois Tech admission letter (included in your I-20 or DS-2019 package)
• Completed and signed visa application forms
• Photograph(s) in the required format
• Receipt of SEVIS I-901 fee payment
• Proof of funding sufficient to cover your tuition and living expenses during the first year of your program. You may demonstrate this by providing the original versions of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form and bank statement you submitted to receive your immigration documents.

For more visa tips, please visit NAFSA for points to remember when applying for a student visa.

6. Arrive in the United States

You are allowed to enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. Make sure to carry your immigration documents (passport with visa, I-20 or DS-2019, financial documents) with you in your carry-on luggage. You should report to Illinois Tech’s Office of Global Services to check in within two days of arriving in Chicago. If you have an F-1 visa, you will have a “grace period” of 60 days following your program end date to leave the U.S. If you are a J-1 student, you will be required to leave the U.S. within 30 days of your program completion date.

CANADIAN CITIZENS

Canadian citizens do not need student visas to study in the U.S.; however, you do need to obtain an I-20 or DS-2019 from Illinois Tech. As soon as you receive your immigration documents you should pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.

When you cross the border to study in the U.S. you will need to provide the officer at the port of entry:

• Valid passport
• Original Illinois Tech I-20 or DS-2019
• Receipt of SEVIS I-901 fee payment
• Proof of funding sufficient to cover your tuition and living expenses during the first year of your program; you may demonstrate this by providing the original versions of the Financial Affidavit of Support Form and bank statement you submitted to receive your immigration documents.
• Proof of your ties to Canada

For additional information, please contact the Illinois Tech Office of Global Services at icenter@iit.edu.