How to Apply

The ALI provides a certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status for students who wish to apply for student visas in their home country.

All applicants must be graduates of a recognized high school or secondary school and must be 18 years of age or older. The program is primarily designed for serious, academically motivated students preparing for university study in the United States.
All applicants must submit our application form, a non-refundable application fee, and deposit, along with a certified financial statement less than twelve months old. (Financial statements must be on the bank or institutions's letterhead stationary, have contact information, financial institution official's name, title and signature. We will accept copies of documents by fax or email attachments. Applicants may retain the original for their visa interview.)
Applicants who want a "Letter of Conditional Eligibility" for admission to San Francisco State University must also submit:
- Undergraduate Students: original certified English language translations of their high school grades and diploma and records of any college or university work completed in their country.
- Graduate Students: original certified English language translations of their university grades and evidence of award of degree. Graduate students must also gain departmental admission to graduate programs, and must contact the individual departments to find out if there are additional admissions requirements for specific programs.
Students who do not require a letter of conditional eligibility before they begin their studies at the ALI can still be considered for admission to San Francisco State University once they have supplied the documents described above. Many students at the ALI begin their language study before a determination of their eligibility for Admission to SF State has been made.

To apply for ALI admission, you must submit the following:

ALI application form
Application fee of $50 and tuition deposit of $200 for Spring 2009, total of $250 payable to: SF State - CEL/ALI.
An official bank letter:
Must be:
• In English
• Less than twelve months old
• On bank letterhead/stationery
• A minimum of US $28,000 for Spring 2009.
• Signed by a bank official
• FAX or e-mail attachments are acceptable

Sponsor's Letter of Financial Support
Must have:
• Sponsor signature
• A statement saying sponsor will support you during your studies at ALI

The sponsor letter is only required of students whose financial support comes from a sponsor.
Additional $80 fee for express mail service. (If you would like your admission letter and Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Student Status to be sent by express mail, please include this fee. Otherwise, we will send all documents by air mail.)

The American Language Institute can accept only a limited number of students for each session. Therefore, students should apply as early as possible.