Admission to the Program in American Language Studies (PALS) is open to all students who are seventeen years of age and have completed their high school education or its equivalent.
Please note that separate applications are required for admission to degree programs at Rutgers University or other universities. Admission to the PALS program does not guarantee admission to a degree program at Rutgers University.
PALS is authorized to issue Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status.
Click here if you require an I-20 for F-1 Student Status
Click here if you DO NOT require an I-20 for F-1 Student Status
Students requiring an I-20 must submit the following documents:
- Application for Enrollment 2012-2013
- Application for Enrollment 2011-2012
- Financial Guarantee Form signed by the student’s financial sponsor.
- An original bank statement from the student’s financial sponsor. The statement must be in English and include the account holder’s name and the amount of money in the account. A minimum of $11,000 must be available to the student for estimated expenses for two sessions of study at PALS.
- A $300 deposit toward tuition. If a student cannot attend PALS after they have applied, $100 of this deposit is refundable. Click here for acceptable methods of payment.
- An I-20 can be sent directly to the student’s home country by Express mail for an additional $55.
The completed application must be sent by mail or submitted in person. Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted. PALS may only issue an I-20 for a student who has submitted original application documents.
**In order for a student to arrive at PALS in time for the beginning of the session, competed application documents should be sent at least two months before the start date of the session.
Once you have received an I-20 form from PALS, you must go to the US Embassy in your home country to apply for an F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Visa. To find the US embassy in your country, please visit the following website: http://usembassy.state.gov/
Students who do not wish to study at PALS on an F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Visa must submit the following documents:
- Application for Enrollment 2011-2012
- Application for Enrollment 2010-2011
- A $200 nonrefundable deposit toward tuition. Click here for acceptable methods of payment.
B-1/B-2 Visa Students
A B-1/B-2 Visa is not considered a student visa for full-time study. Students currently on a B-1/B-2 visa are only authorized to study at PALS part time. This means that a student on a B-1/B-2 visa may take classes in two of the four disciplines offered at PALS.
If you would like to study full-time at PALS, you must obtain F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status. You may not begin studying at PALS until F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status has been approved. To discuss questions regarding visa status and eligibility to study at PALS, please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Information for Transfer Students:
Students already in the United States in F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status at another school and wish to transfer to PALS will need to follow certain immigration procedures before they may begin their studies at PALS. Failure to follow these transfer procedures will result in the loss of F-1 status.
Students transferring to PALS must submit:
- Application for Enrollment 2011-2012
- Application for Enrollment 2010-2011
- Financial Guarantee Form signed by the student’s financial sponsor
- An original bank statement from the student’s financial sponsor. The statement must be in English and include the account holder’s name and the amount of money in the account. A minimum of $11,000 must be available to the student for estimated expenses for two sessions of study at PALS.
- An International Student Advisor’s Report, completed and signed by the advisor at your current school.
- A $300 deposit toward tuition. If a student cannot attend PALS after they have applied, $100 of this deposit is refundable. Click here for acceptable methods of payment.
- Copies of passport, F-1 visa stamp, current I-20 and current I-94 card.
An I-20 can be issued once your current school has transferred your SEVIS record to PALS. Generally, transfer I-20s will be given to students at the placement test.
*If you will travel outside the US before you begin classes at PALS, you must pick up your PALS I-20 before you leave or make arrangements for the I-20 to be mailed to you. You will need your PALS I-20 to return to the United States.
**If you do not complete the transfer before you start classes, please remember that the transfer must be completed within 15 days of the first day of classes, or you will be out of status.
If you have questions about transferring your F-1 status to PALS, please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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