EAP: Student Resources and Policies

Resources

All Students

New Students

School Records

All students interested in applying to any U.S. university must turn in complete, official high school, college or university transcripts.

Undergraduate Students

  1. If you sent us your diploma and transcripts with your ALI application, but the diploma or grade report was printed before your graduation date, you will have to ask your school for another diploma and transcript that was printed after your graduation date.
  2. If you have attended some university classes, you also need to bring your most current official university or college transcript.
  3. Official English translation of your diploma and transcript. (If your school does not print your transcripts in English for you.)

Graduate Students

  1. Two official university transcripts that include your diploma, graduation certificate and a record of all courses you completed and grades in sealed envelopes. An official English translation of transcripts if the original is not in English.
  2. Please check the SF State Graduate Studies website for other requirements and deadlines for admission to your major.

Medical Records

Bring medical records showing your immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

Transportation from San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the closest international airport to San Francisco State University.

Shared-Ride Vans

Shared-ride vans provide service between SFO and passenger-specified locations in shared ride vans. Depending on the number of passengers, shared-ride vans may make multiple stops.

Passengers without prior reservations are required to check-in at the Shared-Ride Van monitor located at the Arrivals Level information booth of each terminal prior to proceeding to the Shared Ride Van location. However, passengers are advised to make reservations for service after 11 p.m.

Pick-up Locations:

Domestic Terminals - pick-up on the Arrivals Level terminal center island.
International Terminal - pick-up on the Arrivals Level roadway center island.

Taxis

Taxis depart from the designated taxi zones located at the roadway center islands, on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals. Uniformed taxi coordinators are stationed at the taxi zones from 7 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. to assist passengers with questions or concerns. Ramp accessible taxis are available. Please contact the taxi coordinator to request a ramp accessible taxi, or phone *1191 from any airport courtesy phone.

Taxi fare from the San Francisco airport to the university is approximately $45; the cost from the airport to downtown San Francisco is approximately $55. Taxis depart from the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level outside all terminals at the center island. A $4 exit surcharge is included in all San Francisco taxicab meter fares for rides originating from SFO. 

I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility) Form

The I-20 form is an official U.S. government form for F-1 (student visa) students. A future international student must have an I-20 made by a SEVP certified school in order to become an F-1 (student) visa student. The I-20 form is proof that you have been accepted to a school and it has important information to: apply for a visa, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and enter the U.S.

Your I-20 form will have a SEVIS identification number on the upper right hand side directly above the barcode. SEVIS ID numbers are an N followed by 9 numbers. When you arrive in the U.S., you will show your I-20 form to the immigration officer at the port of entry.

SEVIS Fee & Payment

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) requires international students to complete an I-901 form (SEVIS fee) and pay its fee. This fee is used to support and manage SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). When you pay your SEVIS fee, it is recorded in the SEVIS system. However, you must give a I-901 (SEVIS) fee receipt when you apply for an F1 student visa. For more information:

F-1 Student (Nonimmigrant) Visa

An F-1 (student) visa is a travel document in a passport which a U.S. embassy or consulate gives to allow a student to enter and study within its country. As an international student, you will need an F-1 (student) visa to enter the United States to study. You should apply for the visa at your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country; you should use the I-20 form from the school which you will attend. If you have been accepted by several language programs, you should not apply for an F-1 student visa until you decide which school you will attend. U.S. Immigration requires students to only use the I-20 from the school that they plan to attend to enter the U.S. or to apply for a new F-1 student visa.

How to Apply

To apply for an F-1 visa, you will need to schedule an appointment at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Visa application processes and required documents are different for each U.S. Embassy/Consulate, so it is important to check with the Embassy or Consulate about its requirements. See a list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Common required documents which are usually required for a student visa application:

  • Non-immigrant visa application form (DS-160)
  • Current passport, valid for at least six months into the future from the student’s arrival in the U.S.
  • I-20 form (for F-1 students)
  • Financial documents (bank statements, scholarship/grant/sponsorship letters, sponsor letters, etc.) which show you have enough money to cover the expenses during the student’s U.S.
  • Evidence of student’s strong economic, social, family or career ties to home country (proof of permanent residence outside the U.S., preferably in your home country, proof of property, presence of immediate family, future employment offers, etc.)
  • Visa application fee receipt
  • One passport 2 inches x 2 inches photograph
  • The SEVIS (I-901) fee receipt

A brief interview with a consular officer may be required. Be prepared to answer question about:

  • Your reasons for coming to the U.S. to attend an Intensive English Program;
  • Your ties to your home county;
  • Your future plans or goals after completing the English language program.

For more information about F-1 (Student) Visa, see Student Visas.

SEVIS

SEVIS is an electronic system which gives information to the U.S. Government and follows all F-1 student immigration history. Schools are required to use SEVIS for the following reasons:

  • Creating I-20 forms for students
  • Keeping current information and records on each F-1 international student

For more information: SEVIS website

I-94 Number

An I-94 number is your arrival/departure record given by the US DHS (Department of Homeland Security). When you arrive into the US, you will receive a paper with instructions on how to go to US Customs & Border Patrol’s website to complete an online form and receive your I-94 number.

For more information, see I-94 Automation.

SEVIS Transfers

It is your (the student) responsibility to tell your previous school that your are transferring from another school. You will need to show your previous school a copy of the new school’s admission letter. You have 60 days from the last day of your previous school’s program to ask your previous school’s International Student Advisor to release your SEVIS record to your new school. Once your SEVIS transfer is complete, your new school will issue a new I-20 for you. In addition, it will be your responsibility to follow-up with the school to complete your transfer process.

The SEVIS fee is not required when you transfer schools within the U.S., change to another degree program or level, request a program extension, or renew your student visa. If you are in lawful status prior to travelling internationally and have less than a 5 month break in your studies, you will not be required to pay the SEVIS fee.

Important Websites:

Foreign Consular Offices in the United States 
Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

EAP Policies

Refund Directions - Refunds are not automatic

  1. Make an appointment to speak with a CGE Student Advisor.
  2. Complete an ALI-EAP refund form.
  3. Return the completed refund form to the CGE Office formerly known as ALI Office (HUM 101) or c before your program’s deadline.
  4. Level 90 (Gateway students in fall and spring only) must also withdraw from their SF State course before the SF State deadline. See details on the Open University Registration Policies page.

Spring 2024 Refund Tables

Spring 2024 16-Week Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until January 23, 2024 100% No refund
Until February 12, 2024 60% No refund
February 13, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Spring 2024 8-Week A Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until January 23, 2024 100% No refund
Until February 2, 2024 60% No refund
February 3, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Spring 2024 8-Week B Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until March 17, 2024 100% No refund
Until March 27, 2024 60% No refund
March 28, 2024 and after 0% No refund

Level 90 (Gateway) students must also withdraw from their SF State course in addition to withdrawing from the ALI-EAP. For withdrawal deadlines and tuition refund information for SF State courses, see Open University Registration Policies.

 

 

Summer 2024 Refund Tables

Summer 2024 10-Week Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until June 2, 2024 100% No refund
Until June 14, 2024 60% No refund
June 15, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Summer 2024 5-Week A Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until June 2, 2024 100% No refund
Until June 8, 2024 60% No refund
June 9, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Summer 2024 10-Week B Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until July 7, 2024 100% No refund
Until July 13, 2024 60% No refund
July 14, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

 

Fall 2024 Refund Tables

Fall 2024 16-Week Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until August 20, 2024 100% No refund
Until September 9, 2024 60% No refund
September 10, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Fall 2024 8-Week A Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until August 20, 2024 100% No refund
Until August 30, 2024 60% No refund
August 31, 2024 and after 0% No refund

 

Fall 2024 8-Week B Term | English for Academic Preparation (ALI-EAP)
Date Tuition Refund Application Fee & Deposit
Until October 13, 2024 100% No refund
Until October 23, 2024 60% No refund
October 24, 2024 and after 0% No refund

Level 90 (Gateway) students must also withdraw from their SF State course in addition to withdrawing from the ALI-EAP. For withdrawal deadlines and tuition refund information for SF State courses, see Open University Registration Policies.

 

 

There are no premium refunds, except when the student withdraws from school and permanently returns to his or her home country, in which case a pro rata refund (for the number of full months remaining in the term) will be issued only upon request.

Attending and participating in class are important for successful language learning. If a student misses class, the student is unable to practice and learn English and his/her grades will be affected.

American Language Institute (ALI) - English for Academic Preparation (EAP) Rules for Success

  • ATTENDANCE: Attend all classes.
  • BE ON TIME: Come to class on-time.
  • FINISH TASKS: Complete all class and homework assignments on time and take all class tests.
  • PARTICIPATE: Participate actively in class.
  • COMMUNICATE: Talk to a teacher or advisor whenever there is a problem that slows down or stops learning.

In addition, ALI-EAP and the US Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) rules require students to attend class full time on a regular, daily basis. Students are expected to arrive on time to each class, prepared for the day’s lesson.

USCIS requires students to be in school full time. This means that students need to have a good attendance record at the school at which they are attending. If a student has poor attendance record at the school, USCIS requires the school report the student’s attendance problem directly to them through its online SEVIS system. If a school reports to USCIS that the student has an attendance problem, then s/he will be out-of-status. Thereafter, the student would need to apply for reinstatement (asking USCIS to return his/her status back and to explain why s/he did not attend class full time) or do re-entry reinstatement. If USCIS denies the student’s reinstatement application, the student will need to leave the US.

Lateness

  • Tardy means being late to class.
  • If you are five (5) minutes late to class or leave class early, the teacher will mark you as tardy.
  • After a class break, if you are five (5) minutes late to class the teacher will mark you as tardy.
  • Being marked tardy three (3) times in the same class will count as being absent for one (1) hour.
  • If you are late to class for more than 15 minutes, the teacher will mark you absent for the hour.

Poor Attendance

If an ALI-EAP student has poor attendance, several steps could happen:

16 Weeks - Poor Attendance Consequences
Hours of Absence What Will Happen
0 - 15 Good standing if you pass your classes
16 - 22 Receive a written warning
More than 22 Must meet with advisor and may receive an Academic Probation warning.
More than 40 Will be put on Academic Probation and could lead to loss of F-1 visa status and dismissal from the ALI-EAP

 

8 Weeks - Poor Attendance Consequences
Hours of Absence What Will Happen
0 - 8 Good standing if you pass your classes
9 - 11 Receive a written warning
More than 11 Must meet with advisor and may receive an Academic Probation warning.
More than 20 Will be put on Academic Probation and could lead to loss of F-1 visa status and dismissal from the ALI-EAP

 

Summer 10 Weeks - Poor Attendance Consequences
Hours of Absence What Will Happen
0 - 12 Good standing if you pass your classes
14 - 24 Receive a written warning
More than 26 Must meet with advisor and may receive an Academic Probation warning.
More than 32 Will be put on Academic Probation and could lead to loss of F-1 visa status and dismissal from the ALI-EAP

 

Summer 5 Weeks - Poor Attendance Consequences
Hours of Absence What Will Happen
0 - 6 Good standing if you pass your classes
7 - 12 Receive a written warning
More than 13 Must meet with advisor and may receive an Academic Probation warning.
More than 16 Will be put on Academic Probation and could lead to loss of F-1 visa status and dismissal from the ALI-EAP

 

Academic Probation

A student on academic probation must attend their ALI-EAP class daily. Students who do not attend daily and do not have a doctor’s (from a medical doctor, M.D.) note for their absences will be:

  • terminated in SEVIS. This means that the student will lose their F-1 visa status and must apply for reinstatement or do re-entry reinstatement and may have difficulty transferring to another school.
  • dismissed from the ALI-EAP.
  • unable to study at the ALI-EAP next semester or the following semester.
  • unable to take ALI-EAP’s TOEFL test(s) and use the ALI-EAP TOEFL for SF State admission.

First Day of Class Attendance

All students MUST attend the first day of classes for each semester they are enrolled in.

Absense for Medical Reasons

Short Term:

  • A student who is sick (or has a medical issue) for more than three continuous days is required to see a doctor, and bring a doctor’s note (from a medical doctor, M.D.) to the CGE office.
  • Students are responsible for all missed assignments, quizzes, and tests and are required to contact each of their teachers directly.

Long Term:

  • A student with a continual illness (or medical issue) must bring a doctor’s note (from a medical doctor, M.D.) for the days they are absent to the CGE office (HUM 101) or globaled@sfsu.edu.
  • If absences continue beyond 15 hours, students will have to meet with a CGE Advisor. The student may be asked to:
    • be on a medical leave.
    • return to his home country
    • If the student continues to miss class without a doctor’s note (from a medical doctor, M.D.), the student’s I-20 will be terminated in SEVIS (Immigration’s online system). This means that the student will lose his F-1 visa status and must do reinstatement.

Absence for Business

If you need to be absent for two or more days, you must speak to an advisor at least one week before you plan to be absent. The ALI-EAP may or may not allow the absence.

Religious Holidays

The ALI-EAP instructors will make reasonable assistance to students who wish to observe religious holidays when such observances require students to be absent from class. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their ALI-EAP teachers in writing letting him or her know that they will miss class due to the specific religious holiday. The ALI-EAP instructor will make every effort to honor the student request without penalty and of the student to make up the work missed.

Missed Classwork and Homework

It is the student’s responsibility to learn what homework and class assignments were missed due to any absence. Each ALI-EAP teacher will have policies for communication with students and classmates.

Class Field Trips

Class field trips are required academic events that students must attend. Field trips are related to the student’s coursework.

ALI-EAP students will have both a Midterm and Final examination or assignment in every class. These exams help students see the progress you have made in your English studies.

There are no make-ups for missed Midterm and Final examinations and assignments (for example: oral presentations). If you miss an examination, you will earn a zero (Ø) for the missed examination which will be averaged into your grade for the class. You will not be able to ask your teacher to take your test after you missed taking your test.

You will receive a letter grade for each class and this is what each letter grades means:

Grades and Meaning
Grade Meaning
A Excellent work (Pass)
B Good work (Pass)
C Adequate work (Pass)
D Unsatisfactory work (Not Pass)
F Failing or unacceptable work (Not Pass)

Class Level Progress

Normally, a student will continue to the next highest level if final grades and attendance are satisfactory.
Passing grades are: A, B and C. Non-passing grades are: D and F. Sometimes a student who attends class continually and does all the class work still has trouble passing his classes. If the student passes his classes, the student can then move up to the next level for the following semester. If a student does not pass all of his classes, then the student will have to repeat his ALI-EAP classes in the same level for the following semester.

Class Level Progress for Repeated Classes

A student who is repeating a level must pass his classes the second time studying in that level. If the student passes his repeated classes, the student can then move up to the next level for the following semester. If a student does not pass all of his repeated classes, then he will not be able to return to the ALI-EAP for the following semester. ALI-EAP levels can only be repeated once.

ALI-EAP classrooms are safe places for learning. This means that ALI-EAP students need to be polite and respectful to each other and to their teachers. It is your responsibility to help keep our classroom a safe place to learn English and to share ideas. ALI-EAP will dismiss any student who acts in a way that is harmful or threatening.

At the end of an ALI-EAP semester, students who have followed ALI-EAP classroom and SF State policies may register for the next semester for further study at the ALI-EAP. Students MUST pay a $200 deposit BEFORE the deposit deadline.

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