8 Quick Steps to our campus
As a prospective student of RCCGNA Seminary, you would have to complete the following steps:
STEP 1: Apply online
STEP 2: Receive admission letter by email
STEP 3: Fulfill financial requirements and documentation.
- Application fee – $50, except doctorate which is $75
- Administrative fee – $250
- A refundable deposit equal to 30% of the 1st Year Tuition or $2,500 (whichever is higher).
- Submit the Affidavit of Support and Financial Sponsor to process your I-20
STEP 4: Receive your I-20
STEP 5: Pay SEVIS
STEP 6: Schedule F-1 Visa Appointment
STEP 7: Apply for Student Visa
STEP 8: Arrive in Dallas Texas!
Apply Online
The application can be completed online for our non-degree, associates, undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs. You can apply as an international student through our website at Apply as International Student. The application fee is $75 for Doctoral or $50 for Non-Doctoral programs.
- To apply visit Apply Online
- Select either “Apply for Undergraduate or Masters” or “Apply for Doctoral Program”.
- Fill the application form, and pay the application fee for us to start processing.
Your “application” will be processed as received and a welcome email will be sent to students advising them to expect their admission letter. (It is important you check our website academic pages to identify the admission requirements relevant to your program.)
Receive admission letter by email
Meanwhile, your application and documentation will be reviewed; where the application passes the process rubrics, an Admission Letter is issued. This admission letter will specify the Cost of the Program for which you are admitted. The letter will also specify the level of available funds required to cover Tuition & Fees, Living Expenses, and any other incidental for the first year of the program.
Student Account (Populi) is created for you.
Additionally, an account will be created for the student on the College’s Learning Management Portal, and a Unique student ID will be generated and communicated to the student.
Congratulations on your admittance to RCCGNA Seminary
You have been admitted into the RCCGNA Seminary as an international student and should have received an admission letter CONGRATULATION! Now, what next?
What Next?
Fulfill Financial Requirement & Documentation
After receiving your letter of admission, the Finance department will charge the student the following:
- Application fee of $75 for Doctoral or $50 for No-Doctoral programs. (If this has not been paid during the application process.)
- An Administrative Fee of $250 for all enrolled students.
- A refundable deposit equal to 30% of the 1st Year Tuition or $2,500 (whichever is higher). Please note that a student awarded a partial scholarship will be required to pay this refundable deposit now and the balance of their Tuition and fee when s(he) arrives in the United States. Such scholarship will be applied to the student’s account at the end. The deposit can only be refunded after the Session commences subject to Visa denial or any other reason(s) properly communicated and acceptable to the College not later than September 10, 2021.
- Submit your financial statements documents.
- Bank Statement
- Sponsor’s Statement of Support for International Student Download File
- Sponsor’s Affidavit of Support Download File
Personal and family bank statement must include:
- 6 months bank statement with the bank letterhead and signed by a bank official
- The bank statement must identify the account holder’s name, type of account, bank name, and branch.
- The statement must be issued within the last six months from the first day of trimester admission.
- Should contain the specific amount of money available.
Family members who submit financial support documents on your behalf must also provide a letter of sponsorship confirming:
- They are willing to support you financially.
- The duration of their support.
- The amount of support.
- What their relationship is to you.
After a student has paid all the fees above, Form I-20 will be issued carrying on it, SEVIS ID. That SEVIS ID will be used to pay SEVIS Fee at designated points such as Western Union. The SEVIS Fee goes directly to the Government of the United States of America, and it must be paid before seeking an interview date for a Visa.
RCCGNA Seminary requires proof of financial documentation to issue a new or updated Form I-20. This document should be submitted to the RCCGNA Seminary. For additional information contact [email protected].
Please carefully go through the information provided below and submit the financial information requested. Beware that delaying submission of these documents will hold up the processing of your Form I-20.
- Remember to keep the original copies of your I-20 and other important documents. You will need these documents during the visa application.
- All submitted documentation must be in English or include certified translations along with original documents.
- RCCGNA Seminary may also request further financial documentation, if necessary. In addition, original copies of the document may be requested at RCCGNA Seminary’s discretion.
- RCCGNA Seminary is required by U.S. government regulations to verify that international students have available funds to cover tuition and fees.
For International Students Outside the U.S.
If you are an international student applying outside the U.S., the following steps pertain to you.
- Sign in to your Profile in Populi.
- Pay The Deposit To Your Account under “Financial.”
- Obtain Bank Statement (Bal. $16,000 US / N7,000,000 NG).
- Complete Affidavit of Support, and Statement of Support – Form I-134.
- Sponsor Statement for International Students.
- Provide financial documents and pay stipulated charges.
- Once all the charges required are paid for, you will receive Form I-20 from RCCGNA Seminary through physical mail.
For International Students in the U.S.
If you are an international student applying inside the U.S., the following steps pertain to you.
- Sign in to your Profile in Populi
- Pay The Deposit To Your Account under “Financial”
- Obtain Bank Statement ($16,000).
- Complete Affidavit of Support/Statement of Support Form I-134
- Sponsor Statement for International Students.
- Provide financial documents and pay stipulated charges.
- If you are transferring from another academic institution with an F visa status, you will be prompted to provide proof of financial documentation when you apply for your Form I-20. If you leave the U.S. before starting the “SEVIS Transfer ” process is completed, you will not be receiving a transfer Form I-20 but rather you will receive a new attendance I-20. You may also be required to pay for a new SEVIS I-901 Fee if that is the case.
- Once all the charges required are paid for, you will receive the Form I-20 from RCCGNA Seminary through physical mail.
Receiving the Form I-20
You need to provide a physical address to RCCGNA Seminary This physical address is where your I-20 will be sent. Therefore ensure that the address you provide the RCCGNA Seminary is valid. Allow two weeks of processing time in addition to the time it would take for the mail to reach your address. Remember to keep the original copy of your I-20 safe.
Sample of Form I-20
Congratulations on receiving your Form I-20
What Next?
Getting an F-1 Student visa is the next step you need to take. If you have received an I-20 you should be making plans to apply for an F-1 visa as.
Steps to getting an F-1 visa include:
- Pay for SEVIS ID.
- Hold a valid passport.
- Set up an appointment with the U.S. Consulate in the U.S. Embassy.
- Attend your visa interview with the U.S. Consular officer.
Pay for SEVIS I-901
After getting your I-20, you should make payment for your SEVIS 1-901 and collect your receipt. The Form I-20 issued will carry on it, SEVIS ID that will be used to pay SEVIS Fee at designated points such as Western Union.
How to pay SEVIS using Western Union
- Fill out Form I-901 online at www.fmjfee.com. A payment coupon will be generated upon completion of the form. You MUST fill out the Form I-901 online prior to visiting your local Western Union. The generated unique coupon number is what you will need to validate and process your payment at Western Union. You CANNOT submit payment via Western Union without the coupon number.
- You do not have to print the coupon to bring to Western Union; you just need the unique coupon number in order to submit your payment.
- If a third party is paying your I-901 Fee on your behalf, you will need to provide them with your coupon number to enter in the Account Number field of the Western Union Quick Pay/Quick Collect Form.”
- Note that not all countries where Western Union services are available offer the Quick Pay™ service. To confirm that the Quick Collect™/Quick Pay™ service is available in a location near you, find your nearest Western Union branch by visiting https://location.westernunion.com/ or calling 1-800-325-6000.
- Example of the Payment Coupon
- Print a copy of the payment coupon, or copy the coupon code, and take it to your local Western Union.
- Fill out the Quick Collect/Quick Pay Form according to the information found at the bottom of the printed coupon. Example below:
- Company Name (or Code City): SEVISFEE or SEVISFEEMO
- Account Number: Coupon Number (ex: 010222013872390)
- Amount: 350.00
**Please note that the payment amount may differ according your specific visa type.
- Present the coupon and your payment to the Western Union Agent for processing.
Example of the Western Union using the Send Money/Pay Bill Form.
| Field | Directions |
|---|---|
| Your Information: |
|
| I Want To: | Select the Pay a Bill option |
| Company Name: | SEVISFEE |
| Account Number: | Write your coupon number from your online payment coupon |
| Amount (dollars): | Enter the dollar amount as it appears on your payment coupon
A SEVIS Fee is not required for the following:
|
| The information in the sender block is your information – do not copy the information from the sample. | |
Example of Western Union using Quick Pay Form
| Field | Directions |
|---|---|
| Pay To Name (or Code City): | SEVISFEE |
| Account Number: | Write your coupon number from your online payment coupon |
| Send Amount (Dollars): | Enter the dollar amount as it appears on your payment coupon
A SEVIS Fee is not required for the following:
|
| Your Information: |
|
| The information in the sender block is your information – do not copy the information from the sample. | |
Western Union Payment linked to FmjFee Account
Once successful, your payment will be linked to your Form I-901 and your online payment confirmation will be available immediately. You will be able to go to your Visa Appointment 2-3 days after your payment has posted.
The SEVIS fee goes directly to the Government of the United States of America, and it must be paid before seeking an interview date for a Visa. Check the current status of SEVIS Fee payment at the Department of Homeland Security – Form I-901 (fmjfee.com) (It will show ‘Paid’ If payment has been updated).
{Make an alert on the price (the prices might change so we need to update it separately from the content The price for SEVIS is $350 currently}
Schedule F-1 Visa Appointment
After receiving your I-20 you are advised to schedule a visa interview appointment with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate that is closest to your location. You can look up all the US Embassies Abroad online. You will also find information instructing you on how to schedule a visa interview and clarification of documents required for a visa interview on each consulate’s website. You will have to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (Form DS-160).
It is important that you make preparations before the day set for your visa interview. While a visa interview is unlike a job interview, this is still an important journey in your life, one that you have put so much money and time into. So be sure to reach your interview early. You will need to prepare the following documents for your interview:
- An original copy of your Form I-20.
- Your admission letter or proof of registration.
- A copy of the financial documents you submitted to the RCCGNA Seminary.
- The receipt of your SEVIS 1-901 payment.
In general, you should be able to obtain the visa if you present to the Consul the Form I-20, your admittance letter or proof of registration, and a copy of the financial documents you submitted to RCCGNA Seminary. You should bring along the receipt of your SEVIS I-901 fee to the Consulate visa appointment.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need a visa from the American Consul, but you must present your Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) when you enter the U.S.
Receive your Student Visa
Getting a visa is a must if you want entry into the US. There are different categories of visas for entry into the US as a nonimmigrant. The visa categories relevant to students seeking to study in the US are the F-1 visa.
The information here is specific to RCCGNA Seminary policy and therefore may not apply to students attending other schools. For a complete list of non-immigrant visa types, please refer to the DOS website. Below is a list of the following student visa types:
F-1 visa:
The F-1 visa is for full-time academic students. You will have to provide an I-20 to be eligible for this visa. The funding for your school would come from personal or family funds. You must remain a full-time student during the academic year to avoid going out of status.
Working on Campus
After 9 months of entering the U.S. with F-1 status, students are eligible to apply for off-campus work permission. If your academic program is at least 12 months long, you are generally eligible for at least 12 months total of Optional Practical Training (OPT) throughout the duration of your program. If you use any of this time before graduation, then it is deducted from the 12 month total. Most students prefer to save this time to use for working in the U.S. after receiving their degree.
You are allowed an additional 60 days in the U.S. to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school after completing your course of studies described on the I-20 and your OPT.
F-2 visa (dependent):
This visa option is available for spouses and/or children under the age of 21 who wish to accompany or join the primary student (F) visa holder in the U.S. for the duration of his/her stay. F-2 visa dependents are not eligible to study full-time or work under any circumstances.
Arriving in the U.S.
After getting your visa you should begin making travel arrangements to the U.S. Your arrival date in the U.S. must be no more than 30 days before the start date of your academic program. Bring along your visa, your I-20, and any other necessary documents when traveling. Keep these documents in your person and the bags, you check-in.
When you arrive in the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will gather your arrival/departure information automatically from your electronic travel record in the form of an electronic Form I-94 admission record.
The number on the Form I-94 record will be your Immigration Admission Number. The I-94 record is generally marked D/S or duration of status by the Immigration Officer. The D/S means that you will be in legal status as long as you are a student registered full-time and pursuing the same degree specified on your Form I-20.
Please, pay attention to the completion date that appears on your Form I-20. If you ignore the date and let your form expire, you will lose your legal status. Likewise, if you realize that you will not be able to complete the program by that date set on your Form I-20, you should contact RCCGNA Seminary administration at least 60 days before the Form I-20 expires to apply for an extension.
All new international students are required to check in with the RCCGNA Seminary upon arrival. We will verify your status as a student and have you ready for your classes. We look forward to seeing you.
