Accepted International Students

Read all of the information provided, which covers the I–20 Request Form, an estimate of expenses, and employment regulations for international students.

Important Visa Information

You will need an I–20 Form from Berklee in order to apply for an F-1 Student Visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy. Please read the following steps carefully.

Requirements to Get an I–20 Form

You must be fully accepted and have paid a deposit/confirmation fee for one of Berklee's full-time or 12-week full credit summer programs. Students with provisional acceptance to the college must fulfill their provisional requirements prior to being sent an I–20 Form.

Financial Documentation. (All documentation must be in English). Full-time students must provide proof of financial support for a nine-month period of study.

Documentation should include the following:

• Berklee I–20 Request Form, which is provided after you have been fully accepted to the college.
• Bank statement from a parent/sponsor showing proof of funds (in U.S. dollars) in the amount shown on the estimate of expenses.
• Letter of support from a parent/sponsor or an I-134 Affidavit of Support

Provide proof of support for all sources of funding. (If you are receiving support from your government or a private sponsor, include a copy of your award letter.) All sources of funding should be listed on your I-20 form.

To avoid delays and additional expenses, send the required financial documentation by the following filing dates:

Please be aware:

• It takes three to six weeks for an I–20 Form to be processed and delivered to most countries. Submit your documentation early.
• Faxed documentation is processed along with our regular mail. All mail is processed in the order it is received.
• I–20 Forms cannot be faxed.

Student Visas

You may apply for an F-1 Student Visa at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. Make sure to bring the following:

1. Letter of acceptance to Berklee College of Music.
2. I–20 Form.
3. Documentation showing sources of funding.
4. Valid passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your travel).
5. Proof that you intend to return to your own country after completing your studies.

You will be interviewed during this process in order to confirm your ability to handle English and to confirm your intentions to study at Berklee College of Music. If you are approved by the embassy or consulate, you will receive a stamp in your passport. This stamp is your student visa.

Estimate of Expenses for International Students

See the Tuition and Costs area of the website for up-to-date estimates of expenses for international students. These estimates do not include the costs of transportation to and from the U.S., vacation-related travel, or rental/shipment of an instrument, and that the following factors may also increase your expected expenses.

Employment Regulations

In order to receive an I–20 Form, you must prove that you have funds available to finance your studies and living expenses. Therefore, it is assumed that once you receive your F-1 Student Visa, you will not need to work while you are in the U.S.

There is no off-campus employment available to students during their first year of study. On-campus employment may be possible and students may apply for these positions once school has started, through the Student Employment Office. Competition for student employment positions is very high. Funds received through student employment positions cannot be used as credit to pay for tuition/fees.

After completion of one academic year (two consecutive semesters) students may apply for permission to work off-campus. This type of work permission is restricted and difficult to obtain. You should plan to have adequate funding for the length of your program, because off-campus work permission, when authorized, is for part-time (20 hours per week) work only.

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