English Language Institute Frequently Asked Questions

Follow these steps:
   1. Apply on-line
   2. Fax your credit card information using the Credit Card Authorization Form
   3. Fax your bank statement, Financial Responsibility Form to our office and then mail the original documents to us.
   4. Fax your passport to show your last name, first, name, and date of birth.

You must have an e-mail address so we can notify you the status of your application. You should check your e-mail regularly for an update.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash (in person only), and personal checks. To pay by credit card, fill out the Credit Card Authorization form and mail or fax it to our office.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE ONE MONTH BEFORE THE START OF THE SESSION

You should apply at least three months in advance of the session you choose to start your English study. Applications completed after the deadline may not give you enough time to obtain your visa depending on the visa wait time in your country. In this case, your I-20 would have to be express mailed to you at your expense. To find out the visa wait time for your country, visit: travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html. If you cannot get your visa within four weeks and still arrive in time for the beginning of school, then you should ask us to defer your I-20 until the next session.

We do not accept late applications. Please choose another session to apply for.

No. We do not require TOEFL scores.
If you need to take the TOEFL and are looking for test preparation classes, the Test Preparation Program at the University of Utah offers classes throughout the year. Get more information here.

The bank statement must be written in English and show a minimum balance of $8,900. The balance must be converted into USD. The bank statement must be printed on an official bank stationery with the account holder's name and the bank's complete address and phone information. You also need to fill out the Financial Responsibility form and send it to our office.

A Form I-20 is a government form on which we certify to the U.S. Government that you are eligible to apply for an F-1 student visa. We certify that you have met our admissions requirements, have been accepted for a full course of study, and have proven to us that you have enough money to study and live in the U.S. without working illegally.

After a school completes their admissions process, the admitted students' names and other biographic information are entered into a U.S. government database called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The SEVIS database processes the information and produces a PDF file of the I-20 that is sent back to the school via the internet. The school official (called the Designated School Official or DSO) prints and signs the I-20 and then delivers it to the student. If a student needs to update or change information on the I-20, the DSO makes these requests through SEVIS to produce a new document.

It takes up to two weeks to process your application once all of the required documents and fees are received.

Your I-20 will be mailed out from our office by regular airmail at no charge. Sometimes, it takes 10-15 business days to receive. For an additional fee, you can have your I-20 mailed to you by Express Mail service from UEMS

To have your I-20 sent using express mail rather than standard postal mail, please register and pay for the mailing costs at study.eshipglobal.com. You will receive your acceptance letter and I-20 through DHL or FedEx in 3-5 days. When you first log in, please use your four-digit ELI application number as your student I.D. number. You must use the website provided above - do not go through the DHL or FedEx website directly. The eshipglobal service will notify us once you have registered and paid a shipment.

If you've chosen regular mail service for delivery of your I-20, please be aware that it may take up to 4 weeks for your I-20 to arrive. If your I-20 has not arrived by a few days past 4 weeks, please contact us to request another copy of the I-20 to be sent via express mail.

Please be aware that once another copy of your I-20 has been prepared for mailing, you may not use the original I-20 that was initially mailed to you as it has been voided. Even if the original I-20 arrives ahead of the reprinted copy, you should wait for the reprinted copy you have requested.

Once you have received the I-20 form, you will need to apply for your F-1 (student) visa at the American Consulate in your country before coming to the U.S. For more information about student visa process, visit our How to Apply page.

No. We do not require advance tuition payment from students.

The tuition is due on the first Friday of classes.

We accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), traveler's checks, cash, and personal checks.

Tuition Policy

Tuition payment is usually required at time of registration. A Late Fee will be charged if tuition is not paid in full by the first Friday of the session. The Late Fee is 20% of the unpaid balance, up to a maximum of $60. To avoid late payment fee, you may apply for payment plan.

Drop Policy

To drop from an ELI class, a drop request must be submitted in person to the office by the first Friday of the session to avoid a tuition charge.

Refund Policy

100% of tuition is refunded if the class is dropped by the first Friday of the session. NO TUITION REFUND FOR CLASSES DROPPED AFTER THE FIRST FRIDAY.

You must make your own housing arrangements in advance in order to have a room reserved when you arrive. Here are the three options:

1. On-campus housing is available on the university campus but space is limited. Prices for the academic year range from $1579 to $2335 depending on single or double rooms. Please refer to the housing website at www.housing.utah.edu NOTE: You will need a university ID number to reserve a dormitory room. Please request an ID number form the ELI office (eli@aoce.utah.edu) if you would like to live in the dormitories.
2. Homestay program offered by OvECS Ltd. at www.azhomestay.com
3. For off-campus housing, visit the Classified Ads on The Daily Utah Chronicle at www.dailyutahchronicle.com or Off-Campus Housing at offcampushousing.utah.edu. The average cost of an off campus one-bedroom apartment is $475, a two-bedroom apartment is $600 per month.

Arrange your travel plan so you arrive a few days before the New Student Orientation. This will give you an early start to get used to local time, weather, food, etc. You may arrive to the U.S. no more than 30 days before the program start date.

Check out the Official U.S. Customs website to see what you can or cannot bring with you when entering the United States. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/

To learn more about Utah, please visit the Official website of the State of Utah page www.utah.gov/about/quickfacts.html.

For more information about the University of Utah, visit unews.utah.edu

Starting January 2013, all incoming ELI students must have health insurance coverage, immunization, and tuberculosis testing prior to attending ELI classes.

Prior to your arrival at ELI, you will be sent information on how to enroll in the student health insurance plan provided by GM Southwest. The average cost of this plan is $320 per eight-week session. Dependents may also be insured through this plan for an additional cost.

If you already have student health insurance, you may be exempt from this requirement. Previously purchased health insurance policies must meet or exceed the following requirements, or you may be required to purchase additional insurance through GM Southwest:

• Plan must include the University of Utah's University Provider Network (UPN) as an in-network provider
• A maximum benefit per person no less than $100,000 per academic year
• No more than $6,000 out of pocket maximum benefit for both in/out of network combined
• Preventive benefits as per the Affordable Care Act must be covered at 100%
• Deductibles no more than $100 in-network per individual annually and $250 in-network per family annually
• No day/visit limits on any benefits
• Minimum of 80% coinsurance for in-network
• Unlimited Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits with a minimum $10,000 principal sum
• Coverage for injuries while practicing and playing University-sponsored intramural and club sports
• Coverage for all non-intercollegiate and other non-professional sport-related injuries
• Composite rated policy, with no age banding
• A United States billing address and contact

In addition to providing proof of health coverage, you are required to show proof of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). For more information, go to studenthealth.utah.edu/services/immunization.htm

You will also be screened for Tuberculosis (TB) by the Student Health Center. The cost is $9. TB tests are not given on Thursdays.

You must meet the above requirements BEFORE taking ELI classes.

Robin (Annex 2202)
Class Schedule, Registration, Tuition Payment, Address Change, Office Letters, Campus Questions

Suchavadee (Annex 2202)
Student Activities, ELI Application

Larry (Annex 2202)
Registration Holds, Scholarship/Sponsor Issues, SEVIS Advising, School Transfer, Travel Request

Krairut (Annex 2200)
SEVIS Advising, Program Extension, Attendance Probation, Academic/Grade Probation, Program Suspension

Korrin (Annex 2202H)
Class and Level Issues, Academic Planning, Personal and Health Issues

George (Annex 2202A)
Complaints, Concerns

Classes generally range from 12-20 students per class, with a mixture of people from many parts of the world. You might have students from your country in your class, and this isn't a problem at all as long as students work hard to use only English and meet people in the community.

Each session, F-1 students must be in classes for 16 class periods (approx. 18 clock hours) per week.

Yes. While you are enrolled in the ELI program, you can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during break periods. In order to work on-campus, you must apply for work authorization through the English Language Institute two weeks after the session begins.

Our program length is one year but if you are unable to finish your coursework, you may require an extension before your I-20 End Date.

Yes. You may transfer to another school in the U.S. at any time.

This is a common question. Of course, this depends on which you begin at. Students who start at the Skill-Building Level will need at least six sessions (one year) to complete the program but there are many factors that affect a person's ability to learning English including any previous study, motivation, natural ability, and use of English here in Utah. Unfortunately, some students and parents believe that just being in the US or Utah will guarantee that one will learn the language, and this isn't necessarily true. The more students apply what they are learning outside of class, the greater their chances of learning English well. The only secrets to success we have always found to be true are hard work and dedication.

Placement results of new students from August 2008 - May 2011

If you start ELI from level 4, it would take five sessions (one full year) to complete our program. See table below for cost estimation. If you fail ELI classes or take a break from studying, it will delay your graduation date.

ELI reserves the right to change session dates, schedules, program requirements, all fees and charges without notice if necessary.
Please check with the office for current policies. Admission to the English Language Institute, which is a noncredit program, does not constitute admission to the University of Utah.

Admission to the ELI is NOT the same as admission to the University of Utah. Being accepted to the ELI is not considered to be conditional acceptance to the University of Utah undergraduate or graduate programs. Students still have to apply directly to the University of Utah and have to meet their GPA and other requirements. However, the University of Utah will waive the English Proficiency requirement (TOEFL/IELTS) for an undergraduate applicant if students successfully graduate (grade B average) from the ELI Bridge Course program (level 8.)