International Admissions
The Basics
CANADIAN Students are considered for EBC Institutional Aid eligibility after completing a Canadian Income Verification form. If the student is a resident of Ontario, they will need to apply for OSAP. For questions about the OSAP process, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@elim.edu.
REQUIREMENTS (for all other International Applicants)
- Complete online application (includes $50 USD application fee)
- Proof of secondary education
- Proof of English proficiency
- Reservation Deposit & Down-Payment ($7,500 USD)
- Apply for F-1 Visa with the U.S. Embassy
FINANCIAL AID. Elim may offer financial aid (scholarships and/or campus employment) to eligible international applicants, up to 25-50% of the total cost to attend Elim. Scholarships are offered contingent on availability and on a first-come, first-served basis.
ESTIMATED COSTS. For current estimated costs, please refer to the Tuition and Fees section of the Academic Catalog.
PLEASE NOTE: International Applicants are not eligible for EBIC’s Scholarship Giveaway.
The 5-STEP Application Process
Complete the 5 steps outlined below to apply. For assistance, contact our admissions counselors at 1-800-670-ELIM (3546), or admissions@elim.edu.
01
Complete an Application
start Online
To apply online, pay your non-refundable $50 USD application fee and complete the application form. We will create a special account for you in a program called “Populi” where you can begin the application process online without having to finish it right away. At any point, you can login and continue the application process.
Your $50 non-refundable USD application fee must be paid before you will receive the link to your application. You will be prompted to make the payment once you begin the application process by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button below.
NOTE: To maintain your status as an F-1 student in the United States, International Students must be full-time students (click here for more information). Therefore, International Students are not eligible to apply for part-time enrollment. Please also note that International Applicants must first apply for the one-year Launch certificate program. If International Students wish to apply for a longer program, they may request a change in program with the Academic Office after arriving to the EBIC campus.
02
Proof of Secondary Education
We will need proof that you have successfully completed your secondary education/received your High School Diploma. The required documents needed to prove you have successfully completed your secondary education are different for each country. Once you begin your application, our Admissions Department will notify you what documentation must be submitted to us. Applicants who have obtained a degree from an accredited college recognized by the country in which it is located may be able to submit college transcripts as proof of secondary education.

NOTE: All transcripts and documentation must be submitted in English, or must be submitted with an English translation.
03
Confirm English Proficiency
International Applicants are required to prove that they are proficient in English. Unless we communicate otherwise to you, you will be required to complete an English Proficiency Exam. You must show proficiency in FOUR areas including:
- Reading
- Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
It is very important that international applicants NOT assume they will pass an English Proficiency test because they can speak English. We urge all applicants to study hard for the test they will choose to take.
You will be required to submit your scores from ONE of the following tests. If your scores are below those shown below, we may deny your request to enroll at Elim.
TOEFL Test
MINIMUM SCORES REQUIRED
Paper Based Test: 540
Computer Based Test: 215
Internet Based Test: 75
Study for the TOEFL Test:
About the TOEFL exam | TOEFL Video Training | Take TOEFL Test
IELTS Test
MINIMUM SCORE REQUIRED: 6.0
Study for the Academic version of the IELTS Test:
About the IELTS exam | IELTS Video Training | Take IELTS Test
04
Financial Aid & Down-Payment ($7,500)
Financial Aid
International applicants may be eligible to receive financial aid in the form of institutional aid and/or campus employment for up to 25-50% of the total cost to attend Elim. Scholarships are offered contingent on availability and on a first-come, first-served basis. The Financial Aid Office will determine your award after you have been accepted to enroll at Elim. An official Financial Aid Award letter will be emailed to you.
$250 USD Reservation Deposit
After receiving your Financial Aid Award, International Applicants should plan to pay their $250 USD Reservation Deposit. This will secure your Financial Aid Award with Elim. The $250 USD Reservation Deposit is due by May 1 (November 1 for the Spring semester). If you do not pay this amount by the deadline, you may lose the award Elim has offered you.
$7,250 USD Down-Payment
After the Reservation Deposit has been paid, international applicants are required to pay a minimum Down-Payment of $7,250 USD toward their school bill. NOTE: Elim will not send your Form I-20 (necessary to obtain your Visa) until this first Down-Payment is complete. The deadline for sending Elim your down-payment is July 15 (November 15 for the Spring semester.) If we do not receive your Down-Payment by this date, we will not be able to send your Form I-20 to you. If your request for an F-1 Visa is denied or you do not meet other eligibility requirements, Elim will refund your Reservation Deposit and down payment, minus costs associated with shipping your Form I-20.
If your request for an F-1 Visa is denied or you do not meet other eligibility requirements, Elim will refund your Reservation Deposit (minus costs associated with shipping your Form I-20) and your Down-Payment.
05
Obtain F-1 Visa & Plane Ticket
Once you have completed the above steps, it will be time to create and send your Form I-20. The Form I-20 is a very important document that will allow you to apply for your F-1 Visa so that you can travel and study in the United States. It is extremely important that International Applicants prepare for each step in the F-1 Visa application process, as noted below.
For more information on the Student F-1 Visa application process, please visit this link.
You will also want to follow the instructions found on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a Visa. You can find your embassy or consulate here.
Provide Information
In order for us to successfully create and mail the necessary documentation, we will need you to complete the below form. It is very important that you send us an exact physical address where you may receive mail.
Form I-20 Information Request Form
Receive Form I-20
Elim will ship your Form I-20 to the address you provide in the “Provide Information” step. We will also send you a tracking link which you may utilize to estimate when the package will arrive. The costs for shipping will be deducted from the Reservation Deposit you already paid. Depending on your country and location, shipping may take a few days to a few weeks.
Please Note: Elim cannot send your Form I-20 electronically (by fax or email). According to United States laws, applicants must have an original copy with them during their Visa interview and at any U.S. port of entry with U.S Customs & Border Protection.
Please remember to notify us when you receive your Form I-20 in the mail!
Pay I-901 fee
Once you receive your Form I-20 in the mail, your next step is to pay what is called the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee. You may pay for this fee online or by mail.
I-901 Tutorial | Pay I-901 Fee
Keep your I-901 Receipt. You will need it for your Visa appointment!
Fill out Form DS-160 Visa Application
Once you have paid your I-901 Fee, you will need to complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa application, called the Form DS-160. You can learn more about the Form DS-160 and applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa at this link.
To complete the Form DS-160 and apply for your Nonimmigrant Visa, follow this link.
There is a non-refundable Visa application fee. Please visit this link for more information about this fee.
Schedule Appointment
Once you have received your Form I-20, paid your I-901 Fee, and completed your Form DS-160, you should schedule an appointment with the United States embassy located in your country. Find the embassy nearest to you by clicking the button below. Remember there may be a considerable wait time before your appointment, so the sooner you schedule it, the better!
Prep for appointment
Your Visa appointment is a very important step in the admissions process. If the U.S. Embassy does not grant you an F-1 Visa, you will not be allowed to travel to the United States and study at Elim. It is very important you prepare and arrive at your appointment with all of your documentation. Contact the U.S. Embassy and your Designated School Official (DSO) before your interview and ask them what you need to bring with you to your Visa interview.
Important documents you will want to bring to your Visa interview include your Form I-20, your acceptance letter from Elim, any receipts or documents Elim sent you with your Form I-20 package, your passport, your I-901 receipt, the confirmation page provided after completing your Form DS-160, proof of SEVIS registration, evidence of Financial Ability, and proof of your English Proficiency. Please view this page for more information on what to bring to your Visa Interview.
Please remember to let us know how your appointment went!
Buy Plane Ticket
Once you have received confirmation that you can study in the United States at Elim and you have received your Form I-20, it’s time for the final phase of your preparation; planning your arrival to campus! It is important that you purchase a ROUND TRIP TICKET, arriving to the Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC). When purchasing your ticket, keep in mind that you will need to arrive to Elim on the correct date. We will notify you by email exactly what date you need to arrive. You are responsible to arrive at Rochester, NY (this can be via plane, bus, or train). Once you have arrived in Rochester, we will arrange your transportation to Elim’s campus, which is located in Lima, NY (approximately a 20-minute drive by car). Please note that we are not located in or near New York City – we cannot arrange transportation from New York City to the Elim campus for you.
Don’t forget to email us your flight itinerary so we can arrange to pick you up!
Helpful Links
The following links will take you to outside websites and are intended to provide additional information on becoming a student in the United States.
Student & Exchange Visitor Information Program: Website | Phone: 1-800-892-4829