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The Department of International Programs consists of the following individuals who oversee the admissions and compliance of F1 visa students.
- Erin Brick, Director of International Programs and Primary Designated School Official/PDSO
- Nigar Gafarzada, International Admissions Counselor and Designated School Official/DSO
- Keith Jordan, Executive Director of Enrollment and Designated School Official/DSO
Contact information: international@life.edu
- Assists international students with the admission process.
- Ensures Life University’s compliance with SEVP, DHS, and CBP regulations.
- Advises students on F-1, USCIS, SEVP, DHS, and CBP policies.
- Issues Form I-20 for:
- Newly admitted students seeking F-1 visa status.
- Transfer students
- Students changing visa status to F-1
- Updates SEVIS registration and Form I-20 for:
- Changes in personal information
- Program adjustments, extensions, withdrawals, and transfers.
- Graduation
- Post-graduation employment: Optional practical Training
- Processes quarterly SEVIS registrations
- Assists with Curricular Practical Training, Economic hardship, and Optional Practical Training applications.
- Verifies eligibility for on-campus employment.
- Provides annual travel signatures for F-1 students.
- Conducts compliance workshops.
- Enforces mandatory health insurance requirements.
- Supports students with campus resources.
- Reminds international students to comply with filing and paying taxes through SPRINTAX
Student Responsibilities include the following:
- Maintain lawful immigration status.
- Comply with USCIS, DHS, SEVP, and other government regulations.
- Ensure all immigration documents are valid and up to date (if required)
- Passports should remain valid at all times (renew 6 months before expiration)
- A valid visa is required for reentry to the U.S. but is not required to stay in the states.
Maintain Valid Health Insurance:
F-1 visa students must carry insurance with the following requirements.
- Accident & sickness coverage
- $250,000 annual minimum benefit
- ≤ $500 deductible
- Mental health, prescription drug, and worldwide coverage
- Medical evacuation ($50,000) and repatriation ($25,000) Prior to purchasing health insurance, please contact : international@life.edu to make sure policy meets these requirements.
Students must contact their DSO within 10 days of the following:
- Moving to a new address
- Requesting program extension
- Changing or adding majors, programs, or degree levels
- Taking a leave of absence or transferring schools
- Updating a phone number
Failure to notify the P/DSO of any of these changes or updates may result in loss of status.
F-1 students may ONLY work with authorization under the following guidelines:
- On-campus part-time employment (20 hours or less)
- Optional Practical Training OPT: (post-graduation)
- Curricular Practical Training: CPT (approved internship)
Working without prior authorization will result in the loss of status and students will no longer be able to re-enter the US on a LIFE UNIVERSITY I-20.
- Doctor of Chiropractic: 18 credit hours per term, 2.0 GPA (12 credit hours = full-time compliance). 75% of classes must be on campus.
- Undergraduate Studies: 12 credit hours per term, 2.0 GPA. 75% of courses must be on campus.
- Graduate Studies: 9 credit hours per term, 3.0 GPA. 75% of courses must be on campus.
Reduced Course Load (RCL) may be approved for:
- Improper course placement
- Medical (must be properly documented by a doctor and must be approved every quarter. Maximum of one academic year.
- Final term of study (classes cannot be all online, AT LEAST one course must be onground)
Since Life is on a quarter system and there is no “official SUMMER break”, International students are eligible for one annual vacation quarter per year:
- Eligible after completing 3 consecutive quarters ( 9 months) with full course load and GPA requirements. If you live on campus or are an athlete, please contact Housing and your Coach prior to requesting a break.
- Duration: 1 quarter
- Must be registered or plan to return to full-time study for the following quarter and must maintain F1 student status for 3 consecutive quarters before another annual vacation.
- Annual vacations must be approved by the P/DSO. Please make an appointment prior to making any annual vacation plans.
- Maximum 1 online course per quarter counts toward full-time requirement. If you are completing your final quarter of study, at least one class must be onground. Even if you only have one class left to complete, it cannot be online.
- Audited courses do not count.
- Transient studies at another SEVP-approved institution require prior DSO approval.
Life University is SEVP-approved to admit F-1 students and their dependents.
Required Application Materials
- Online application + $50 fee
- Official transcripts (domestic or international with evaluation)
- Transcript evaluation: TEC, WES, INCRED (for athletes) or ECE
- Exemptions apply (some Canadian schools)
- Proof of English Proficiency (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS)
- Exemptions for certain applicants
- Additional items depending on program of study.
After acceptance:
- Enrollment fee $125 (non-refundable)
Additional Requirements for the Issuance of an I-20 (F-1 Students)
- Completed I-20 request form or Transform eligibility form (if transferring from a US school)
- Passport copy
- Financial proof*
*Acceptable proof of funds includes the following:
- Personal funds: Bank statements in your name showing balance of account.
- Loan certificates/letters (must indicate your name and the amount of approved loan
- Private sponsors, including parents (must show both of the following):
- Sponsor’s bank or other financial statements
- If you are submitting financial documents from a company, there has to be proof that the sponsor has the ability to use those funds for the purposes of your study, and there must be a documented connection between your sponsor and the company (e.g. their name on the company statements)
- Bank/Financial Statement:
- DO NOT submit long statements that include transaction history.
- Showing bank/financial statements from multiple accounts is acceptable.
- The bank statement should be a single-page document that meets the following criteria:
- printed on the bank’s official letterhead
- state the financial institution’s name;
- indicate the account holder’s name;
- clearly show the account balance and currency;
- be dated within the past 5 months (older statements will not be accepted);
- be translated into English (especially names) unofficial translations are accepted;
- be from statements that show liquid assets that can be converted to cash.
IMPORTANT: The following types of funding are NOT accepted:
- Documents older than 5 months
- Income or salary statements
- Funds that are not immediately accessible
- Assets that are not in liquidated form (house, car, etc.)
- Life insurance policy statements
- Pension funds
- Tax return forms or documents.
- Scholarship award letter (if applicable)
- Sponsor form/affidavit
- SEVIS fee $350; for payment information, please visit: fmjfee.com
*Please visit: www.life.edu for the following:
- Enrollment Deadlines
- Most Up to Date Cost of Attendance
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