- How do I apply to UCAELI?
Please submit the following documents to UCAELI to be considered for application.
- Tuition Deposit and Application Fee (non-refundable): $175.
- UCAELI Application Form.
- Financial Certification (bank statement or a bank letter).
- Affidavit of Support or a letter from your parents or sponsor saying they guarantee your financial support (if the bank statement is not in student’s name).
Please allow 1 to 2 weeks to process your application.
Please mail or fax your documents to:
University of Connecticut American English Language Institute (UCAELI)
2006 Hillside Rd., U-1198
Storrs, CT 06269-1198
USA
Fax: (860)486-3834
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- When is the application deadline?
- We do not have an official deadline to apply to UCAELI, but we recommend that if you require a student visa that you apply at least 3 months in advance. Since it will take time to create and send your documents and you may have to wait for 1-2 months for a visa appointment it is best to apply 3 months in advance.
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- Do I need to get an F-1 Student Visa?
- Yes. If you will be studying full-time at UCAELI and if the purpose of your visit in the U.S. is to study English, then you will need to obtain a student visa before arriving.
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- How do I apply for an F-1 (student) visa?
In order to study full-time at UCAELI you will need an F-1 student visa. In order to get an F-1 student visa you must make an appointment at the US Embassy or consulate in you home country. Please visit http://usembassy.state.gov/ to find out more information or to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy or consulate in your home country.
Visa Appointment
When you go to make an appointment for a student visa you will need your SEVIS ID Number (N000XXXXXXX) and UCAELI’s SEVIS School Code BOS214F10146005 . You can find your SEVIS ID number in the upper right-hand corner of your I-20 form and UCAELI’s SEVIS School Code in section 2 on your I-20.
I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt
Please note that as of September 1, 2004 all students applying for an F-1 student visa will need to fill out Form I-901 and pay a SEVIS processing fee in the amount of US$100. You need to pay this fee before you go for your visa interview. You will need to show receipt of payment when you apply for your student visa. You can pay this fee three ways.
- The fee can be paid by mail using Form I-901 together with a check or money order drawn on a US bank and payable in U.S. dollars.
- The fee can be paid electronically by completing Form I-901 through the Internet and using a credit card. Please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee. https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml.
- Pay with cash at a Western Union and bring the Western Union receipt to the embassy with you. Please visit this website for Western Union Quick Pay instructions and for more information about Western Union: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm
For more information on the SEVIS fee visit http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/.
Visa Interview
When you go for your visa interview you will need to bring the following documents with you:
- UCAELI Acceptance Letter
- SEVIS I-20 form from UCAELI
- I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt
- Valid Passport
- Financial Certification (bank statement or a bank letter)
You may have to answer questions about your previous academic record, about why you want to study English and about who will be supporting you financially. You should prepare yourself in advance to answer all of these questions.
You may be asked to prove some other information during your visa interview. You may be asked to prove that you will have health insurance while studying at UCAELI. You may be asked to prove that you will have housing at the university. Finally, you may be asked to show proof of tuition payment before you are granted your visa. If this happens please contact our office immediately and we will be happy to accept payment by Visa or Mastercard over the telephone. We can send you a letter to confirm that we received your payment along with an invoice that says “PAID”.
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- What are the regulations for students with an F-1 (student) visa?
It is very important that while studying at UCAELI you "maintain status."
For a brief summary of regulations for F-1 students, please visit the UCONN Department of International Services and Programs: http://disp.uconn.edu/f1students.html
This is some specific information just for UCAELI students about maintaining status. As a student with an F-1 visa you must follow certain rules while in the United States or else you will be considered out-of-status.
- 1. You must have a valid passport when you enter the US.
- 2. You must attend the school you are authorized to attend (on your I-20 and visa page in your passport).
- 3. Maintain a full course of study (full-time UCAELI classes in the mornings and afternoons.)
- 4. Leave the U.S. by the program end-date on your I-20 or apply for a program extension before your program end-date.
- 5. While classes are in session you may only work on-campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week. During winter and summer breaks you may work up to 40 hours per week. – You may NOT work off-campus unless you apply for and are approved for employment authorization.
- 6. You must report your change of address to UCAELI within 10 days of moving. This includes on-campus moves.
Out-of-Status
If you do not maintain a full course of study, if you do not register for courses, if your I-20 expires and if you work illegally you may be out of status. If you do not maintain your status your I-20 will be terminated and you will have to either apply for reinstatement or leave the country.
If you are Out-of-Status
- you may be barred from reentering the U.S.
- you may be deported from the U.S.
- you may not work on-campus
- you can not receive a letter from UCAELI verifying you are in full-time status.
- you may not be able to transfer to another university and
- you may have trouble renewing your F-1 visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate
Travel
If you travel outside the U.S., you must have page 3 of your I-20 form signed by a SEVIS DSO. At UCAELI there are two DSOs Arthur and Kristi. When you want to leave the country you should make an appointment to see Arthur or Kristi, bring your I-20 form and your passport and tell us where you are going and for how long.
Visa Page
If your visa expires while you are studying in the U.S. you do not need to leave the country. If your I-20 form is valid and you are maintaining a full course of study you are still in-status. If your visa has expired and you leave the U.S. you will be required to obtain a new F-1 visa before you can return to the US.
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- Where is UCAELI?
UCAELI is located at the University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs. Storrs is located in rural northeastern Connecticut (CT) USA.
Storrs is located close to many major cities.
Time to Reach Storrs:
- New York City - 2 hours 45 minutes
- Boston – 1 hour 35 minutes
- Hartford, CT – 40 minutes
- New Haven, CT – 1 hour 15 minutes
- Stamford, CT – 2 hours
- Danbury, CT – 1 hour 40 minutes
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- What are the driving directions to UCAELI?
For detailed driving directions to UCAELI, please visit the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus website: http://uconn.edu/campuses/storrs.php
Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the Ryan Refectory Building. The Ryan Refectory Building is next to the Nathan Hale Inn.
The best place to park is in the South Parking Garage behind the UCONN Co-op bookstore. This is about a 5-minute walk to our building.
You can see a map of campus to find our building and to park your car at:
Our building is marked RR on the map, located in square D6. South Parking Garage is located behind the UCONN Co-op, marked COOP on the map, located in square D-7
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- Is there public transportation at UCAELI?
On-campus Shuttles
There are free campus shuttles for UCONN/UCAELI students. Shuttles travel around the campus bringing students from parking lots, off campus apartments and the university’s Depot Campus to campus to the center of campus. For the schedules and routes visit: http://web.uconn.edu/parking/Shuttle.html
Storrs-Willimantic bus
The WRTD bus travels from Storrs to Willimantic. Willimantic is the next city closest to Storrs. Willimantic offers the East Brook Mall and movie theater, several supermarkets for food shopping and access to many apartment complexes. The WRTD bus is FREE for all UCONN/UCAELI students with a valid student I.D. For more information or for a schedule/map visit: http://www.wrtd.net/storrs-willimantic_bus_schedules.html#FSMF
Peter Pan Bus Lines
There are buses that arrive daily from Hartford, New York City and Boston.
- Hartford – Storrs/Storrs – Hartford: two departures daily
- New York - Storrs/Storrs – New York: two departures daily
- Boston – Storrs/Storrs – Boston: four departures daily
Tickets may be purchased online or at the UCONN Co-op bookstore, which is where the buses pick up. For more destinations, times, and fare information, please visit http://www.peterpanbus.com/tickets/fares.php
* Please Note: Even though buses are arriving everyday from Hartford the earliest arrival time is 1:10 pm. This means that it will be impossible to use the Peter Pan bus as a commuter bus to campus because you will arrive too late to attend morning classes.
For more information about public transit in Connecticut please visit http://www.cttransit.com/
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- How do I get to UCAELI from the airport?
From Bradly Airport (BDL)
The easiest way to arrive at UCAELI is to fly into Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford/Springfield. From Bradley UCAELI can arrange an airport pick up service from Avalon Limo to bring you to the University of Connecticut.
To arrange for airport pickup please contact Neena Kapoor at neena.kapoor@uconn.edu with
- your NAME
- your FLIGHT NUMBER
- your ARRIVAL TIME
- the NAME of the AIRLINE
Airport pickup costs between $85 - $95 and students should pay the driver upon arrival.
From Kennedy Airport (JFK)
-
Option 1
From Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York take the AIR TRAIN to Jamaica Station (the last stop). At Jamaica Station transfer to the “E” Line (Blue Line). Take the “E” Line all the way to Manhattan and exit at “42 Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal”
Take the Peter Pan bus from New York Port Authority Bus Terminal to Storrs, University of Connecticut. The ticket is $29.00
For a map of the NYC subway system please visit http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
-
Option 2
Take a Taxi from JFK Airport to New York Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd St.
Take the Peter Pan bus from New York Port Authority Bus Terminal to Storrs, University of Connecticut. The ticket is $29.00
For a map of the NYC subway system please visit http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm
From Logan Airport (BOS)
From Logan Airport (BOS) in Boston take the Peter Pan bus to Storrs, University of Connecticut. Pick up the bus outside of Terminals A, B, C, E. The ticket costs $38.50 and you should pay the driver in exact change. Tell the driver you need to go to Storrs, UCONN.
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- I can’t find UCAELI on the campus map?
- UCAELI is located on the 2nd floor of the Ryan Refectory Building. Please search for RR on the campus map to find the Ryan Refectory Building.
You can see a map of campus to find our building and to park your car at
Our building is marked RR on the map, located in square D6. South Parking Garage is located behind the UCONN Co-op, marked COOP on the map, located in square D-7
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- Can I park my car at UCONN?
UCAELI students living off campus will be able to park their cars on campus. You will need to bring the following documents to the Parking Services office:
- a letter from the UCAELI office to prove that you are enrolled in classes
- UCONN student ID
- US or International Driver’s License
- Vehicle Registration
The fee for parking at UCONN is $40/semester. The Parking Services office is located in the Central Stores Warehouse (WARE) in square C-13 on the campus map.
For more information or for a parking map please visit Parking Services: http://www.park.uconn.edu
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- What are my housing options at UCONN? Can I live in a dorm? Can I live off campus?
Can I live on campus?
Yes! Many UCAELI students live on campus. UCONN offers many different housing options, but the main distinction is between Undergraduate Housing and Graduate Housing.
The Graduate Residences are available for students who are 23 years old or older. The Graduate Residences are located very close to the UCAELI classrooms. They are private rooms with shared bathrooms and shared kitchens. The fee is $2474 per semester.
The Undergraduate Residences are available for students under 23 years old. Double rooms with shared bathrooms are common throughout almost all undergrad dorms. There are no kitchens in the Undergraduate dorms so all students in Undergraduate housing have to buy a meal plan.
The fee for meals plans are:
- $1,773 for the Custom Plan
- $1,868 for the Value Plan
- $1,958 for the Ultimate Plan
Please visit Dining Services at http://www.dining.uconn.edu and click on “Resident Dining” for more information about Meal Plans at the University of Connecticut.
All students living on campus must show evidence of a Meningitis Vaccination before checking in to university residence halls.
Click here for a map of Residence Halls on campus http://www.reslife.uconn.edu/docs/reslife_campus_map.pdf
Can I live off campus?
For information on apartments and rentals off campus please visit UCONN’s Off Campus Housing site http://offcampushousing.uconn.edu/
Other apartment listing websites are...
You may find apartments in these cities. They are close to UCONN. If you have a car you could live in one of the following cities and drive to campus everyday.
Mansfield 5-20 minutes (Mansfield and Storrs are the same town. Anything you find here will be close to UCONN.)
- Ashford - 10 -20 minutes
- Willington 10 - 20 minutes
- Willimantic 10-20 minutes
- Vernon 20 - 25 minutes
- Manchester 25 - 30 minutes
All of these apartment complexes are on the busline so you could either walk or take the bus to campus.
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- Do I need to have medical insurance at UCAELI?
All full-time students at UCONN must have health insurance. Starting Fall 2008 UCAELI students MUST purchase health insurance from the University of Connecticut. UCONN provides insurance from AETNA Student Health and the fee for medical insurance is $94 per month ($376 per semester).
For more information about student medical insurance at the University of Connecticut please visit AETNA Student Health.
- http://www.shs.uconn.edu/docs/UCONN_Brochure_Storrs_08-09_12.pdf
One of the benefits of AETNA Student Health plan is that all medical procedures performed that hte UCONN Infirmary (Student Health Services) will be covered 100% under this insurance plan. This includes primary care, lab tests and x-rays. Always use the UCONN infirmary first if possible (http://www.shs.uconn.edu/).
If you visit a doctor outside of UCONN, you may be asked for additional information and it is very important that you respond in a timely manner (quickly) for your claim to be processed.
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