International F-1 Students

PIE offers academic-focused English courses. Class sizes are small and our teachers have degrees and experience in teaching English to non-native speakers.

Studying full-time means that you will take all 3 classes in your level:

• Listening & Speaking
• Reading & Writing
• Structure in Use (Grammar)

Students will be in class for 20 hours per week during the Spring and Fall sessions (8 weeks each), and 25 hours per week during the Summer sessions (6 weeks), for a total of 140 hours per session. 

You will also have the opportunity to learn about student success strategies, American culture, and much more while studying at the PIE. 

Each session, F-1 students will pay for their PIE program fee, the international student fee, and the mandatory health insurance fee. These fees are paid to the IU Indianapolis Bursar during the second week of classes. All fees are due by the end of the third week of classes. We will show you how to pay your bill during orientation. 

International students are also responsible to pay for their own living expenses, separately from the PIE. To see specific costs for International students, per session, click here. 

We will go over all requirements and rules for F-1 students during orientation. You will also have an F-1 student advisor (called a "DSO") to assist you during your studies at PIE.

You can read more about the F-1 visa requirements on the Office of International Affairs website, or the Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States website. 

Step 1.Apply to the Program for Intensive English (PIE) at least 3-4 months before you'd like to study.

You can apply earlier! You will need to upload all required documents, including your valid passport and proof of financial resources (bank statement and/or sponsor form).

At the end of the application, you will pay the $150 non-refundable application fee to submit your application. You can read more about the required documents and apply online here. 

Step 2.Receive your admission decision from PIE. 

PIE will process your application within 2 weeks. You will receive an admission letter via email. Then, in another email, you will receive the Form I-20. The Form I-20 is required to apply for the F-1 visa. 

Step 3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee online (using the SEVIS # from your Form I-20).

Step 4. Complete the DS-160 visa application (using your SEVIS # from your Form I-20). Then, you can schedule your visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

Step 5. Prepare for your visa interview. You will need to organize several documents to bring with you. 

Step 6. Report the results of your visa interview to PIE by emailing inpie@iu.edu. If you are approved, we can begin arranging your affairs to travel to the USA and study English at PIE! 

The PIE application is the first step in your journey to studying English in the USA!  You should fill out and submit the PIE application at least 3-4 months before you plan to study. You can apply as early as you'd like (up to 1 year before). 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
You should prepare all documents BEFORE you fill out the application. All required documents must be submitted at the same time as your PIE application.  

Can I work while studying in the USA as an F-1 student? 

International students can work on the campus where they are studying. They can only work part-time, on-campus, up to 20 hours a week.

F-1 students are not permitted to work outside the campus, online, or anywhere else. On-campus jobs are limited and not guaranteed for F-1 students. 

Can I study online or part-time? 

No. International students on the F-1 visa are required to study full-time and in-person. We do not offer online or part-time courses for F-1 students. 

Can I arrive late? 

No. Students are not permitted to arrive late. If you have any delays in your visa processing, or personal life, you will need to change your admission and start date at the PIE to a later time. This is called "deferring" your admission. If you need to defer to a later start date, please email us at inpie@iu.edu. 

What is the difference between the F-1 visa, the Form I-20, and my "student status?" 

The Form I-20 is a document issued to accepted students by the school that shows the student's study plan. The Form I-20 is required throughout your entire time of applying and studying as an international student.

An F-1 visa (or a student visa) is a travel document you receive from a U.S. consulate or embassy before entering the United States. It goes in your passport and is typically valid for a few years. 

A student's status is what a person must maintain after they are granted entrance into the United States. You will be in "F-1 status" while you are studying at PIE.