When Do I need to Apply for My Student Visa

* Students are encouraged to apply for their visa early to provide ample time for visa processing. Students may apply for their visa as soon as they are prepared to do so.

* Students should note that Embassies and Consulates are able to issue your student visa 120 days or less, in advance of the course of study registration date. If you apply for your visa more than 120 days prior to your start date or registration date as provided on the Form I-20, the Embassy or Consulate will hold your application until it is able to issue the visa. Consular officials will use the extra time for application processing.

*Students are advised of the Department of Homeland Security regulation which requires that all initial or beginning students enter the U.S. 30 days or less in advance of the course of study start/report date as shown on the Form I-20. Please consider this date carefully when making travel plans to the U.S.

* A beginning student who wants an earlier entry into the U.S. (more than 30 days prior to the course start date), must qualify for, and obtain a visitor visa. A prospective student notation will be shown on his/her visitor visa. and the traveler will need to make the intent to study clear to the U.S. immigration inspector at port of entry. Before beginning any studies, he or she must obtain approval for a change to Exchange Visitor status, filing Form I-539, Application for Change of Non-immigrant status and pay the fee. Also you must submit the required Form I-20 to the Department of Homeland Security office where the application is made. Please be aware that one can not begin studies until the change of classification is approved.

* Continuing students may apply for a new visa at any time, as long as they have been maintaining student status and their SEVIS records are current. Continuing students may also enter the U.S. at any time before their classes start.

How long may I stay on my F-1 student visa?

When you enter the United States on a student visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay as long as you are a full time student, even if the F1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America. For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:

* F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to

another school.

* M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (Fixed time period, in total not to

exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student

maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three

years for the total program.

As an example regarding duration of status, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2009, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated on your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full time student. Even if January 1, 2009 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one, applying at an Embassy abroad, before being able to return to America and resume your studies.

What is SEVIS and SEVP?

What is SEVIS and SEVP? What should you know about it?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is designed to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State better monitor school and exchange programs and F, M and J category visitors. Exchange visitors and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa), exchange visitors (J visa), and their dependents (F-2, M-2, and J-2). SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the DHS and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States.

All student applicants must have a SEVIS generated I-20 issued by an educational institution approved by DHS, which they submit when they are applying for their student visa. Your school is responsible for entering your information for the I-20 student visa form into SEVIS. The consular officer will need to verify your I-20 record electronically through the SEVIS system in order to process your student visa application. Unless otherwise exempt, all F-1 or M-1 principal applicants must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee to the DHS for each individual program.

As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger, and 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate. The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can vary, so early visa application is strongly encouraged. Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is available on our website at Visa Wait Times, and on most embassy websites.

During the visa application process, usually at the interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan will be quickly taken. Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Also, because each student's personal and academic situation is different, two students applying for same visa may be asked different questions and be required to submit different additional documents.

Life University

INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Mission. At life University, it is our mission to be a biblically centered institution of higher learning that is committed to the advancement of spiritual, intellectual, personal and professional growth of its students. The university extends the knowledge and truth of the Bible to all of its educational and spiritual programs and activities so that our students will benefit from the highest standard of scholarship.

The mission of Life University is to offer exemplary education through its language programs and undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of Theology, Business, and Alternative (Asian/Oriental) Medicine which are grounded in the context of biblical teaching and higher learning. In pursuing these goals, the university seeks to cultivate in its students:

* Intellectual and academic integrity, informal ethical values, and biblical character;

* Tolerance of social differences and diversity of cultures, and courageous aspirations towards the best for one's life, family, society, and the world at large;

* Creativity in critical thinking, intellectual problem-solving through effective reading and

research, clear writing, and articulate speech;

* Inner drive and aptitude to exercise personal, professional, and social leadership in his or

her chosen field of endeavor;

* A sense of a personal joy and fulfillment;

* A sensitivity to the needs of others and commitment to the betterment of humanity;

* Encourage a commitment to the Christian life, one of actively communicating the Christian

faith, personal integrity, and social responsibility which, as it is lived out points people to

Jesus Christ as the Lord of the universe and their own personal Savior;

The university will achieve its mission through emphasizing and supporting excellence in teaching, in pure and applied research, and inn public service consistent with the educational emphases and goals of the university. In fulfilling of the mission, Life University recognizes its duty to:

* Maintain a learning environment that will attract and challenge outstanding students;

* Prepare its students to succeed in rigorous professional programs;

* Provide a physical environment and support services that will help members of the

university achieve their educational goals, enhance their development, and further serve as a source of pride to the university;

Purpose. Life University is intent on helping students prepare themselves to pursue their careers and become leaders in their communities. It is the goal of Life University to provide comprehensive education, as well as, professional training towards the award of an undergraduate or graduate degree. Life University focuses mainly on academic excellence with its faith-based, well-structured curricula that will result in highly knowledgeable and prepared graduates.

Objectives. The university seeks to educate men and women in undergraduate and graduate programs to produce professionals who:

* Are broadly educated with a biblical foundation and world view.

* Appreciate with discernment the breadth of ideas and creative expressions that have

shaped humanity.

* Will be able to evaluate knowledge from a Biblical perspective.

* Apply critical thinking in order to reason logically, use a broad range of investigative

approaches, and exercise faith appropriately in the process of critical thinking.

* Hold and apply a biblically-based system of values and beliefs.

* Develop a commitment to cross-cultural understanding and engagement in order to

function and serve in a diverse world.

* Develop skills for independent thinking and analytical reasoning.

* Are prepared for graduate school or for a vocation in his or her chosen field of study.

* Participate in service and experiential learning opportunities.

* Demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to their

fields and levels of study.

* Demonstrate competence in written and oral expression, as well as, observing the

conventions of their discipline.

* Integrate major fields of study with a biblical world view.

* Articulate and live out a biblical world view.

* Engage in their vocations as faithful stewards of God's calling.

School of Oriental Medicine

Master of Oriental Medicine Program

The Master of Oriental Medicine degree program is designed to provide highly-motivated students with an opportunity to pursue a career in this rapidly growing field. While the program

Master of Oriental Medicine Program

The Master of Oriental Medicine degree program is designed to provide highly-motivated students with an opportunity to pursue a career in this rapidly growing field. While the program stresses the traditional Chinese approach to Oriental medicine, students are exposed to the influence that Korea, Japan, and India have contributed to the discipline.

The Master of Oriental Medicine Program subscribes to an educational philosophy that is marriage of Oriental and Occidental philosophies of teaching and learning where each student is viewed as being gifted. With humanistic understanding each student's gifts will find their full expression and the use of intellect to discover what we may become is the essence of humanistic study. To release one's gifts is to adopt a holistic view, acknowledging the individual's capacity for self-actualization, choice, growth and spirituality. The implementation of such teaching-learning model demands that individuals be considered in their many inseparable dimensions: body, mind and spirit and in their social, cultural and environmental contexts.

As a mode of education, this approach combines cognitive and methodological skills with affective and intuitive skills. It recognizes maturity and effectiveness are manifestations of perspective, experience and knowledge.

Focusing on the cultivation of professional expertise and personal development, the fundamental purpose of the Master of Oriental Medicine program is to promote excellence in Oriental Medicine. The expectations we have for students in the Master of Oriental Medicine program are high and students must be self-disciplined, willing to dedicate themselves to rigorous academic study, and resolve to attain complete development spiritually, as well as, intellectually.

Graduates of the Master of Oriental Medicine program will have the intellectual skills to understand allopathic, biomedical, evidence-based, and complimentary care practitioners and consumers of health and healing.

MOM Comprehensive Examination

The final step in qualifying for the MOM is to pass the MOM Comprehensive Examination. The MOM Comprehensive Examination is administered by a special examination committee appointed by the Dean of the School of Oriental Medicine. The exam is a written theory based exam approximately Five (5) hours in length and is evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Students are given three opportunities to pass the exam. Failure to pass the exam on the third attempt automatically disqualifies the student from further attempts until he/she has successfully completed additional prescribed coursework.

Doctor of Oriental Medicine in Research Advancement Program

The Doctor of Oriental Medical in Research Advancement program is a professional graduate program that builds on the specialized knowledge and expertise acquired at the master's level in Oriental Medicine. The program augments the master's level education by providing additional course work that meets California standard of primary care education as described in California acupuncture code AB 1943, and puts OM education on parity with all other primary care professions.

The study of clinical OM requires critical thinking, broad knowledge on current medical practice, dedication to patient care and the ability to bring OM into the medical main stream. Candidates are expected to pursue a career that is dedicated to improving healthcare by integrating OM into the American healthcare lexicon.

The program emphasizes the scientific basis of Oriental Medicine, clinical practice, research methodologies, and leadership skills and is designed to bring recognition of OM as a medical system that will be a significant part of the solution for today's healthcare problems.

Requirements for I-20 Certificate (Initial Applicant)

DOCUMENT LIST for I-20 (Initial Applicant)

1. I-20 Application (including foreign and US address) – school forms/s

2. Admission Application – school form/s

3. Copies of Passport, Visa and I-94 (including dependent(s) if any)

4. Certificate of Deposit Balance or Proof of Financial Ability

(Latest Bank Account Statement/s: Personal or Sponsor-at least $15,000)

5. Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) signed by the sponsor

5. Certificate of Graduation/Diploma and Transcript

6. 1 photo (passport size)

7. I-20 (SEVIS), admission and documentation fees

(Make your check payable to Life University)

8. Copy of ID card (i.e.; state ID / CA ID, if any)

9. Essay (Regarding your personal interests, experience, strengths, and goals. Include the reason why you choose Life University).