Before Catholic University will issue an I-20 or Form DS-2019, the following conditions must be met:
- Student must make a written application to the school, providing the school with transcripts and financial documentation.
- The school must review all academic documents and determine that the student meets all conditions for admission to the academic program - including language proficiency. No I-20 will be issued for a conditional or provisional admission to an academic program. If a student lacks the language requirements for the degree program, an I-20 for an English language program can be issued. Upon arrival in the U.S., the student can take a language placement test to test out of the English program and begin the degree program. Should a student test out or be deemed to have the language facility to succeed in the academic program, the I-20 can later be updated to reflect the program.
- The school must determine that the student has the financial resources to cover the first year's tuition and expenses with a reasonable expectation of access to funding for succeeding years. In general, students coming to Catholic University for the first time who are funded by government sources should be issued DS-2019s and should hold J-1, not F-1 status.
- School must offer full-time academic program for the period indicated on the immigration documents. If the student cannot commence a full course of study by the date indicated as "report no later date" on the Form I-20, then he or she should defer their attendance to the next term when a full course of study is available. This is usually in the Fall or Spring semesters, though a few programs actually do have full-time academic programs that begin in the summer.
Known Full-Time Summer Programs
- Canon Law
- Theology & Religious Studies
- Department of Education
- Intensive English Program - with confirmation from Director of IEP
Summary of Conditions
- Complete written application to school.
- Student documents and records must be approved by the school and program.
- Financial resources of the student must be reviewed by the school.
- Full-time academic program is offered to student.