International Students

We’re excited to welcome international students to register for our Early College Program Summer Institute. Below is some additional information regarding important information about the program that pertains only to international ECPSI students.

SAIC recommends that international ECPSI students contact the nearest US embassy/consulate to seek advice on the visa status they will need to enter the US for the duration of their stay. You can locate your nearest embassy/consulate on the Department of State's website. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are maintaining the correct visa status based on their specific situation and the conversations they have with the embassy/consulate in their home country. As a note, only a consular officer can advise on what type of visa you will need to participate in the ECP program, as they work directly for the Department of State. High school counselors, travel agents, and other people who do not work for the Department of State cannot provide you with the most accurate information. SAIC's policy regarding international students who take Continuing Studies classes can be found here.

If you are an international student who needs an I-20 and an F-1 visa to participate in ECPSI, please reach out to cs@saic.edu and International Student Affairs (intaff@saic.edu). Visa appointment wait time and visa processing time vary at different US Embassies and Consulates around the world. 

If the US embassy/consulate has advised that an F-1 visa is required for you to enter the US to participate in the ECPSI program, you will need to apply for an I-20.

• Step 1: Email Proof of English Language Proficiency to the Continuing Studies Enrollment Office at cs@saic.edu. Please note: If you are from a country where English is recognized as the official language, you do not have to submit proof of English Language Proficiency to obtain an I-20. The following documents are acceptable when trying to establish Proof of English Language Proficiency: TOEFL scores, SAT/ACT scores, or a high school transcript if the student attends a US-accredited high school (such as an IB or International School).
• Step 2: After you have submitted English Language Proficiency to the Continuing Studies Enrollment Office at cs@saic.edu, please email SAIC International Student Affairs at intaff@saic.edu and indicate that you need to obtain your I-20.

Note: Student visa appointments changed significantly during the summer of 2025, and visa approvals are often being delayed due to the social media review requirement. In order to avoid visa processing delays, we encourage you to connect with International Student Affairs as soon as possible after you have been admitted to the program at intaff@saic.edu.

Residence Hall Move-In occurs on Sunday between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Due to international flight schedules, some students may find it challenging to purchase a flight that will allow them to arrive during these move-in times so they may attend the mandatory training. International students may arrive starting at 5:00 p.m. on the Saturday before their orientation if travel requirements necessitate you to arrive early. Please email Residence Life to alert them.

International students are required to obtain medical insurance coverage for the time they are in the program. We prefer that you provide insurance information at the time of registration, but understand that it may not be possible for some international students to do so. If you registered without providing insurance information, please be aware that the following information will be needed by May 1, or else your registration may be canceled.

Please email us at cs@saic.edu with the following information by May 1:

• Insurance Company
• Policy Number
• Insurance Phone #
• Expiration Date

Continuing Studies staff members are available Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. CT at 312.629.6170 or cs@saic.edu to answer your questions. We are here to help!