Welcome to the Northern Virginia Community College Website

Accessibility Navigation:

myNOVA

Intensive English Program

Follow the step-by-step checklist below to apply to the College and request an I-20 form.

Apply for Admission and I-20 Form

F1 APPLICATION TIMELINE 

OVERSEAS 

TRANSFER 

CHANGE OF STATUS 

FALL 

Feb 15 - May 1

Feb 15 - Jul 15 

Feb 15 - May 1

SPRING 

Jul 15 - Oct 1

Jul 15 - Dec 10 

Jul 15 - Oct 1

SUMMER
(IEP ONLY)

Feb 1 - March 1

Feb 1 - May 1 

COS applicants are not accepted

Passport Bio Page

Transfer applicants
Upload or send copies to oiss@nvcc.edu of your current F1 documents including;

  • F1 visa
  • I-94
  • I-20 form

If you have a sponsor, please have the sponsor complete and sign the second page of the F-1 form.

Provide recent bank statements from your financial sponsor dated no more than one month from date of application submission. We will also accept statements from stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts. All statements must be translated into English and sent with the original statement on bank letterhead.

Provide evidence that you have completed the equivalent of a U.S. high school education. If the documentation is not in English, you need to submit an official English translation. Please do not send original diplomas or certificates as we cannot return them to you. (NOTE: If the documentation is not in English, you need to submit an official English translation.)

  • Certified copy of your secondary school diploma or certificate equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma OR
  • Evidence of your attendance in college or university level studies.
  • Participants in a J-1 Au Pair or Summer Work Travel program may demonstrate that they have met this requirement by providing a copy of your DS-2019.
  • If you are currently still in high school but will graduate soon, please ask your school to provide an official letter stating the date by which you will complete your studies. You must complete your secondary education before you begin classes at NOVA.

Students applying to the Intensive English program are not required to submit a standardized English test score for admissions to the program. You will be required to take NOVA’s English Placement assessment(s) to ensure you are placed into the appropriate English level.
ESL Placement Assessment

  • Once your F1 application is submitted, you will receive an email with testing details.
  • Test will be given in an online format and done from your home.
  • Test can only be taken once.
  • Results will be emailed to you with your placement results.
  • If you score Level 4 or higher you will qualify for the ESL Pathway (PPREP) program.
  • If you choose to enter PPREP you will need to submit the PPREP application and financial document.
  • You will be reassessed on the first day of class to ensure you are placed into the appropriate English level.

ACLI Placement Assessment

  • If you score Level 3 or lower you will be placed in the Intensive English program.
  • You will be required to take a second assessment with NOVA’s American Culture and Language Institute (ACLI).
  • Instructions on how to take this second assessment will be emailed to you from:  AN-ACLI@nvcc.edu

apply   Click icon on top right of NOVA page to start your application.

  • In Section 2: Communicating with you
    • Provide your overseas mailing address
    • Financial Aid Assistance question- does not apply to international students as you are not eligible to apply for financial aid. Select 3rd option.
  • In Section 3: Your Education
    • When choosing your Program of Study (Required even if only applying to IEP)
      • F1 students can only apply for AA/AS/AFA or AAA/AAS and not certificates (C/CSC).
        • AA/AS/AFA- are designed to transfer to a four-year bachelor’s degree program 
        • AAA/AAS- are designed primarily to prepare for employment 
      • All medical related programs are competitive (nursing, dental hygiene, physical therapy, etc.) and if selected will automatically place you into the general studies degree as you will need to apply for these programs after your first semester.  
    • Upload your high school transcript here 
  • In Section 5: Your Background
  • In Supplemental Information 2
    • Indicate how you will pay your International Application fee. (Your visa document will not be processed until this payment is received). You will not be able to make payment in the application.
    • Note you will take NOVA’s English Placement Test
    • Upload all the required documents for your application in this section except for high school transcript which you must upload in Section 3. 

A 7-digit Student Identification number (SIS ID) will be generated once you submit your application. Keep this number in a safe place as you will need it for future interactions with NOVA. Once we have reviewed your documents and determined you have met the program requirements and your application fee has been paid the visa document I20 will be issued via email to the account listed in your application.

Email oiss@nvcc.edu with your student ID# to confirm payment preference and to add fee to your account.

Online
U.S. Debit or Credit Card only: Student must log into their MyNOVA account and go to the Student Information System (SIS app. On the Student Information screen click Make a Payment at bottom of page. Payment can be made with a U.S. based Visa, Mastercard or American Express card. There will be a service fee applied to the total.

Bank Wire Transfer
Email oiss@nvcc.edu to receive our bank transfer details.

In Person
Go to the Business office on any NOVA campus to make the payment with cash, a money order or cashier's check

You must ensure OIS has added the payment to your account before paying on campus.

Find our Business office locations here.

Money Order: You can purchase a money order from any post office, grocery store or 7-11. The Pay to section should be written out to: Northern Virginia Community College. Also, write student name and ID# on the front side of the money order either in the From section or under the signature line.

Cashier's Check: drawn from a US bank account paid to Northern Virginia Community College with student's name and ID#.

Top