The first step for all prospective members is to audition for The Young Americans Performance Company. For more information visit our Auditions page.

English is the language of instruction for all YACPA programs. The better your command of English, the more likely you are to succeed. Therefore, all international students from non-English speaking countries are required to provide proof of an acceptable level of English proficiency. This can be done in one of several ways:

• PASSING ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING YACPA-APPROVED ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS:
  

  Accuplacer ESL Click here to sign-up and pay the $20 fee to YA	Reading: 92 Writing: 5 Listening: 80 Language Use: 91
  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	74 iBT
  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)	6
  EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency	Pre-1
  International Test in English Proficiency (iTEP)	3.7
  Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)	50
  SAT	550 on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam
  ACT	20 on the ACT English exam
  Cambridge Certificate of Education in one of the following exams: GCSE, IGCSE, CSEC, O-Levels, AS-Level, or A-Levels	“C” or Better in English
  International Baccalaureate (IB)	“5” or better on the “English A” Higher Level (HL) Examination

Please note that English Language Proficiency Examination results will only be accepted up to three times prior to May. If you fail a test, you must wait one month before taking the test again and submitting new results. Because all final results must be received by the beginning of May, if your first attempt is in early April and you must retake the test again in early May, you will not be able to try a third time.

• PROOF OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BY PROVIDING ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • A high school diploma from a four-year U.S. high school with a letter from the institution verifying that you graduated without ESL support. Please note, GED Diplomas are not accepted.
  • Completion of a transferable non-ESL English composition course- with a grade of “C” or better-from a regionally or nationally accredited U.S institution of higher education (a 2-year college or a 4-year college or university).
  • An official transcript from an international/non-U.S. high school, college or university which you attended for a minimum of three years. The institution must be accredited by its home country’s Ministry of Education (MoE) or Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE). The transcript must also be accompanied by a letter from the institution verifying that the language of instruction was English.
  • An associate or bachelor’s degree from the U.S. or overseas campus of an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.
  • A high school diploma or post secondary degree from one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (Except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Zimbabwe.

In order for schools to issue the Form I-20 on behalf of the U.S. government, we are required to ensure that the student has adequate funds to cover all expenses while studying in the U.S. To accomplish this, international students must provide evidence that they have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to cover the first year full cost of attendance. The second-year cost of attendance can be satisified by other funding sources such as income. Most international students identify a financial sponsor, such as a parent or guardian, who agrees to fund the cost of studying in the USA and provides the supporting documents necessary to prove financial capacity.

Acceptable evidence documents include:

1. original bank records showing available funds
2. a letter on your company’s letterhead stating your current income
3. a copy of your income tax returns
4. a tax form from your employer that indicates your annual income
5. a copy of the most recent payroll stub showing your annual income

Any document from a bank must show an official bank seal. All letters must be in English.

In order to apply for the F-1 student visa from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country, you will need a valid Form I-20 issued by YACPA. YACPA issues you the I-20 form once we can verify the steps listed above have been completed.

YACPA can NOT issue a Form I-20 without ensuring:

1) that the student is proficient in English;

2) that the student has the credentials to undertake higher education studies in the U.S., and

3) that the student has adequate funds to cover all expenses while in the U.S.

Click here to access the YACPA I-20 Application Form (once complete, the application and accompanying documentation may be scanned and emailed to [email protected])

Once you have been issued the I-20 form you can then proceed with applying for the F-1 Visa.

1. Pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee online
2. Print a copy of the SEVIS payment receipt and take it with you to your visa interview at the U.S Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
3. Apply for the F-1 visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country. Please see additional information from the U.S. Department of State.

To better prepare for the F-1 student visa process, please watch this video produced by EducationUSA.

Note that Canadian citizens do not need an F-1 visa to enter the U.S. but they still need to obtain an YACPA I-20 and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.

Items you will need to take for the visa interview are:

• The signed I-20 form issued from YACPA.
• Your Form DS-160 confirmation page (the one with the barcode)
• A passport valid for at least six months after the planned date of entry into the USA.
• One 2”x 2” photograph.
• Proof of payment for the SEVIS fee and visa application fees.
• Transcripts and/or diploma from previous institutions attended.
• Scores from placement tests required for admission.
• Copy of financial evidence submitted with the application to YACPA.

Arriving in the USA
The F-1 visa, stamped on your passport, is your invitation to visit the U.S. The visa, together with the Form I-20 must be presented to the Customs & Border Protection Officer at the port of entry.

Even if you already have a visa, you may not enter the U.S. any earlier than 30 days before Check-In Day. After graduation, you may stay up to 60 days to prepare for departure, unless you have been approved for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or you have been admitted to another SEVP-authorized school. (Graduation ceremony dates do not impact this required departure date. The date is 60 days after the last day of the semester.)

Canadian Citizens: You do not need an F-1 visa, you can travel with the I-20 form. However, you MUST still pay the $350 SEVIS fee online prior to arriving at a USA port of entry. You must also carry a copy of the following supporting documents with you at your point of entry into the USA:

• Transcripts and/or diploma from previous institutions attended.
• Scores from placement tests required for admission.
• Copy of financial evidence submitted with the application to YACPA.