Questions and Answers for International Students

Question:  How does Schaumburg Christian School define “International Student?”
Answer:  An international student is any non-U.S. citizen who needs a student visa to attend school in the United States.

Question:  Does Schaumburg Christian School issue I-20’s?
Answer:  Yes. However, SCS does not automatically issue the I-20 form. An application review must first be conducted. If we admit the student we first send the Acceptance Letter with instructions about payment, then we issue the I-20.

Question:  Is there a special international student application?
Answer:  Yes. You can download the international student application.

Question:  Is there an application checklist I can use?
Answer:  Yes. Here is a checklist that should be helpful. You must send us the following:

Question:  How will I be notified of my acceptance?
Answer:  Once it is determined that the applicant meets our criteria and if we have space available, we subsequently send via regular mail and email an Acceptance Letter and Tuition Statement to the family. The Acceptance Letter is our official notification that the student has been accepted to our school for the specified term. The Acceptance Letter may include specific provisions that the student or family must meet in order to complete the enrollment process.

Question:  If I apply for a certain grade level does that help my chances of getting accepted?
Answer:  Schaumburg Christian School does not admit students to a specific grade level. A Grade Level determination will be made after the Academic Dean reviews the student’s Official Transcripts and compares them to our graduation requirements.

Question:  I am an ESL student. How does that affect my enrollment at Schaumburg Christian School?
Answer:  Students who will be enrolled in our English as a Second Language (ESL) program should be aware that they will not be enrolled in the traditional academic courses until they demonstrate English proficiency. This requirement in some cases can alter the student’s expected graduation date. However, no students will graduate from Schaumburg Christian School unless they satisfy all of our Graduation Requirements. These requirements can be found on our website under Graduation Requirements.

Question:  When can I make my appointment to interview with the US Consulate for my Visa Interview?
Answer:  Once you receive the Letter of Acceptance you may contact the U.S. Consulate office nearest you to apply for and schedule your visa interview. In some countries such as China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, the next available interview appointment may take up to three weeks. Please note you will not be granted an interview unless you have the original signed I-20 form in your possession.

Question:  Can I pay my fees with a credit card?
Answer:  Schaumburg Christian School accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.  You may leave your credit card information on file with the Business Office, and your payments will be charged to your credit card automatically.  To set up this payment arrangement, complete the Auto Pay Information and Enrollment Form.

Question:  Is there financial aid?
Answer:  Financial aid is not available to international students.

Question:  How long does it take for Schaumburg Christian School to issue the I-20 form?
Answer:  Once our bank gives us confirmation that your payment is deposited, we will send the I-20 form. We generally send the I-20 form to the student or designated contact person within 72 ours of receipt of funds.

Question:  How does Schaumburg Christian School send the I-20 to international students?
Answer:  We typically send the I-20 form via US Express Mail or FedEx depending upon the country to which we are sending it.

Question:  What if I don’t pass my visa interview?
Answer:  In the event the student does not pass the interview, you should contact the Registrar’s Office immediately to see if we can assist with your preparation for a second interview. If the student does not pass again and the family chooses not to try again for another interview, you may request a full refund of your initial deposit. Contact the Registrar’s office for those instructions.

Question:  Is there anything else I should know before I leave my home country?
Answer:  When you are ready to travel to the US, please bring your passport, visa document, and most importantly the I-20 form with you to your departing airport. Carry these documents with you. Do not pack them away in your suitcase. You will need to present them to the US immigration officials when you get off the plane.

Question:  What TOEFL or SLEP scores do I need?
Answer:  Schaumburg Christian School does NOT require TOEFL or SLEP scores. If you have scores feel free to submit them but they will not affect our admissions decision. Students should demonstrate a willingness to learn English and study hard to prepare for college admission.

Question:  Do I need to have a guardian based in the United States?
Answer:  Yes! All international students must have a U.S. residential guardian and up-to-date contact information must be provided on the application. You must keep a US guardian every year that you attend SCS.

Question:  Do I need medical insurance?
Answer:  While this is not a requirement to attend SCS, it is highly advisable that each student have some form of medical insurance in the event of sickness or injury. SCS does not provide student medical insurance. Any medical expenses incurred are the responsibility of the student and their family.

Question:  Who can I contact for more information or if I have questions?
Answer: 
Karen Bustamante
School Registrar
Schaumburg Christian School
200 North Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194
Phone: 847-885-3230, x3139
Fax: 847-885-3354
Email: