Overview
According to your answer, you’re already in the United States. To begin the process, you must first apply for enrollment to The FCI. After you have submitted your application, below are the additional steps you’ll need to take to get you to The FCI’s kitchens in New York City.

In most cases, you will need to obtain M-1 student status before beginning classes in a career program at The FCI. So, once you have submitted your application for admission and are enrolled at The FCI, you must request a Form I-20 from the Office of Student Affairs and meet the following criteria:

• You are or expect to be a student.
• You have been accepted to one of The FCI’s Career Programs.
• You can demonstrate English language proficiency. Learn how.
• You plan to pursue a full course of study.
• You can demonstrate Financial Resources: prove that you have enough money to study and live in the United States without working illegally or suffering from poverty. Learn how.
• You have provided a copy of your passport identification page.
• If you are in the U.S., provide a copy of your current visa, I-94 card, and related documents (i.e. I-20).

After you have submitted these documents and The FCI has evaluated your proof of English proficiency and financial documentation, we can issue you a Form I-20, which you will use to change your status in the United States, or to apply for a student visa in your home country.

   I have been accepted and enrolled in a Career Program at The FCI
   I have provided proof of English Proficiency
   I have provided proof of Financial Resources
   I have provided a copy of my passport identification page
   If I am in the United States I have provided a copy of my current visa and any related documents (e.g., my current I-20).

Step 2: Pay the SEVIS Fee

Once you have received your Form I-20, before you can apply for a student visa, the USCIS (formerly INS) requires that you pay the SEVIS fee. Learn more about the SEVIS fee.

Step 3: Apply to change your status to M-1 student status

The FCI’s Student Affairs Office can help you apply to the USCIS (formerly INS) for a change of your nonimmigrant status to M-1 student. Please make an appointment with Student Affairs to assess whether changing your status is appropriate and learn about the USCIS’s requirements and procedures. You’ll need to bring your passport, I-94 card, and any other immigration documents such as an I-20 from a current school with you.

You’ll find the following pages helpful for understanding this process:

Is changing my status the same as getting a student visa?
Do I need to change my status to M-1 student to attend The FCI, and will I need to return home first?
Can I change my status?
How do I apply for a change to M-1 student status?
If you are a Canadian citizen: Citizens of Canada generally do not require a student visa but still need to follow Steps 1 through 3, and present the I-20 and supporting documents to the immigration inspector at the Port of Entry in the United States. (While some people mistakenly think Canada is part of the visa waiver program, the authorization for Canadian citizens to travel visa-free comes from other immigration laws).

Step 4: Start life as a student in the United States

These pages will tell you how to maintain your student status once you are in the U.S.

How do I maintain my M-1 Student Status?
How do I re-enter the U.S. after traveling?
Can I get a leave of absence or program extension?
What are my options after graduation?

Forms & Quick Links

To view PDF documents, you may need to install the Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe.com.

Letter of Support
Sevis Fee Payment
Visa Application
Visa Photo Requirements
I-539 Change of Status Application
Application to Change to M-1 Student Status – Attachment to I-539
Request for I-20 Travel Endorsement
Request for M-1 Program Extension
Request for OPT – form I-765