International Students

Interested in studying in the United States? We are proud to welcome students from countries around the world to our campus in Hollywood, California. If you want to learn about the entertainment industry, there is no better place than attending school in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

The Los Angeles Film School is a nationally-accredited private college with a diverse student population. Our multicultural learning environment celebrates students from every corner of the globe who are passionate about sharing their creative talents with the world. We believe every student deserves an education to create a future for themselves after graduation.

As an international student, you will need to know a few additional enrollment criteria for admissions. After you have completed your Admissions Application and received a conditional letter of acceptance, you’ll receive a detailed email from us listing what documentation you’ll need to submit to receive an I-20 from us. A valid I-20 is required to apply for your F-1 Student Visa.

For more detailed information, visit the Admissions Requirements page.

I-20

The I-20 is a document issued by a U.S. government-approved educational institution certifying that a student has been admitted to a full-time study program and has demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the U.S. The I-20 is officially titled the “Certificate of Eligibility” because it allows an individual to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

You will need to provide several documents for your I-20:

Funds Verification

You must be in possession of sufficient funds to cover your education and living expenses while studying in the U.S. or have sufficient funds that will be made available to you by a sponsor (family member or other individual or entity).

English Proficiency

If your first language is not English, you must demonstrate competence in the English language. This requirement can be satisfied if you:

Attended a high school in the United States
Have a diploma from a secondary school in a system in which English is the official language of instruction
Completed standardized test (SAT, ACT, or GRE) evidencing English comprehension
Completed one or more years of postsecondary education at an English-speaking institution

If none of the above applies to you, you must meet acceptable proof of English Language Proficiency standard through one of the following options:

FOR ASSOCIATE AND BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS

You must present one:

Level 110 certificate of completion of ELS coursework
Official documentation from another accredited ESL program where you have completed an equivalent college-level English language program
An official minimum score on one of the following English proficiency exams:
- 61 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based (iBT)
- 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- A raw score of 66 and an adjusted score of 81 on the Michigan Test of English Proficiency (MTEP)

FOR BACHELOR DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAMS

You must present one:

Level 112 certificate of completion of ELS coursework
Official documentation from another accredited ESL program where you have completed an equivalent college-level English language program
An official minimum score on one of the following English proficiency exams:
- 79 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based (iBT)
- 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

We are also partnered with ELS Educational Services and can provide conditional admission for students who are academically qualified, but who don’t meet our English language proficiency requirements at the time of application. To learn more about this program, locations, start dates and how to apply, visit www.els.edu or email hwd@els.edu.

Proof of High School Graduation/High School Evaluation

You must provide documentation of your high school graduation or passing GED scores prior to starting a program. If you completed high school in another country, a copy of your official transcripts and/or diploma must be submitted with an English translation, if not already in English.

If you graduated from a high school outside of the United States, you must have your academic credentials assessed by an International Foreign Credentials Evaluation service, like SpanTran. The evaluation must show that your credential is equivalent to graduation from an accredited U.S. high school. Detailed instructions on how to order an evaluation will be emailed to you upon acceptance.

I-20 Information Form

The I-20 Information Form is where we get the information we need to create your I-20. It is important you fill out the form using your legal name (as it appears on your passport) and a permanent address for you, located outside of the United States.

Each of our campus degree programs has its own I-20 Information Form. Access to the form for your program will be emailed to you upon acceptance.

Passport

All international visitors to the U.S. are required to have valid passports. As a student, you must have a current passport, valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the U.S.

F-1 VISA

Once you receive your I-20 from us, you must apply for your F-1 Visa and schedule an appointment for your visa interview – usually, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early.

Pay SEVIS Fee

Once you have been accepted, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee, which is currently $350. Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website to learn more about SEVIS and the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

Pay SEVIS Fee here.

Complete Visa Application

After you have been accepted, received your I-20 and paid your SEVIS Fee, you can begin your Nonimmigrant Visa Application, or DS-160 Form.

To do this, you must:

Fill out the online visa application
Print the application confirmation page for your interview

You’ll also need to upload a photo for the online DS-160 Form. Read more about your photo requirements by scrolling to the, “Uploading a Photo to Your DS-160” section of these FAQs here.

Schedule Interview

Make your interview appointment as soon as possible! Wait times for interview appointments vary.

You will schedule your visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate within the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence. Find your embassy/consulate here.

PAYING FOR SCHOOL

Your TechKit^® and first semester (4 months) tuition payment is due 30 days prior to your start date. Should you have any questions about this, reach out to our International Team at internationalreps@lafilm.edu.

HOUSING

We have full-time, dedicated staff available to facilitate your transition to the United States. Our Housing Coordinator can assist you in finding living accommodations or selecting a student roommate.

Upon acceptance, you will be emailed a Housing Guide. Once you have been issued an I-20, our Housing Coordinator will be available to work with you one-on-one. Please note, the majority of our international students stay in a hotel or Airbnb for their first week or two to familiarize themselves with the area before choosing a long-term living arrangement.

Please visit our Housing section for more info or take a virtual tour of our campus. You can also visit our Discover L.A. page to learn more about Los Angeles as a city!

Ready to Apply?

We’re here to help get you started! Visit our Admissions Portal and begin the application process. We’ll pair you with one of our super knowledgeable admissions representatives who will help guide you through the process and answer any questions you might have.