Foreign Students

Foreign Students at Faith Builders

Faith Builders is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. Prospective students from a country other than the United States should submit their applications to Faith Builders by February 1 of the year in which they hope to begin their studies in order to allow adequate time for the visa process. After acceptance as a student at Faith Builders, nonimmigrant students will receive information from Faith Builders about applying for a student visa. Because of visa requirements and practical issues related to cross-cultural living, the application process for foreign students requires additional steps.

Application Requirements

In addition to the admissions packet, a foreign student should include the following with his application:

  1. Name and contact information of his US sponsor. This sponsor should be committed to assisting the student with holiday plans, travel needs, and cultural challenges. Faith Builders may request that the sponsor visit Faith Builders and meet with admissions staff.
  2. A plan for paying for the costs of studying at Faith Builders; this plan should include verification of all sources of funds.
  3. A letter from his pastor describing the applicant’s purpose in life and how the specific training offered by Faith Builders will assist the student in fulfilling that purpose.
  4. A summary of acquaintance with Anabaptists, including church affiliation, pastor or missionary reference, and personal history of interaction and interest.
  5. Score reports from an English proficiency exam, such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE). Faith Builders requires a score of 6 on the Academic module of the IELTS or equivalent score on another exam. This requirement is waived for those whose first language is English.