The Acupressure Institute welcomes international students in the US on a valid visa. Obtaining a Tourist Visa may be the easiest way to complete our 6 to 8 week intensive programs due to a short duration. For our 850-hour Acupressure Therapy Program, which takes a year or more of study, we encourage you to obtain a M-1 Student Visa.

Steps for Obtaining a M-1 Student Visa & Studying at the Acupressure Institute:

1. Apply for Admission to the Acupressure Institute.
2. Be Accepted for Admission.
3. Receive your I-20 Form
4. Apply for a Student Visa (M-1)
5. Arrive in US & Report to the Acupressure Institute

1. Application Requirements:

• Minimum Age of 18
• Interview with an Acupressure Institute Counselor in person or via telephone.
• $150 non-refundable International Student Application Fee payable in US funds by check, money order, or credit card.
• Complete Application Forms: 1)International Student Application, 2) Application for Admission, 3)Enrollment Agreement, 4)Student Health Form, and 5)Student Information Form for program(s) you are applying for.
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• Evidence of Financial Resources: Please send a copy of a recent (within 60 days of application date) bank statement (or an equivalent) to document funds that will be available to you during your studies in the United States. Our estimate of funds needed includes basic living and school related expenses. We estimate a minimum of $16,000 US per year (or fraction thereof) will be required.
• Personal Essay: Write a one page (approximately 250 words) typed essay of your educational goals and the reasons you are interested in studying at the Acupressure Institute.
• Student Health Status: Potential students need to provide the results of a recent (within 3 months of application) Health Exam. Exam must show either no communicable diseases OR that any communicable disease is managed in a way that safeguards the health and safety of other students in the training. We treat all health information as confidential.

3. Receive Your I-20 Form
Once your program deposit is received, we will send you an I-20 form and schedule a detailed program counseling appointment for you.

4. Apply for a Student Visa (M-1)

• Obtain a valid passport from your government
• Make an appointment with the U.S. Consulate at the US Embassy nearest you. You may ask them which documents you need to apply for an M-1 visa besides the I-20 form and Financial Documents, (it varies from country to country)
• Complete the I-901 form and pay the SEVIS fee ($100)
• Apply for a Student (M-1) visa at the U.S. Consulate. Take the following documents to your appointment with the U.S. Consulate:
• I-20 form that you have received from the Acupressure Institute
• A copy of your financial statement (the same statement you submitted to the Acupressure Institute)
• Verification/receipt of your SEVIS fee payment
• If the consulate grants your visa, they will place a visa stamp on your passport and return the I-20 form to you.
• Buy your plane ticket. You may make a reservation ahead of time, but is recommended you not purchase the tickets until your visa is approved.

1. Evidence of Financial Resources. You must present documentation in the form of a bank statement (or equivalent) to indicate that there are enough funds available to you while you are studying in the United States. This estimate includes living and school related expenses. We estimate a minimum of $16,000 per year (or fraction thereof)
2. Evidence of Student Status, such as our letter of acceptance, recent tuition payment receipts, and transcripts;
3. Form I-20 and I-797 (your paper receipt for the SEVIS fee)
4. Designated School Official name and contact information, including an emergency contact number at the school.