Applicants who are not United States of America citizens or permanent residents must petition Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico to issue official forms required by the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services (BICS). Upon completion of these forms and acceptance, these applicants will be classified as international students.
An applicant desiring to enroll as an international student must submit the following documents:
International Applicants with Form I-20
1. Fill the Application for Admission.
2. Make payment of sixfty dollars ($60.00) application fee. The application fee is non refundable and will not be applicable toward the student’s registration charges.
3. Submit an official transcript certified by the educational institution and validated by the Ministry of Education of the applicant’s home country as well as a USA academic equivalence certification for that degree certified by an accredited evaluation firm (World Education Services, Inc.; Educational Evaluation, Inc. etc.). The academic equivalence certification must include the equivalent U.S.A. degree with a detailed evaluation, course by course, of an official transcript from the educational institution in the candidate’s home country. The document must be sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Office, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.
4. Copy of Birth Certificate or Passport.
5. Demonstrate financial capacity to complete the required program, if personally by means of a funds availability certificate from the candidate’s banking institution or:
a. Submit a sworn statement by the person that will cover the costs of the studies, indicating the annual amount assigned for this purpose and
b. Submit a copy of the Income Tax return of the person, residing in U.S. territory that will cover the cost of the studies or, if self financed, submit a letter from the applicant’s banking institution, certifying availability of funds to cover the studies.
6. Applicants may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The International Student Adviser offers information, counseling, and assistance on Federal Regulations related to maintaining the student status. The adviser is located at the Registrar’s Office.