International

International students from more than 80 countries make up about one quarter of the student body - giving Lynn the largest population of international students among universities our size in the Southeast.

Who is considered an international student?

  • a citizen of a country other than the United States who holds a passport from that country
  • a United States citizen whose permanent home address is outside of the United States
  • a permanent resident of the United States

Applying to Lynn University

  1. Complete an application for admission.
  2. Submit the $45 application fee paid in one of the following ways:
    • check drawn from a U.S. bank account
    • international money order
    • credit card
  3. Submit a personal statement or essay.
  4. Submit a letter of recommendation.
  5. Permanent residents: submit a copy of your green card. Non-immigrant visa holders: submit a copy of the biographical page from your passport and your visa page (if already in the United States).
  6. Submit official school documents/transcripts. All educational documents must be accompanied by original English translations and must carry the seal or stamp of the issuing educational institution. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable.
  7. If English is not your first language, official TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language or IELTS International English Language Testing System test results are required.
    • Undergraduate: TOEFL score of 525+ (197 CBT or 71 IBT) or IELTS score 6.0+
    • Graduate: TOEFL score of 550+ (213 CBT or 80 IBT) or IELTS score of 6.5+
  8. Submit SAT/ACT official scores. These are required for students applying for academic scholarships, or for student-athletes wishing to compete in Lynn University varsity sports.

For international students who require an F-1 Non-Immigrant Visa

The Center for Learning Abroad offers immigration advising to international students, among other services. The office is responsible for issuing the I-20 and maintaining your immigration file.

Process for Form I-20
  1. Complete the Source of Funding Form and submit with an official bank letter.
  2. If you are currently studying in the United States on an F-1 student visa and are transferring from another U.S. institution, you must submit a Transfer Eligibility Form for International Students.
  3. If you have more than one year of university-level study, please send official English-translated course descriptions for evaluation. You do not need to submit secondary school records.
How to apply for an F-1 Visa

More information about applying for an F-1 Visa is available on the U.S. Department of State web site.

  1. You must have a valid SEVIS I-20 form properly completed by the Designated School Official (DSO).
  2. Make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you currently live.  Apply for your visa as early as possible. Visa processing times vary widely by consulate. You may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before the I-20 report date. If you try to enter the United States after the report date, you may encounter difficulty with immigration at the Port of Entry.
  3. Before your appointment date, make sure you have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the expiration date; also you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee before your visit. You can pay online at www.fmjfee.com.
  4. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to meet expenses while studying in the United States. In addition, the F-1 non-immigrant student visa category requires proof that you have a residence in a foreign country that you have no intention of abandoning. Proof may consist of bank accounts, ownership of property, or evidence of family and familial assets.  A consular officer must be satisfied that you will leave the United States after you finish your studies.
  5. You must show that you are sufficiently fluent in English.
  6. Once approved, the F-1 visa will be placed by the consular officer in your passport, which will note the validity date and the number of entries.  The SEVIS I-20 and supporting financial documents will be placed in a sealed envelope.  PLEASE DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE and carry it with your passport when you travel.  It will be opened by the Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your arrival at the Port of Entry.  If you don’t have your SEVIS I-20 form when you arrive in the U.S, the immigration officer may grant a 30-day “date certain” admission by issuing the I-515 temporary admission form. If you should receive this form, bring it, your passport and your I-94 to our office. This is an urgent matter that needs prompt attention.
  7. If you encounter any difficulty obtaining your visa, please contact Lisa Ward.
Plan your arrival at Lynn
  • Give yourself the best possible start. Arrive a few days before international student orientation.
  • Take advantage of the early check-in at your Lynn room (1 day before other students arrive).
  • Attend the International Student Orientation Program.
  • Make sure your account is paid in full before you arrive.
  • Arrange to have U.S. money available upon your arrival in the United States.
  • Do not carry large sums of cash. Traveler’s checks are safer.
  • If you wish, you may arrange to ship some of your belongings to Lynn up to 2 weeks before you arrive on campus. Address the boxes to:

    your name
    c/o Lynn University
    3601 N. Military Trail
    Boca Raton, FL 33431
    USA
Required health insurance for F-1 international students

As an F-1 international student, you are required to have special health insurance coverage while enrolled at Lynn. The insurance is offered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI).  To learn more about this policy, please contact Regina Theisen.

Tax Information

The U.S. Government regulations stipulate that the University must report all institutional scholarships that exceed the cost of tuition and fees for all its Non Resident Alien (NRA) students. A withholding of 14% will be assessed to those students that are from a country that does not have the scholarship or fellowship grant reciprocal treaty. The amount will be charged to the student’s tuition account. Further information is available.

Fall and Spring semester withholding taxes are billed at the beginning of each semester. If the student’s total scholarship amount is greater than the qualifying expenses (tuition & fees), the student will print their own 1042-S for each calendar year from their myLynn. This form will be available by March 15th of each year. The student will use this form to help complete their U.S. income tax reports.

Immigration resources:
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