• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services
• U.S. Department of State Travel  

International Exchange Application Steps 

1. International enrollment begins with completion of the Foreign Student Admissions Office (FSAO) I-20 Application Packet.  Click here to download the International Enrollment Application packet and checklist.

2. Complete the application and print out the documents.

3. Provide the original and one copy of all required documents on the I-20 Packet Checklist to the Murrieta FSAO at 41870 McAlby Ct., Murrieta, CA 92562. 

4. The FSAO reviews the I-20 paperwork and forwards the documents to the Murrieta Valley USD Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) to process the I-20 application and complete the student enrollment/records.

5. Applicants must pay the full annual tuition of $15,000.00 to the District. Tuition fees are subject to change June 30. Payments received after June 30th will be charged the revised tuition fee.

6. Upon receiving the completed and reviewed application and confirmation of receipt of tuition, the PDSO will provide the student with the original I-20 and a Tuition Receipt. The I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – For Academic and Language Students will be issued and recorded in the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). 

7. Parents/ guardians must log into the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website to complete the Immigration and Customs Enforcement I-901SEVIS Fee. This must be paid after the I-20 is issued and prior to the student’s visa interview. This (SEVP) SEVIS I-901 fee is paid online and is non-refundable.

8. The F1 applicant then takes the I-20 visa document and certification of payment/Bank Certification of Deposit Letter to the US Consulate to apply for the F1 Visa.

After all requirements above have been met, parent/guardian must notify the Murrieta FSAO, who will then notify the PDSO when the student arrives and starts school. The PDSO activates the student’s records upon confirmation of enrollment. Any change of residence or school status must be reported to the FSAO.

• Travel Insurance is not required or furnished by MVUSD. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to adequately insure the student in case of emergency. Students may not incur any public expense while a visitor in the United States.
• School of attendance must be an MVUSD school. Students may not attend a school outside of MVUSD using an I-20 issued by the MVUSD. 
• Grade and Course Placement – Students will be placed in grades 9 – 12 based on age and transcript evaluation. Students need to be proficient in English.  The academic counselor will determine the appropriate coursework.
• Diplomas – A high school diploma is not guaranteed and is dependent on the units accepted from the transcript evaluation completed by the academic counselor.  Some previous coursework may not be transferrable. English classes taken in a non-English speaking country are generally treated as foreign language courses and may not count towards the MVUSD English requirements. Determination of acceptable coursework will be made by the academic counselor based on transcripts submitted from previous schools and completion of all MVUSD graduation requirements within the student’s term of study.
• Tuition:  The tuition is $15,000.00 for all F1 students, which means that international students generate revenue for the district. 
• Tuition Refund Policy:  If a student is unable to get the F-1 Visa, the full amount of the tuition will be refunded. If a student begins school, then transfers or terminates prior to the end of 1st semester, tuition will not be refunded for the current semester. If the student transfers or terminates after the first semester, without attending any day of the second semester, the tuition amount for the second semester will be refunded. Refunds will be paid only to the remitter of the wire transfer on the receipt for payment. 
• Applications are accepted annually from February 1–May 20 for full year or 1st semester enrollment. The deadline for 2nd semester only enrollment is October 20th.  Sufficient time should be allowed to complete the application, obtain the I-20, attend the visa interview at the U.S. Consulate and travel to the U.S. prior to school start date.
• School Year  MVUSD schools generally start during the second week in August.  Parents are encouraged to confirm all semester start and end dates on the school year calendar. Students may arrive in the country 30 days prior to the school start date, but may not start school after the start date on the approved I-20.
• Travel after arrival  Once a student arrives for attendance, travel outside of the United States requires the guardian to complete a Request for Travel I-20 and submit this form to the PDSO. Except in case of emergency, this travel document is only issued when the student is not required to be in school. The guardian must notify the school of attendance of all travel plans prior to any absence incurred. If approved, the PDSO will issue the Travel I-20 to the guardian.
• Transfers – The I-20 record may be transferred to another institution when the following documents have been received by the PDSO:
• The Request for Transfer Form signed by the student and guardian.