Palmer College of Chiropractic

Academic Programs

International Students

This information is for applicants to Palmer College of Chiropractic who are not citizens of the United States. It supplements information in the College Bulletin. Application for admission to Palmer College for the Associate of Science in Chiropractic Technology degree program should be made at least six months in advance. If you have any questions contact:

Lisa Gisel
Palmer College of Chiropractic
1000 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52803
(563) 884-5743
From Canada (800) 722-3648

In addition to the admissions requirements, international students must also consider the following:

Beginning September 1, 2004, all international students in F-1 status, planning to attend a U.S. educational institution, must pay a mandatory $100 (USD) fee for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This mandatory fee will be credited by Palmer College to the first trimester tuition statement at the time of matriculation, with the exception of transfer students from other Doctor of Chiropractic programs.

If the applicant is from a country where English is not the native language, the applicant needs to submit proof of English proficiency. A suitable method of establishing English proficiency is through testing by the Institution for International Education of the U.S. State Department. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be taken at a United States Embassy or Consulate. You may contact TOEFL directly to learn the location of the test site nearest you: Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154 or at their Web site at http://www.toefl.org. The applicant must request that the test results be sent to Palmer College of Chiropractic, Undergraduate Admissions Department. Photocopies will not be accepted. Palmer College’s institutional code is 6593. A minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL written examination (or computer score of 173) is required for entry into the Undergraduate Program. The College reserves the right to require additional training in English of prospective students either before or concurrently with their first two trimesters of enrollment if such training is deemed necessary and appropriate.

It may be necessary that the applicant’s educational credentials showing course work completed outside the United States or Canada be evaluated by an approved evaluation agency in the United States. Traditionally, Palmer College has used World Education Service, P.O. Box 11623 Chicago, Illinois, 60611-0623; Phone (800) 937-3898; Web site: www.wes.org. The applicant must request that the evaluating agency forward an official copy of the evaluation to the Undergraduate Admissions Department. Transcripts from some Canadian educational institutions can be evaluated by the Admissions Department and need not go through an evaluation agency. Please check with the Undergraduate Studies Department for a current listing.

The applicant must furnish Palmer College with the Foreign Student Certification of Finances form documenting the applicant’s financial ability to pay for his or her educational expenses. This form is available from the college and must be returned o the Undergraduate Admissions Department when completed. Please complete all sections of the form before returning it. Palmer College of Chiropractic will need to be notified of any dependents, as the amount of the financial verification provided will increase based on the number of dependents.

After Palmer College has received the Certification of Finances form and the tuition deposit, official acceptance will be granted and the applicant will be sent the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Form I-20. The I-20 form must be presented to the U.S. Immigration Officer at the United States port of entry. The applicant (except Canadian citizens) must make an appointment with a United States embassy or consulate in his/her own country, to obtain an F-1 student visa. The applicant must also pay a one-time SEVIS fee before reporting to the embassy/consulate and before traveling to the U.S. port of entry. The Admissions Department will send SEVIS fee information to the applicant. The I-20 form and other required documents must be presented to the border official at the United States port of entry. The student will be authorized to enter the United States in F-1 status and dependents will enter in F-2 status. At the port of entry, the I-94 Arrival/ Departure form will be issued to the student and each dependent. The student is expected to keep the I-94 form in available possession at all times.

Pending U.S. government legislation, international students and their dependents may be required to carry health and accident insurance. Students in F-1 status are permitted to work part-time on campus and F-2 dependents are not allowed to work on or off campus. Off-campus “work permits” are issued to students at the discretion of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the completion of the academic year, if the student can document severe economic hardship.

The school is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant students.

International students concurrently attending more than one educational institution must provide information to the Undergraduate Studies department verifying registration and immigration status.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts from each school attended outside of the United States must be sent directly from the school to World Education Service or another approved evaluation agency. Exceptions may be made for certain schools that issue transcripts in English. Many Canadian colleges (excluding Quebec) can be evaluated by the Department of Admissions. The complete list of schools appears in the Palmer College of Chiropractic Bulletin. A Request for Evaluation form was enclosed with your application. Our evaluation of your previous education is based on the evaluator's report. Official transcripts must also be requested from each college attended and sent directly to the Admission Department at Palmer College. Unofficial transcripts are unacceptable.

Financial Aid

A source of financial aid may be funding from the student's home government, through loans, grants and scholarship programs. Other sources of funding include sponsorship and parental assistance. External aid programs are open to international students. Student employment positions can be obtained in various college departments.

Ability To Pay Statement

An 'Ability to Pay Statement' is required of applicants in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. A bank or other recognized agency must furnish Palmer College with a certification of the applicant's financial ability to pay his/her educational expenses. The statement must show that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to support one year of education at Palmer College. The U.S. Department of Justice requires that Palmer College keep this information as part of the applicant's permanent file. Details on costs have been enclosed with the application, and may also be found in the Palmer College of Chiropractic Catalog. The financial statement must be sent directly from the financial institution to the Admissions Department, Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Employment Of Spouses

When students enter the United States, they are assigned F-1 status by the U.S. Immigration Service at the port of entry. Spouses of students are usually assigned F-2 (dependent) status. F-2 dependents are not allowed to work in the United States. Spouses may be able to change to a working status (H) if approved by the U.S. Immigration Service (INS). The F-2 spouse (or other dependent family member) must locate an employer willing to complete an application for hiring a non-citizen. The application process may take several months. Canadian citizens with a four-year degree may be eligible to receive the T/C working status.

Money Exchange

It is much easier and quicker to get your money exchanged before coming to the Quad Cities.

Housing Help

If you give us advance notice you are coming, we will try to get someone from your country to assist you in locating housing.

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