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International Applicants

Albany Law School welcomes students from around the world. We are recognized for our excellent academic programs and our close-knit community. As an international student, you bring a new perspective to an already welcoming and diverse community. While U.S. legal job opportunities expand, the demand for talented individuals with your diverse and multilingual background has continued to grow. Albany Law School is authorized under Federal law to recruit and enroll non immigrant students [8 C.F.R. § 214.3].

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Ravi Sachania

Apply as an International Student if you:

Wish to study in the United States under a student visa (F-1), or if you currently hold an F-1 or F-2 visa.

Required Application Materials

Apply to Albany Law School at least four months before the intended date of enrollment in order to allow adequate time to apply for a non-immigrant student visa from your home country.  To apply, complete the application process and submit all supporting documents directly to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC):

 

 

  • How to Apply 
  • Once admitted to Albany Law School, in order to obtain an I-20, the following documents will be required:
    • Receipt of official offer of admission.   
    • A completed and signed International Student Financial Statement Form (ISFS) to document the applicant’s ability to pay the cost of attendance, and to prepare the I-20 that is necessary to obtain the F-1 student visa.    
    • Affidavit(s) of Support and Bank Statement(s) – (see ISFS form)
    • Letter of Sponsorship, if sponsored by a foreign government - (see ISFS form)
    • A copy of a valid Passport (with your city/country of birth noted)

Evidence of English Proficiency*

All international applicants for the MS, JD, LL.M., or ILL.M. programs are required to provide evidence of English proficiency if English was NOT the primary language in which their prior education was delivered. TOEFL® or IELTS is preferred. TOEFL® Minimum score Albany Law School:  Spring 2023 - 580 on paper (score range 310 to 677); 250 on computer (score range 0 to 300); and 100 on Internet-based (score range 0 to 120). Albany Law School’s IELTS minimum band score is: 6.0

* If your language of instruction was not English, the transcripts must be evaluated by LSAC.

Applying for an F-1 Student Visa

  • Receive an acceptance letter from the Office of Admissions, and commit to Albany Law School (receipt showing proof of payment of the required seat deposit):
  • Submit a completed International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form. This personalized ISFS form will be issued by the Designated School Officer (DSO) within the Office of Admissions once you are ready to begin the enrollment process.
    • All non-immigrant students seeking a visa to study at Albany Law School must provide proof of financial support. Submit a completed ISFS form together with any certified sponsors statement and official bank statement(s). All documented sources of financial support must be in English, in U.S. dollars, and dated within six months of enrolling at Albany Law School.
  • A copy of valid Passport is required.
  • Once you have completed and submitted the International Student Financial Statement form along with all supporting documents to the DSO within the Office of Admissions, you will be notified of your I-20 eligibility. Students are not guaranteed an I-20.
  • Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee to SEVP  
  • Complete the visa application and pay all required fees – on the U.S. Embassy’s website.
  • Schedule your interview with the closest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.
  • For tips on preparing for your F-1 student visa interview: visit this link.

International Students Transferring In:

If you are already living and working in the U.S. we can work with you to complete the F-1 student transfer process.  You can request that your current U.S. University/College transfer your active F-1 record to Albany Law School through SEVIS.  Albany Law School’s SEVIS Code is: BUF214F10322000

Questions

Contact Pershia Wilkins, Associate Director of Admissions & SEVIS - Designated School Officer at: (518) 445-2326 or email: pwilk@albanylaw.edu

Other Resources:

Conditional Admissions Option

IELTS and TOEFL Information

Albany Law School offers a conditional admission option for international lawyers who meet all admission requirements except the minimum English language requirement for regular admission to the law school.

Students admitted under this program will be required to apply and be accepted into the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) offered by the University at Albany. Students must complete both an Albany Law School Application and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) application. Students must be accepted by the IELP program and then will be conditionally admitted to the Albany Law School program.

Application fees for acceptance to the Albany Law School application shall be paid directly to the law school. A fee for the IELP application must be submitted directly to the University at Albany.

Conditionally admitted students will be issued an I-20 by UAlbany for the language program.

Upon successful completion of IELP, students will be able to matriculate as full-time law students at Albany Law School and the SEVIS record will be transferred and the Law School will issue an I-20 for the law program. For more information about the Intensive English Language Program, go to www.albany.edu/ielp.