Studying in the US need not be a feat with ROA’s Student Exchange and Visitors Program. Those who are looking for a high school in the US may find that ROA is the right choice. The school is authorized under Federal Law to enroll nonimmigrant students, who must first obtain a student visa to study in the US.
College preparation and English academic studies are the most common reasons our international students enroll in our program. Students from all over the world have come to ROA to spend a year or more learning English, receiving academic instruction in core courses, and experiencing American culture firsthand. As a small private school, we give our students individualized attention and its benefits before they go to college. ROA international students receive i20 documents, allowing them to obtain an F-1 Student Visa to study in the US.
Are you ready to continue your education and build on your experiences? Then ROA is the right place for you. Fully accredited by Cognia (aka SACS) and approved by the State of Texas, all of our programs are designed to help you advance your education or personal life in the US. Our curriculum will get you where you want to be. ROA enrolls students worldwide throughout the year for those whose schedules do not match US schools. Find out more about our learning philosophy and get to know our staff.Cog
Admissions Process & the i20 – F-1 Visa Process
ROA is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. To attend the school, international students must submit an international enrollment application and obtain a US Visa.
The International Enrollment Process:
1. Submit the following documents to ROA at info@riveroaksacademy.com:
a. ROA Enrollment Forms are found here.
b. Copy of Passport
c. Translated Academic Transcripts from 9th Through 12th Grade
d. Copy of Immunization Records (If Available)
e. Copy of Proof of Financial Ability
2. Upon receiving these documents, ROA will email you a DRAFT i20. Check this carefully and request changes to any errors before the i20 is finalized.
3. Once the i20 has been finalized, you will receive a soft copy via email and the original document through the US Postal Service. Expedited mail is available for an additional fee.
4. After receiving the original i20, schedule an appointment online or at the nearest US Consulate, and fill out the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form.
5. Bring all of your original documents to your consulate interview.
6. If you pass the interview, the consulate will inform you and award you an F-1 Visa.
7. Once you have your F-1 Visa, you can plan your travel and contact ROA as soon as possible to schedule your enrollment date. ROA will then prepare your courses and develop a graduation plan.
Helpful Hints:
1. Submit the enrollment form, found here.
2. Submit relevant school and health records.
3. Schedule an admissions appointment. If admitted, you will receive an invoice at the beginning of each month for the services provided.
International Student Housing
Family. Most students at ROA live with extended family members or friends that live in the Houston area. Transportation in Houston is primarily by car and secondarily by bus. There is a bus stop a short walk from the school (Houston Metro routing system here: http://www.ridemetro.org/).
Homestay. There are housing alternatives. Please contact us directly for homestay information.
Health Insurance
Health care in the US is expensive. We highly recommend getting a health insurance policy to help cover the cost of issues that may arise. Student health insurance goes a long way in providing financial protection for ROA enrollees.
International Student Traveling & Cultural Exchange
Traveling to Houston, TX, from abroad is best done by flying into Bush International Airport (IAH) on the northeast side of the city, with bus, taxi, and shuttle service into the main centers of the city (Downtown, Medical Center, and Galleria-Uptown).
ROA in Houston
Houston is a major international port of entry to the US and home to one of the country’s major immigration and customs centers. ROA is located in the city’s northwest quadrant in Holister. Students coming into the country from another port of entry can arrive at Houston-Hobby Airport (HOU), a smaller national airport with some limited international travel. However, anyone traveling to Houston from any major American city can land at HOU.
How to Enjoy the City & Beyond
We encourage our international students to see all that the Houston area has to offer and help them visit several places of interest. We can even assist them with their travel plans outside of the city hub – there’s just so much to see and do!
Home to numerous world-class sites, venues, and museums, Houston is a thrill to explore. ROA takes students to local attractions during the school year for community-based instruction and to help them engage and sign up for extracurricular activities in their neighborhoods. Despite Houston’s size, we go out of our way to assist students in navigating the city to maximize their educational experience.
See what is available in Houston and its surrounding areas by clicking here: http://www.visithoustontexas.com
We also help students engage and sign up for extra-curricular activities in the area of Houston they live in. Houston is a very large city and we can help you quickly navigate it in order to maximize your educational experience.
Famous for its oil and cowboys, the State of Texas has a great deal more to offer beyond its western roots. So much can happen in these nearby areas that ROA students can enjoy.
Click here to see what’s happening in the surrounding areas http://houstondaytrips.com/
Nationally. Traveling within the United States can be challenging. ROA encourages students to travel in the US while they are here. We can help with arrangements and explanations on how to get to the most notable sites and cities in the US.
Traveling within the US can be challenging, but ROA encourages students to do so anyway. We routinely help students with their travel arrangements and how to get to the most notable sites and cities in the US.
“Ambition is enthusiasm with a purpose.”
-Frank Tyger
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”
-Albert Einstein
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston S. Churchill
