Skip to content

International Student Services

Orange Arrow Academic and English Support
Orange Arrow Health Insurance Information
Orange Arrow Driver's License
Orange Arrow Social Security Cards
Orange Arrow Taxes
Orange Arrow Prepare for your Arrival
Orange Arrow Career Services, Jobs, OPT and Internships
Orange Arrow Transfer after Snow College

 

Academic and English Support

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes

Academic English skills are an essential part of success in college, and if your native language is not English, you will need to demonstrate your language proficiency.

When you apply to Snow College for direct entry into mainstream college classes, we require one of the following scores from an English language placement test:

  • IELTS – 6.0
  • TOEFL – 63 (minimum 15 per section)
  • Duolingo – 100 (minimum 85 per section)

If your academic English skills need improvement, Snow College has an excellent English as a Second Language Program (ESL) to help you succeed.

Created in 1976, Snow College has one of the best English language programs in the western United States. With its small classes (12 students on average), convenient campus, and excellent teachers, Snow College offers some real advantages over larger schools.

How does the ESL program work?

  • Students attend classes 5 days a week for 4-5 hours a day.
  • When you arrive on campus, you will take an English test to help determine your level.
  • Snow College ESL classes are divided into 4 levels, with each one helping you improve your skills in grammar, listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
  • Most students take 8 weeks to pass each of the 4 levels, so you could finish all 4 levels in just 2 semesters.
  • Classes taken in levels 3 and 4 count as 11.5 credits toward graduation.
  • You will have a seamless transition into mainstream college classes after completing the ESL program with a passing grade of 85%.

Is there more help available?

There is! We also run a regular schedule of Conversation Classes, which help you practice English with native speakers in a more relaxed, natural setting. There’s no set curriculum or homework – just turn up and talk! It’s a great way to meet new people, work on your speaking skills or accent, and improve your listening skills.

If you’re interested in receiving extra academic or linguistic support, get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to explain some more options.

In-person and online tutoring

At Snow College, we have many ways to support your academic journey. For example, our Academic Advising Center has a wealth of online resources and it's easy to make an appointment with them any time. In addition, our Math Lab and Writing Lab give you daily access to professors and student-tutors and we even offer free online tutoring through Tutor.com which is available on-demand, 24 hours a day. Learn more about our Tutoring Services.

 

“People are very welcoming here, and the professors are willing to help at any time,” says Durli Ahojayeva of Turkmenistan, who is in her fifth year at Snow and is studying software engineering.

 

Health Insurance

LewerMark LogoThe cost of medical services in the United States can be quite expensive, especially when treating major issues or emergencies. For this reason, all international students attending Snow College are required to purchase a health insurance policy through LewerMark, our current health insurance partner. If you are an exchange student, government-sponsored student, or a US passport holder, we can waive this requirement.

The coverage offered through the Snow College LewerMark policy is better than most U.S. citizens have with their own policies. For example, the policy offers 500,000 USD coverage per illness or accident. It also has evacuation and repatriation benefits.

Snow College will assist students in knowing how to go about purchasing a policy. You will automatically be registered for insurance once you register for classes.

For more details on the policy we offer, see LewerMark.com

 

Utah Driver's License

Monument Valley RoadObtaining a Utah Driver’s License is possible for international students. If you have a license in your home country, you will need to take a written and driving test and pay a fee. If you don’t have a license in your country you will need to take a driving license course before you can take the written and driving test. For more information, see https://dld.utah.gov/. You must have an appointment in order to apply for a license. Click here to schedule your appointment. You can also fill out your application online here.

Students with a current foreign driver’s license will need to bring the following information to the DMV:

  • Valid license from another country
  • Valid passport with visa
  • Form I-94 (I-94’s can be printed from the I-94 website)
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Form SSA-L676: “Refusal to Process SSN Application”. This will require you to apply for a Social Security Number.
  • Proof of Utah Residency (two of the following)
    • Bank Statements
    • Court Document
    • Rental contract
    • Major credit card bill
    • School transcript
    • Utility Bill (cell phone bills are not accepted)

Students without a current foreign driver’s license will need to bring the following information to the DMV:

  • Certificate of completion of a driver education course
  • Valid passport with visa
  • Form I-94 (I-94’s can be printed from the I-94 website)
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Form SSA-L676: “Refusal to Process SSN Application”. This will require you to apply for a Social Security Number.
  • Proof of Utah Residency (two of the following)
    • Bank Statements
    • Court Document
    • Rental contract
    • Major credit card bill
    • School transcript
    • Utility Bill (cell phone bills are not accepted)

 

Social Security Number

Social Security CardSocial Security numbers are generally assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. Social Security numbers are used to report your earnings and wages to the government. More details can be found here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10181.pdf.

 

Job Offer

If you have a job offer (on-campus or off-campus), you will need to apply in person at the closest Social Security office located in Provo, Utah. Please work with the Center for Global Engagement to find out when the next Social Security trip will take place. You will need to gather the following documents:

  • Passport
  • I-20: **Please make sure your personal information on your passport is the SAME as the information on your I-20.
  • I-94: Print this from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
  • Letter from Employer on letterhead, signed by your boss
  • Letter from the Center for Global Engagement
  • Copy of your birth certificate
  • Application (from the Center for Global Engagement and Social Security office)

 

Drivers License Only

If you need a “denial” letter in order to apply for a driver license, please bring the following items to the Center for Global Engagement for help applying:

  • Passport
  • I-20: **Please make sure your personal information on your passport is the  SAME as the information on your I-20.
  • I-94: Print this form from: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
  • Letter from the Center for Global Engagement office
  • Application (from CGE or Social Security office).

For more information please contact Nobue Swenson:

ude.wons@nosnews.eubon

 

Filing Tax Returns in the USA

International students going to school in the United States should file an IRS form 8843 whether you have to file a tax return or not. Forms and tax returns typically must be filed before April 15th each year. Snow College cannot provide you specific tax advice so you should carefully consider your own situation and determine what tax form to file.

The US taxing agency known as "IRS" provides information for Foreign Students and Scholars at: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-students-and-scholars and a publication every year called Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens which can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-519.

 

Who Needs to File Taxes?

There are a variety of situations for international students that can initiate the need to file with the IRS, such as:

  • If an international student or scholar did not receive any income, they need to file Form 8843.
  • If an international student or scholar did receive income in the last calendar year, then they would need to file Form 8843 and most likely Form 1040NR-EZ
  • Dependents (including spouses and children of all ages) are also required to file Form 8843 if they were in the US during the previous calendar year.
  • Every individual, regardless of whether they are one family, will need to file their own Form 8843 and send it to the appropriate address included on the tax form or tax form instructions in a separate envelope.

Sprintax is an online company that can help you file your taxes for a fee. We have referred students to them for many years, as they provide a very comprehensive service with intuitive software and helpful instructions. You can refer to the Sprintax Instruction Document for more information and help, in addition to the videos.

InternationalStudent.com also has a helpful site which you can refer to for tax questions.