FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if my English skills are sufficient?
All classes, workshops and activities are conducted in English. For all programs, participants must have a
working knowledge of English. Although not required, if you have taken the TOEFL examination, a score of at
least 500 (173 computer-based) is suggested. With minimal difficulty, you should be able to:
- substantially understand a U.S. television news program or documentary
- read and understand the main concepts of an article from a U.S. newspaper such as The Wall Street Journal
- draft a business letter or contract using basic English language (mistakes are expected!)
- participate in discussions with other participants and faculty
- prepare and deliver an oral report
Fluency is not necessary. Although strongly encouraged, participants are not required to participate in classroom
discussions. However, the better your language skills and the more you participate, the more you will benefit from
the program. No participant understands everything and nobody is able to complete all of the reading assignments
(even those participants from English-speaking countries!). All professors and instructors take into consideration the
varying English skills of the students and make sure that everybody is challenged and nobody is left out.
Will I get academic credit from an American university?
No. Although the Institute's programs are held on university campuses and professors from U.S. law schools
participate, the Institute and its programs are not affiliated with or sponsored by any university. Participants will not be enrolled as
university students and will receive no university credit. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, each
participant will receive a Certificate of Completion and written evaluation, if desired.
Does the Institute offer an LL.M. program?
No. The Institute is a private organization and not affiliated with or sponsored by any university. Questions about
graduate programs should be directed to a law school. For information about law schools in the United States,
visit: www.abanet.org
Can the Institute help get me a student visa?
Yes. Although most participants who require a visa enter the United States with a tourist or business visa, the
American Institute for Legal Education is authorized by the U.S. government to issue Form I-20 (certificate of
eligibility for an F-1 Student Visa). The Form I-20 will only be issued after receipt of the enrollment fee.
Can The Institute Help Me Get A Business/Tourist Visa?
If you request, we can provide you with a letter confirming your participation in one of our programs.
This is generally helpful in countries where it may be difficult to obtain a visa for the United States.
United States government visa information: http://www.travel.state.gov/
If a visa is required from your country, you can likely enter the United States with a B-status visa, which allows
non-immigrants to visit the United States temporarily for business (B-1 status: includes participation in educational,
professional, or business conventions or conferences, or to undertake independent research) or temporarily for pleasure
(B-2 status: includes legitimate activities of a recreational character) or for both business and pleasure (B-1/B-2 status).
A B-2 visa can also be issued to a person who: (1) intends to become an F-1 student but has not yet chosen a particular
school and wishes to visit schools before making a selection or (2) has been accepted as an F-1 student by a particular
school and has a Form I-20A-B but intends to enter the United States more than 90 days before school opens.
Under the terms of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, people from several countries can be admitted without a visa if
they can be classified as a B-1 (business) or B-2 (pleasure) visitor, intend to visit the United States for a period
not exceeding 90 days, and possess a roundtrip transportation ticket.
May I Contact Former Participants?
Although we respect the privacy of our participants, almost all have given permission to be contacted by potential
applicants who would like to get a personal perspective on the programs. Upon request, we will give you contact
information for past participants from your country and elsewhere.
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