International Students
Westbury Christian School is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.
Please contact Mrs. Jean Adams (email: [email protected]) before sending documents to
be sure there is room in the grade you are interested in.
WCS Celebrates Lunar New Year
STEP 1: Transcript, Testing, Interview
The following documents should be mailed, faxed or emailed ([email protected]) to the Admissions Office. If records are approved, the student will be given an appointment for a Zoom Interview. Applicants should speak, understand and read English; Westbury Christian School does not offer a comprehensive ESL program.
- A transcript of the student’s grades for the past 3 years. (Transcript must be in English with a grading scale.) Records must be approved by an administrator at WCS.
- If necessary, we may require the results of an English Proficiency Test for applicants for grades 6-12. Testing is available in most countries. (We will accept TOEFL.Junior, iTEP SLATE, IELTS and other approved English proficiency tests.) Students who want to transfer to Westbury Christian from another school in the United States may be required to take the ISEE test.
- Recent photograph of the student and a paragraph (short essay) written by the student telling us something about themselves. (hobbies, likes, dislikes, family, school, etc.)
- The student will be scheduled for a Zoom Interview with the Principal. The student needs a computer with a working camera for the Zoom Interview.
After the Zoom Interview, applicant will be notified of acceptance or denial within 1-5 days. If applicant is accepted, move on to Step 2.
STEP 2: Documents Required before Issuing the I-20 Document
- Copy of Passport or birth certificate.
- Letter from a reputable Bank (signed by a bank officer) stating that parents, guardian or student has an account of at least $38,000.00. (Proof of financial support is required on I-20 form.) The “Affidavit of Financial Support” must also be completed and submitted. This form can be found here.
- Letter from parents designating a guardian for student while attending school. The letter must be in English, signed by the parents and officially notarized. WCS does not allow students to live by themselves or with other students. Student must live with the guardian.
- Westbury Christian School does not provide homestays for international students. Westbury Christian School will not issue an I-20 document until housing is arranged.
- Copy of student’s immunization record (in English). Record must include all vaccinations from the birth of the student until the current year. WCS requires that students have a complete health examination before coming to the U.S., including the results of a TB test or chest x-ray. All vaccinations must be up-to-date as required by the Houston Health Department.
- Create an account and submit the Online Application with the Fee of $125 USD, including parent information and guardian information. “Household 1” on the application should be the Guardian’s information and “Household 2” should be the Parents’ information. In each area, “Parent/Guardian One” should be the male parent/guardian and “Parent/Guardian Two” should be the female parent/guardian. It is not necessary to list Grandparents who live out of the U.S.
- A WCS Contract signed by the parents of the student. (Contract can be found here.)
STEP 3: Payment of Tuition & Fees
All tuition and fees (listed below) must be paid before receiving the I-20 document, and must be paid with a cashier’s check or bank transfer of funds. If the student does not receive an F1 Visa, all tuition & fees will be refunded, except the Online Application Fee ($125), the Registration Fee ($1,600), and any insurance coverage billed. Tuition and Fees are not refundable, except when F1 is denied.
Tuition & Fees for 2024-2025:*
New Students: $29,260 (Grades 7-8); $31,350 (Grades 9-11)
Returning Students: $23,550 (Grades 7-8); $26,050 (Grades 9-11)
*Includes Registration Fee, lunch, use of laptop computer, Activities Fee, Technology Fee, Math Placement Testing & health (accident and sickness) insurance. Also includes the one-week International Summer Institute for International Students (see information below). Other fees applicable to the student will be billed after enrollment (AP classes, AP textbooks, etc.) Special Note: Tutoring will be required when a student fails English or two other core subjects, and any fees associated will be billed to the student through RenWeb. Westbury Christian School reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from school who is not making satisfactory progress in English and other subjects during the first semester. All tuition and fees paid are non-refundable.
STEP 4: Evaluation of Records (High School Students Only)
Begin the process of the Evaluation of Records (Evaluation must be received prior to the student attending classes.) Evaluation of all high school records by an outside independent agency is required by school administration for all students accepted to Westbury Christian School, with fees being the responsibility of the applicant. The cost of the evaluation (Course Analysis) by Spantran is discounted for future WCS students and is paid to Spantran.Click here to get started.
STEP 5: Issue I-20 Document
The I-20 Document can usually be issued in 24-48 hours of receiving all required documents and payment of tuition and fees. The I-20 document can be emailed to the parent and guardian (approved method of delivery by SEVIS), picked up by the guardian or WCS can send the documents overseas. (The FedEx fee will be charged to the student account.)
STEP 6: Payment of I-901 Fee
All applicants applying for an F-1 Visa must also pay the I-901 Fee. The fee is to be paid to the U.S. Government. It can be paid on-line HERE. (www.fmjfee.com) The family must have the receipt for payment of the I-901 fee before going to the U.S. Consulate/Embassy for the F1 appointment. The student must have a SEVIS identification number (found on the I-20) before the fee can be paid. Go to the SEVIS website for more information (https://www.ice.gov/sevis).
STEP 7: Notification of Results of F1 Interview and Arrival Date in Houston
The student or parent/guardian must notify the Admissions Office at Westbury Christian School as soon as possible regarding the results of the Interview at the American Consulate/Embassy. The Admissions Office also must be notified regarding the date when the student will be arriving in Houston in order that the student can receive an appointment for completion of enrollment. Bring a copy of the approved I-20 document and the student Visa to your appointment. *NOTE: Student may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the start date on the I-20 document.
Other Important Information
International Summer Institute:
The tuition payment includes a one-week International Summer Institute for students entering grades 7-12. Students will receive English instruction as well as orientation for the school year. (Updated information about the Summer Institute will be available in the Spring.)
Uniforms:
Uniforms are required and the cost is not included in the Tuition and Fees listed above. After the student has been approved for an F1 Visa, the family/guardian should order some uniforms through Lands’ End. Orders can be shipped to the school address for the student to pick-up after arriving in Houston, if needed. Click here to order uniforms.
Student Health Insurance:
Westbury Christian School requires that all international students have health (accident and sickness) insurance. The cost of the insurance for the school year is included in the “Tuition and Fees” listed above. Insurance must be renewed every year the student attends Westbury Christian School. Insurance coverage begins August 1st and ends on May 31st for new full year students. For Spring Semester students, coverage begins on January 1st and ends on May 31st. Students may also use a different insurance provider, but must provide the Business Office the document showing “proof of insurance” no later than July 1.
Extended Care for All Students:
Extended Care service is offered by Westbury Christian School as a convenience for working parents/guardians, in an effort to provide reasonable safety and supervision in after school care at a minimal cost ($6 per half hour or any part of a half hour). Students are required to be in Extended Care if they remain anywhere on campus after 3:45 pm, until a parent/guardian picks them up. See the Parent-Student Handbook for more detailed information.