Student visa - how do I get my grades transferred?

Question

A good friend of mine will be applying to study in the States, hopefully this Fall. How would she go about getting her German grades translated/transferred to the school she will be applying to and how much typically does it cost?

Also, I know that foreign students generally have to pass a test, correct? If she is past the deadline for taking the test does anyone know if she can extend her current Visa (she's here as an au pair until August) until she can get accepted to this University? Or will she need to fly back to Germany for three or four months?

Thanks, as usual, Yahoo Answers Community!!

Answer 1

I would not use just any third party to translate her grades since none of them are really 'recognized' and each one will give a different evaluation of them. I would contact the school(s) which she hoping to attend and ask them which third party they use, if any or for a list of third parties which they would accept. If her grades are just for high-school, then there is no need graduating from high-schools in Europe are the equivilent of starting in the freshman year at college. If she has done higher-education in Germany, then contact the school(s) like I said. This way she does not waste her money on some agency which the school do not use or accept. Some school webstes will also have this information on their website, others do not, so it is worth doing some research there.

Yes, all students regardless of citizenship are required to take the SAT unless of course, they apply to a community college. Furthermore since she is a German citizen and English is not her first language, then she is also required to take the TOEFL, regardless of what school she applies to.

Regarding her extending her stay in the United States, as you may or may not know that anyone who is on a J1 visa is allowed to remain in the United States until the date specified on Form DS-2019 (which she will have in her possession). Once this date arrives, she as a 30 day grace period in which she can use however she sees fit. What she must do during her remaining time (about four months) is to start applying to schools ASAP and then await what is known as Form I-20.

Once she as got her I-20, she can then file Form I-539, this is an application to extend/adjust status. She will be adjusting to an F1 student visa. Read the instructions to the to the Form carefully and submit all of the documentation it ask for to change status to an F1 student along with the completed I-539.  

If she does not receive her I-20 before her 30 days grace period is about end, then she must return back to the United States.

Answer 2

www.wes.org is a good grade translator, I used it to transfer mine for the US from Canada.