Bank Street School for Children is a day school and does not provide boarding or coordinate living arrangements for international students. All international students that wish to attend Bank Street must be living with immediate family members while in New York.
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International Students
Bank Street School for Children is a private school in New York City serving students ages 3–14. At Bank Street, students learn by doing, which helps them grow as critical thinkers, problem solvers, and creators. In the process, they develop a lifelong love of learning as they build the skills essential for success in school and life.
Bank Street is a diverse community that welcomes families from across New York City and surrounding areas. The School for Children has also enrolled international students from a number of countries—including China, India, Nepal, and Spain, among others.
If you currently live outside of the United States and are moving to New York City, see below for more information about the application process to Bank Street. For additional information and questions regarding an I-20 Form or F-1 visa, please email Andrew Ford, Director of Finance, Operations & Analytics, at aford@bankstreet.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Bank Street School for Children a boarding school?
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Is Bank Street School for Children an international school?
International schools are typically composed of students who have citizenships in other nations. Bank Street’s student body is racially and culturally diverse, but the majority of our students are only United States citizens. Similar to international schools, our curriculum values the multicultural experiences of our students and integrates international perspectives during studies of history and other content areas.
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What languages are spoken at Bank Street?
The primary language at the school is English; however, we do have a Spanish language exposure program starting in our Lower School and the choice of Spanish language studies or French language studies in the Upper School.
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How is Bank Street's application process different for international students?
International students and families go through the same application process as local applicants. The child’s visit part of our admissions process can be conducted virtually over Zoom.
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Is there financial aid available for international students?
We do not typically have financial aid available for international students.
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What is the Form I-20?
A Form I-20—or Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status—is an important document issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security that provides information on a student’s F or M status and is required for accepted international students to enter the United States. Once accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school—like Bank Street School for Children—international students will receive a Form I-20 from their designated school official (DSO).
International students must be enrolled and the full tuition must be paid before a Form I-20 is issued. When you receive an I-20, you can either choose to receive the I-20 electronically with a digital signature or as a printed and signed physical paper. If you receive an electronically signed I-20, you must print out the I-20 and carry a physical copy when using it for travel or other official purposes. Be sure to keep all old I-20s for your records, but use the newest version for travel or other purposes.
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How is the Form I-20 used?
Outside the US: After receiving an I-20 from a school, an international student must make an appointment to apply for an F-1 visa at a US Embassy or Consulate (the visa is needed to be allowed entry into the United States in F-1 status). Students must present both the F-1 visa and the I-20 to a US Customs and Border Protection officer upon arrival at the US port of entry.
Inside the US: Once a student has arrived in the United States and passes through the border inspection process (either at an airport, seaport, or land border), the I-20 is used as identification and proof of legal and academic status. Typically, students must show their I-20 at the Social Security Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The I-20 is also shown to employers in the hiring process for employment. Off-campus employment information and/or authorization will be printed on page 2 of the I-20.
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Can parents come to the US while their children study?
Yes. Parents of minor international students on F-1 visas also have an option to accompany their child and stay with them for the duration of their academic program. This is done through applying for a B-2 visa. The specific process for receiving a B-2 visa will depend on the US Embassy or Consulate where you apply.