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The William Esper Studio is proud to maintain an international Visa Program, through which students from outside the US can receive M-1 Visa status to enroll in the Full-Time Two Year Conservatory Program or the Full-Time Summer Intensive.

International students must follow the regular interview process before the visa process can begin.

The William Esper Studio is authorized by the United States Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enroll non-immigrant students who obtain M-1 class visas. As such, the Studio is authorized to issue Form I-20s so that our foreign students may obtain M-1 class visas from the United States Government.

After their interview and acceptance, international student applicants must submit

  • A completed Esper Studio Visa Application Form
  • Esper Studio SEVIS Administration Fee of $300 ($200 for Summer Intensive) .
  • Proof of anticipated source of income (a bank statement or letter from a parent, guardian, or sponsor confirming financial support sufficient to enable the applicant to remain in the United States during the term of study). Please note that international students may not work while living in the United States.
  • Deposit payment for your program of study at the Esper Studio (See pricing on program pages).
  • Photocopy of applicant’s passport

Once these documents and fee are received, the Esper Studio will issue the student’s I-20 form and official Acceptance Letter into the Professional Actor Training Program, which the student will then use to apply for an M-1 visa at the embassy in their home country.

Your M-1 visa is valid for the program dates for the session in which you are enrolled (eg. September 15 – June 15 / January 5 – August 1 / June 15 – August 1). There is a 30-day grace period before and after your Program Start and End Dates, during which you are allowed to travel within the US, move into a new apartment, etc.
SEVIS and USCIS require students who apply for a student visa to be enrolled in the Full-Time program. Students who enroll in Part-Time or Core programs of study are not eligible for an M-1 Student visa.
Because every embassy and consulate in every country each process applications on their own timeline, it is not possible to give an exact answer to this. However, if you get your paperwork to our Visa Coordinator at least 2 months before the beginning of classes, you should have plenty of time. You may begin the process as early as five months before the beginning of classes. You may also contact your local embassy to inquire how long it will take after receiving your I-20. In some cases, it is possible to have your visa application expedited, but again, that will depend on the embassy.