Learn more and read short profiles on the schools attending in our guide (coming soon!).

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott, AZ & Daytona Beach, FL – Contact

Everett Community College – Everett, Washington – Contact

Fairleigh Dickinson University – Multiple Campuses – Contact

Michigan State University Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Contact

Murray State University – Murray, Kentucky – Contact

Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio – Contact

Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, New York – Contact

Roger Williams University – Bristol, Rhode Island – Contact

Savannah Collage of Art & Design – Savannah, Georgia – Contact

Sylvan Learning Centers – Contact

The Princeton Review-Scoreplus – Contact

Troy State University – Multiple Campuses – Contact

University at Buffalo – Buffalo, New York – Contact

University of California Riverside – Riverside, California – Contact

University of Colorado, Boulder – Boulder, Colorado – Contact

University of Kentucky – Lexington, Kentucky – Contact

University of Michigan, Flint – Flint, Michigan – Contact

University of New Haven – New Haven, Connecticut – Contact

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Learn more and read short profiles on the schools attending in our guide.

American University of Cairo – Cairo, Egypt – Contact

Arizona State University – Prescott, Arizona – Contact

California State University, Fullerton – Fullerton, California – Contact

College of the Desert – Palm Desert, California – Contact

DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois – Contact

Diablo Valley College – Pleasant Hill, California – Contact

Emporia State University – Emporia, Kansas – Contact

Florida Institute of Technology – Melbourne, Florida – Contact

Indiana University-Purdue University – Indianapolis, Indiana – Contact

Lasell College – Newton, Massachusetts – Contact

Marquette University – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Contact

Mercer University – Macon, Georgia – Contact

Michigan State University – East Lansing, Michigan – Contact

Michigan State University Dubai – Dubai, UAE – Contact

New York University Abu Dhabi – Abu Dahbi, UAE – Contact

Ohio University – Athens, Ohio – Contact

Oklahoma City University – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Contact

Pace University – New York, New York – Contact

Parsons the New School for Design – New York, New York – Contact

Purdue University – West Lafayette, Indiana – Contact

Roger Williams University – Bristol, Rhode Island – Contact

San Jose State University – San Jose, California – Contact

Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, Georgia – Contact

Score Plus/Princeton Review – Middle East – Contact

Stony Brook University – Stony Brook, New York – Contact

University of Arizona – Tuscon, Arizona – Contact

University of Bridgeport – Bridgeport, Connecticut - Contact

University at Buffalo – Buffalo, New York - Contact

University of California, Riverside – Riverside, California – Contact

University of California, San Diego – San Diego, California – Contact

University of Central Florida – Orlando, Florida – Contact

University of Colorado, Denver – Denver, Colorado – Contact

University of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana – Contact

University of Hartford – West Hartford, Connecticut – Contact

University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa – Contact

University of New Haven – New Haven, Connecticut – Contact

University of Oregon – Eugene, Oregon – Contact

University of Toledo – Toledo, Ohio – Contact

Veritas Prep GMAT Preparation - Contact

Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, Virginia – Contact

Youngstown State University – Youngstown, Ohio – Contact

If you are a University interested in joining us on a future fair, please contact us through our college and university website, US Educational Group.

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This is not usually a problem most American students face when applying to college – but is a common problem for most people whose mother tongue is not English.

Transliteration of a non-English name, specifically those written in non-latin based languages, creates headaches for governments, colleges and universities, and for the students. Something as simple as a hyphen can create serious problems for a student leading to rejected paperwork, non-issuance of a visa, and difficulties in opening bank accounts.

So before you even begin your college application, choose a spelling of your name and stick with it, whether you are going to use

Al Hameed
Al-Hameed
Al Hamid
El Hamid

choose ONE spelling, make SURE you are consistent throughout your official and non-official documentation including:

• Passport
• U.S. Visa application
• Drivers License (both your national and international licenses)
• School documents, transcripts, letters of recommendation, scholarships, and standardized test results
• Proof of financial ability to pay (if this is in your parent’s name, make sure their last name is spelled the same as yours)

Most American colleges and universities will be willing to work with you if some of your documentation uses different spellings of your name. However, the US Embassy will NOT be as lenient, you will need to make sure all your paperwork is consistent to ensure your visa will be issued quickly.  Be certain to use the same spelling in the I-94 document that you will fill out on your initial entry to the US as well.

The name spelling consistency is not the only name related issue international students face. Students from countries that use patronymic and matronymic last names such as Spain, Portugal and Brazil face a number of difficulties as well as students from countries where no family name is used.

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Iraqi students in Babil Iraq, CC license lakerae

We all know what a speed bump the visa application process can be for unprepared students, and until a few months ago, Iraqi students accepted into American universities were required to leave Iraq and apply for their student visa at a “regional office”.  Regional offices are located in Syria, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan where the Iraqi students would have to travel for their interview and return to receive their stamped visa – a huge financial and stressful burden on the applicant and their families.

Mr. Jeffrey Lodinsky, the General Consul at the new US Embassy in Baghdad spoke to us this week about the many changes and initiatives that they are undertaking to streamline the student visa application for Iraqi students.  Since August 2008, student visas have been processed in Baghdad, the Embassy has “most modern facility, our interview windows are the most modern in the world” said Mr. Lodinsky, and is well equipped to deal with large numbers of visa applicants.  “We encourage Iraqi students both in the region and in Kurdistan to apply at this location, we have a culturally sensitive staff and Arabic speakers who understand” the unique applications from Iraqi students.

Mr. Lodinsky explained that one of the priorities of Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who has now departed from his post in Baghdad, was to ensure that the first clients served by the new Embassy were student visas.  Ambassador Crocker felt that it was crucial for long term bilateral relationships to accommodate Iraqi students interested in higher education in the United States.  Several hundred students have already received their F-1 visas, and are already at colleges and universities around the US.

Efforts are underway to expand the visa reciprocity between the United States and Iraq, which will allow F-1 students to receive more than the current 3 month, single entry visa.  In comparison to most F-1 students from other countries who receive 5-year multiple entry visas, allowing them to visit family in their home country during summer vacation or winter break, the Iraqi student will face a much more restrictive visa.  Students will be required to reapply for their visa renewal at a US Embassy if they leave the United States in order to be allowed to reenter. Changes to the student visa may be available in the coming months.

The procedure for the actual application is identical to that in other countries, there is no specific paperwork required, however, Colleges and Universities should explain that the students must be prepared for the interview at the Embassy and bring all the required documentation.  Colleges and Universities must be cognizant that the lack of postal services in Iraq will require they send time sensitive documents such as the I-20 to the students via air courier (such as DHL or similar) and not regular post.  The Embassy officials encourage students to apply as early as possible, as they do expect that the application will take several weeks to process, allowing the student to receive their I-20 as early as possible will increase their chances of a successful visa application process.

“This is a special group of foreign students, and
I really encourage the universities to think of these
students in a different way, be mindful of
their heritage” – Helen LaFave, Cultural Affairs Officer

“This is a positive for students, for universities, for US-Iraq relations, it’s a positive in every way” said Ms. Helen LaFave, Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Baghdad, “but one of the things universities need to think about is that this is a whole population of Iraqi students, not just another block of international students”.  While there has always been a flow of Iraqi students heading to the United States for higher education, as far back as the 1920′s and 1930′s, there has been a multi-decade gap where the Iraqi population has been very isolated from the US.

“These students have been through a lot in the last 50 years, this is a special group of foreign students, and I really encourage the universities to think of these students in a different way, be mindful of their heritage, and not treat them the same way as students coming in from other countries”

The Embassy officials spoke of Fulbright Program and caliber of students the program has sent.  Feedback from the students and the universities show the Iraqis are welcomed into the class room, they are engaged and active both within the classroom and out in the college community. The students are settling in to their dorms, making American friends, and taking every advantage of the Fulbright scholarship in the best way possible.  According to their previous experience, this is not uniformly true, there are Fulbright students from other countries, who are overwhelmed by the experience and retreat to their dorm rooms or even drop out.

“Iraqi teachers are notoriously difficult graders, a “C” in Iraq is a “B” or “A”
anywhere else, I have interviewed Fulbright students who
had mostly “B”s and “C”s on their transcripts”
Mr. Jeffery Lodinsky, Consul General – US Embassy Baghdad

In speaking with some university admissions officers and advisors, they relay that they are impressed with the quality of the students coming from Iraq. While they study and work hard, they do not avoid contact with other students or just sit in their dorm room.  Ms. LaFave added that the students bring a tremendous amount of diversity and enlightenment to the university campus, higher education institutions are eager to Iraqi students apply there, “educationally they are very impressed”.

All the Embassy officials encouraged admissions officers to review the transcripts of the Iraqi applicants carefully, and note that there is no grade inflation of any kind in Iraq.  “Iraqi teachers are notoriously difficult graders, a “C” in Iraq is a “B” or “A” anywhere else, I have interviewed Fulbright students who had mostly “B”s and “C”s on their transcripts”  said Mr. Lodinsky.  He continued “The Iraqi students are very interesting but may not have the array of extra curricular activities that an American student may have”.

Monument to Unknown Soldier, Baghdad. Photo by: Robert Hardin University of Oregon

While students now do have the opportunity to take the TOEFL at many locations around the country and the GRE twice a year, Ms. LaFave stresses that these are “raw scores, preparing for these standardized tests is not an idea that has permeated this society” and admissions officers need to take into account when comparing the scores of international students from countries such as China and India who generally study intensely for the standardized tests. The SATs are currently not offered in Iraq, however, there are plans to begin administering the test inside the country this year.

Ms. LaFave had noted earlier that Iraqi parents “live for their children’s education” and with the new Iraq Education Initiative will be pushing their kids to apply to study in the United States. She went on to say “Iraq is very interested in engaging with Americans people to people, through education and through students. Iraqis are a fascinating engaging people, universities will find them to be a great addition to their campus”.

With the tone of the discussion with the Embassy officials so positive throughout the conversation, the collaborative effect of assisting students through the visa application process both from the Iraqi government and the US Embassy is evident. It will be a team effort to ensure the success of these students, and colleges and universities are encouraged to look at these students and if there will be active recruitment efforts, to think about how to welcome them onto campus. Many of the students will need some extra assistance to adjust to their new environment and become a successful and engaging part of the campus experience.

More information from the US Embassy Baghdad – http://www.iraq.usembassy.gov

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