OFFLINE

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CONSULTANT AGENCY (IECA)

What is an IECA?
An IECA, helps students by providing consultations about schools, the admission and enrollment process.  It also helps students to prepare for visa applying process, finding a place to live in the United States, as well as other services.

How do they get paid?
They charge you fees for giving you consultations and receive commission from schools if a student goes to certain schools.  They are also known as commission-based agencies because they make money off of the number of students who get into a University.

How much should we pay?
In Vietnam, there are thousands of education consulting agencies.  The consultation fee varies among agencies, from hundreds to thousands of dollars.  You can choose to pay for a whole package which includes all services from start to finish or pay for individual services only. Make certain that you know exactly what you are paying for.  An IECA should never offer to write your essays for you.

Do I have to use an IECA?
No.  You can do the whole school admission process by yourself.  This can range from choosing schools, to preparing papers for the school and visa applications.  But if you really want to use an IECA, please consider the DOs and DON’Ts below:

DO
- Look for an agency with a legitimate reputation in your home community.  
- Do your own research on the schools.  
- Only you can determine if a school is the right fit for you or not.
- Do your homework about schools before you use an IECA.  
- EducationUSA Advising Center Vietnam is located at U.S Embassy’s Rose Garden Tower, 170 Ngoc Khanh, Hanoi offers free advice on applying to schools. You can make an appointment by contacting them at Tel: (84-4) 3850 5000;  Fax: (84-4) 3850 5120; Email: [EMAIL]HanoiEducationUSA@gmail.com.
- Ensure that the university you are applying to is SEVP certified.
- Find living arrangements in the US that are adequate for your needs.
- An IECA is neither responsible for your living arrangements nor can they tell you have to live somewhere in particular.
- Make sure that the school’s credits will transfer to other schools in the United States.  
- Tell the truth during your interview

DON’T
- Pay for someone to prepare your visa application.
- Agencies will charge you the fee to prepare for documents to apply for a U.S visa which are all available for free on our website in both English and Vietnamese languages: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/nonimmigrant_visas.html
- Accept any documents from an agency that you do not understand or are unfamiliar with.
- Apply to only the schools provided by an IECA.
- You are the only one that should decide which schools to apply to.
- Trust an agency that does not give an itemized list of charges for their services
- Believe that you can work in the US without restrictions
- Be wary of any agency who promises that you can work without restrictions while attending school. The designated school official (DSO) at your Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school can authorize some types of employment for you and must do so before you can begin.  There is no employment that you can legally do in the United States without coordinating with your DSO.  Any work pursued outside of this process may be grounds for termination from the school.
- Give or accept your I-20 form to or from an IECA.
- You should have direct contact with a DSO at the school you are considering attending.  When a school accepts you, the DSO will directly issue you a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status.”  For this reason, when you apply to the school for admission, you should give them the address where you receive mail, not the address of the agency that you are using.  
When going in your interview:
- You must go in person to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a visa interview.  During this visit, you must bring your valid passport, Form I-20, and I-901 SEVIS fee receipt.  Additional documents may be required.  See the Department of State website for details about applying for a student visa or if you are in Vietnam, please visit U.S. Embassy website for more details: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/niv-students.html
IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
All of the documents you need are available for free on our website in both English and Vietnamese: http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/niv-apply.html .  You can fill in DS-160 form by yourself because it is available in Vietnamese.  Remember: you are the one who is responsible for all information filled out not the agency or person that helped you fill out the application. Incorrect information on DS-160 will affect your chance of getting visa not only this time but also future applications.